Question:
My incision is leaking. Should I be concerned?

I just got home from the hospital today. They took my bandage off this morning. It appears that incision is leaking from one of the staples. It is odorless and has a yellowish tint. Should I be concerned?    — tracyr (posted on January 14, 2002)

January 14, 2002
No... I wouldn't be concerned yet. Just make sure you wash the incision with warm soapy water every day. If the leakage gets worse, or the color starts to deepen, then I would call my surgeon. :)
   — Sharon H.

January 14, 2002
No, don't be alarmed. It is called a seroma, which is a collection of fluid under the incision. I am about 11 months post-op and I had alot of leaking. It is more of an inconvenience than anything. Feel free to email me if you want to talk more about it.
   — Tracy T.

January 14, 2002
Tracy - my husband experienced this from one of his lap incisions. Surgeon said as long as it stays yellow (as opposed to green) and doesn't smell bad, it's not a problem. He leaked for about 4 days, the incision actually seemed to open just a bit, and then everything closed up on its own. -Kate-
   — kateseidel

January 14, 2002
I had a leak too and even though it was green and smelled horrible, my surgeon said "it is fine". Well, I went to my pcp and he did a culture and it was infected. Which I already knew form the color and smell. I had to take two different antiboitics to clear it up. Also, I developed leaks in a few spots, four I think, I did not have stitches or staples, just steri strips, so you may not develope this, but if it does turn color or develope and odor, go straight to your doctor.
   — Dawn H.