What does a seroma look like?

In many cases, a seroma will have the appearance of a swollen lump, like a large cyst. It may also be tender or sore when touched. A clear discharge from the surgical incision is common when a seroma is present. You may have an infection if the discharge becomes bloody, changes color, or develops an odor.

How do you confirm a seroma?

How is a seroma diagnosed and treated? Your healthcare provider will examine the surgery or injury site to check for signs of a seroma. A CT or ultrasound may be used to confirm that you have a seroma. A small seroma may go away without treatment.

What color is the fluid in a seroma?

Seromas form lumps under the skin. They are filled with a yellowish-to-white fluid called serous fluid. This is the same fluid commonly seen in blisters and fresh cuts.

How do you speed up seroma reabsorption?

Increasing the circulation to the healing area will often help to reduce the swelling. The fluid will be reabsorbed into the blood stream faster and the increased blood flow will bring oxygen and nutrients to the newly forming tissue. Heat is an excellent way to increase circulation to an area.

What does seroma fluid feel like?

Symptoms of a seroma include swelling at or near a surgical site and leakage of clear fluid through the incision. The area may or may not be painful. If infection develops, additional symptoms can include leakage of pus, redness, warmth or swelling, tenderness, or fever and chills.

How do you get rid of a seroma fast?

To help get rid of your seroma, a doctor or nurse may:

Drain the fluid with a needle and syringe.
Drain it more than once.
Put pressure on the swollen area.
Give you a shot to collapse and seal the empty space (sclerotherapy)

Can a seroma make you feel sick?

Make sure to tell your health care team if the bulge hurts, makes you feel sick, or gets bigger. Although it doesn’t happen very often, seromas can lead to an infection.

How can seroma be prevented?

Effective strategies for seroma prevention included the use of closed-suction drains; keeping the drains until their output volume was minimal; maintaining a high pressure gradient in the drains; using sharp or ultrasonic dissection rather than cautery; dissecting the abdomen in a place superficial to the Scarpa fascia …

How can I help my body absorb a seroma?

Your body can absorb fluid from a small seroma. But it may take about a month to go away….To help get rid of your seroma, a doctor or nurse may:

Drain the fluid with a needle and syringe.
Drain it more than once.
Put pressure on the swollen area.
Give you a shot to collapse and seal the empty space (sclerotherapy)

What are the most common causes of seromas?

Breast, neck, and abdominal surgery are the most common causes of a seroma. A drain used after surgery can also lead to a seroma if it fails or is removed too early. A major surgery or a surgery used to remove tissue increases your risk for a seroma.

What kind of treatment do you need for a seroma?

This kind of seroma requires fluid draining as well as antibiotic therapy for treatment. Seroma due to Regular Surgery: This type of seroma occurs after a regular surgery in which the blood vessels get injured due to dissection. These are treated immediately to prevent enlargement of the dead cavity without any complications.

How can you tell if you have a seroma?

The presence of a seroma can be identified if the following signs and symptoms are present: Redness and increased temperature in the area surrounding the wound. There may be a reddish or brown coloring when the seroma is mixed with blood, which is more common soon after surgery and tends to become clearer as the healing process continues.

When do seromas start to build up after surgery?

Seromas may develop after a surgical procedure, most often at the site of the surgical incision or where tissue was removed. The fluid, called serum, doesn’t always build up right away. The swelling and fluid may start collecting several weeks after surgery.

What kind of fluid is in a seroma?

What is a seroma? A seroma is an accumulation of fluid in a tissue or organ that can occur after surgery, or sometimes after an injury such as blunt trauma. The fluid, called serum, leaks out of nearby damaged blood and lymphatic vessels. Cells are typically present in the fluid, which is normally clear.

What kind of surgeries can cause a seroma?

Seromas can occur after a number of different types of surgeries, especially those that are extensive or involve significant tissue disruption. These include hernia repairs, significant plastic surgeries such as breast augmentation or reconstruction, abdominoplasties (tummy tucks), and surgeries performed for breast cancer.

What are the signs and symptoms of a seroma?

If infection develops, additional symptoms can include leakage of pus, redness, warmth or swelling, tenderness, or fever and chills. Common symptoms of a seroma include: In some cases, a seroma can become infected or result in opening of the surgical site. Left untreated, these complications can be life threatening.