Seroma is a complication that can occur after any surgery, characterized by fluid buildup under the skin, near the surgical scar. This fluid buildup is most common after surgery in which skin and adipose tissues have been cut and manipulated, such as after plastic surgery, abdominoplasty, liposuction, breast surgery or after a C-section, for example, as a result of inflammation caused by the procedure. and body defense reactions.
The small seroma can be naturally reabsorbed by the skin, resolving after about 10 to 21 days, however, in some cases it is necessary for the doctor to perform a puncture with a syringe. To reduce this complication, it is recommended to use orthopedic devices or compressive bandages after surgery, in addition to care to facilitate healing. Check for essential care to be had with the C-section scar.
Seroma can be identified from the following signs and symptoms
In addition, there may be a reddish or brown color when the seroma is mixed with blood, which is more common shortly after surgery and tends to lighten as the healing process continues.
As soon as signs of seroma are found, it is important to consult your doctor so that an assessment can be made and, depending on the severity, treatment is initiated.
The seroma usually appears within the first 1 to 2 weeks after the operation and occurs due to fluid buildup in the dead space between the skin layers. After the onset of symptoms indicative of seroma, it is necessary to talk to the surgeon, who will evaluate the need for treatment.
When the seroma is not treated, the accumulation of fluid that is not removed can harden into an encapsulated seroma, leaving the scar ugly. In addition, treatment is also important because the seroma can become infected, forming an abscess in the scar, with pus release, which is treated with antibiotics.
Seromatic treatment is only necessary in cases of large fluid buildup or pain, as in milder cases, the body can absorb excess fluid. However, when necessary, treatment is done by removing the liquid with a needle and syringe or by placing a drain, which is a small tube that is inserted into the skin directly into the seroma, allowing the fluid to escape. To better understand what the drain is for and how to take care of it.
If pain relief is needed, your doctor may also prescribe pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, for example.
Encapsulated seroma treatment is more complicated and corticosteroids or surgery may be needed to remove it. Ultracavitation is also a method that can be used, as it is based on high power ultrasound, able to reach the region to treat and form reactions that stimulate the removal of liquid.
In cases where the seroma becomes infected, treatment is usually done with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor. For an encapsulated seroma, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove fluid and make the scar more beautiful.
Home treatment aims to prevent the onset of the seroma and combat it in the first signs. One of the home options is the use of compression devices according to the type of surgery, usually indicated after abdominal surgeries and caesarean sections. Find out how to recover faster from a C-section.
In addition, it’s important to ask your doctor what compresses or ointments may be placed in the scar, as they speed up the healing process and reduce the swelling that usually occurs after surgery. It is also important that foods that stimulate and facilitate healing, such as orange, pineapple and carrot, for example. See a complete list of foods that speed healing.
The seromas may appear after any surgery, depending on how each person’s body recovers. However, this problem is more common in:
Although this is a very common complication, it can be avoided with some simple precautions such as using a splint at the scar site and avoiding intense exercises without the doctor’s recommendation.
In addition, if there is an increased risk of developing seroma, your doctor usually places a drain during surgery so that the accumulated fluid can escape while the wound heals. Find out what care you should take after abdominal surgery to speed recovery.