Question:
Is it true that wls patients are having a higher seroma rate than those who do not?

I have seen several plastic surgeons that have told me this. So now I am afraid of the surgery given my past.    — Georgia Girl (posted on January 19, 2004)

January 19, 2004
There's no correlation. Seromas can just happen. I had 3 that I had to have drained. Compared to the big huge 5 pounds of extra skin I carried around, my nice flat belly looks great. So the 10 SECONDS of pain that I had when they drained the seroma was worth it. Don't let them scare you away from having the procedure. You will look a THOUSAND times better after the abdominoplasty. Plus, your still VERY numb for months in the stomach area so draining the seroma isn't that big of a deal.
   — Patty H.

January 19, 2004
Hi Cerece, Yes, it is true - if you are MO then you will be more suceptible to subcutaneous infection. Why? Because fat can't be stitched together, and it doesn't heal - it just has to be put back in place. Any excessive jarring, or undue irritation make that site more suceptible to localized infection. Doesn't mean you'll be the one to get one, tho! I did have one with my WLS. Didn't have one with my PS - although I did develop an abscess. Both were uncomfortable, but neither not worth not having the procedure done. The best thing you can do for yourself is get a surgeon who has extensive experience doing PS on the MO population and knows the nuances. Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

January 23, 2004
seromas happen to any body and it is unpredictable on who and when they will form. A seroma is NOT an infection, but a collection of fluid, somewhat like a blister. An abcess is a different thing. an abcess is an infection. I had a seroma after my hernia repair. My surgeon said draining it would be an invitation to infection as you must insert a needle into the fluid. being enclosed, and a warm moist environment is the perfect breeding ground for any bacteria that might be introduced with that needle. You really cannot necesssarily sterilize the skin perfectly to do that. and that it would eventually reabsorb the fluid into my body and go away on its own. It was the size of a large grapefruit . It indeed did go away but took about 5 months.
   — **willow**