Seroma is a complication that can occur after any surgery and is the buildup of fluid under the skin near the surgical scar. This buildup of fluid is most common after surgeries in which the skin and fatty tissue have been cut and manipulated, such as plastic surgery, abdominoplasty, liposuction, breast surgery or after a C-section, for example, after inflammation, not caused by the procedure itself, but by the body’s defense mechanisms.
Usually, a small seroma is naturally reabsorbed into the body within 10 to 21 days; However, in some cases, your doctor may need to perform a small procedure that involves inserting a syringe under your skin and removing excess fluid. compression bandages and bandages after surgery, as well as to stimulate the healing process.
The presence of seroma can be identified if the following signs and symptoms are present:
There may be a reddish or brown coloration when seroma is mixed with blood, which is more common shortly after surgery and tends to lighten as the healing process continues.
It is important to consult a doctor as soon as signs of seroma appear so that it can be monitored and, depending on the severity, treatment is started.
A seroma usually appears within the first 2 weeks after surgery due to fluid buildup in dead space between the layers of the skin. If you see or experience symptoms of seroma, talk to your surgeon so you can check the situation and see if treatment is needed.
Undecovered seroma can cause fluid accumulated under the wound to harden, forming an encapsulated seroma and leaving an ugly scar. Treatment is also important because seroma can become infected, form a scar tissue abscess and release pus, which should be treated with antibiotics.
Treatment of seroma is only necessary in case of significant accumulation of fluid or pain, since in less severe cases, the body itself reabsorbs excess fluid; However, if necessary, the liquid is extracted with a syringe or drainage, which is a small tube that is inserted under the skin until the seroma is touched, allowing the liquid to be drained.
If you need pain relief, a doctor can prescribe pain relievers or anti-inflammatories like acetaminophen or ibuprofen, for example.
On the other hand, the treatment of an encapsulated seroma is more complicated, requiring corticosteroids or surgery for its elimination, ultrasonic cavitation is also a method that can be used because it is based on a high potency ultrasound that is able to reach the area. treated and creates reactions that stimulate fluid removal.
In cases where seroma is infected, treatment is usually done with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor; In the case of an encapsulated seroma, your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the fluid and make the scar more beautiful.
Home treatment aims to prevent the appearance of the seroma and treat it quickly, as soon as the first signs appear, one of the home options is the use of a compression bandage, depending on the type of surgery, and is usually indicated after abdominals and cesarean section surgeries.
It’s important to ask your doctor which compressive bandages or ointments can be placed on your scar, as they speed up the healing process and reduce swelling that usually occurs after any surgery, you can also eat foods that stimulate and stimulate healing, such as oranges, pineapples, and carrots.
Seromas may occur after any surgery, depending on how the person’s body recovers; However, this problem is more common in:
Although this is a very common complication, it can be easily avoided by using a bandage on the scar and not by exercising unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
If there is an increased risk of developing seroma, your doctor usually inserts a drain during surgery so that the accumulated fluid can escape as it heals the wound.