Symptoms
Should I worry about a seroma?
- Causes. A seroma is a fluid-filled pocket that can develop after breast surgery. ...
- Home remedies. Most seromas heal naturally. ...
- Treatment. Fine needle aspiration can be used to draw off fluid. ...
- Recovery. After surgery, a tight bandage is usually applied to the treatment area. ...
Causes
What are the signs and symptoms of a seroma?
- A swollen lump that may be tender or sore when you touch it
- Clear fluid coming from the incision site
- A hard knot in the incision site if the seroma hardens
Prevention
- High fever (higher than 101 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Pus draining from a surgical site
- Severe pain at a surgical site
- Significant separation of a surgical wound
- Uncontrollable or persistent bleeding from a surgical site
Complications
How long does Seroma last after surgery? Home remedies. Most seromas heal naturally. They are usually reabsorbed into the body within a month, although this can take up to a year. In more severe cases, it can take up to a year for them to be reabsorbed, or they can form a capsule and remain until they are removed surgically. How do you treat a seroma?
How long should a seroma take to heal?
What are the symptoms for infected seroma?
How do you know if is a hematoma or seroma?
How long does seroma last after surgery?
What happens if a seroma is left untreated?
If a sizable seroma is left untreated for a long period of time, a thin cover of tissue called a fibrous capsule can develop around the mass. The capsule can make it more difficult for the seroma to be completely drained, and therefore, allow fluid to continue accumulating rapidly.
Can seroma be life-threatening?
Left untreated, a seroma can result in serious, even life-threatening complications. You can play an active role in minimizing your risk of serious complications by following the treatment plan you and your health care provider design specifically for you. Complications of seroma include: Abscess formation.
What can seroma lead to?
Potential complications may include:The seroma may swell and ooze fluid from the surgical site.It may reoccur (when fluid refills the space). ... Some seromas become infected, though this is a relatively rare outcome. ... It can create an abscess or become a life-threatening condition called sepsis.More items...•
How do you get rid of a seroma?
Your doctor may suggest draining the seroma if it's large or painful. To do this, your doctor will insert a needle into the seroma and remove the fluid with a syringe. Seromas may return and your doctor may need to drain a seroma multiple times. In some cases, your doctor may suggest removing the seroma entirely.
When should I be concerned about a seroma?
Though most seromas are harmless, patients should pay attention to them. If a seroma becomes extremely large or if any other complications develop, patients should contact a doctor. People undergoing surgery should be aware of the signs and symptoms.
When Should a seroma be drained?
In some cases, if there is an excessive amount of fluid, the seroma is very painful or it is putting a strain on the stitch line from surgery, it may have to be drained and this is called a seroma aspiration. This involves inserting a needle under the skin and attaching it to a syringe to aspirate the fluid.
Can Urgent Care drain a seroma?
Small hematomas and seromas can safely be observed, but large ones should be drained. The wound may be opened partially along the suture or staple line after consultation with the surgeon. If a seroma is suspected, needle aspiration may be all that is required.
How do you get rid of seroma naturally?
Take over-the-counter pain medication for any discomfort or inflammation. If a seroma or seromas do develop, you can apply heat to the area for 15 minutes every few hours. This can help the seroma drain and ease discomfort. If the seroma does not go away on its own, your doctor can drain it or surgically remove it.
Can I exercise with a seroma?
Can I still exercise after a seroma? A seroma is part of the healing process, but if it is severe, it will need to be drained. Your surgeon or breast care nurse will be able to do this during an outpatient appointment. reduce your stage 2 exercises down to twice a day and restart your stage 1 exercises.
What kind of doctor treats seroma?
Plastic surgeons experienced in the treatment of soft tissue injuries know that seromas are common.
Does massaging a seroma help?
The excess of liquid between the skin and the muscle operated creates inflammation, pain, painful lumps/ seromas and skin hardening. Through lymphatic drainage and post-operative massage, we will help your system drain through urine or through the incision if it is still open.
How long does it take for seroma to resolve?
A small seroma is usually reabsorbed naturally into the body within 10 to 21 days. However, in some cases, the doctor may need to carry out a small procedure which consists of inserting a syringe under the skin and removing the excess fluid.
How to get rid of a seroma?
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) If these treatments don’t work, your doctor may need to remove the seroma with another surgery.
How to stop seroma from forming?
But your surgeon may try different methods to lower your chances of getting one. These include: Drainage tubes: Your doctor may put small tubes under your skin during surgery. If you have a mastectomy, the drains may go in your breast or armpit area.
How long does it take for a seroma to go away?
Your body can absorb fluid from a small seroma. But it may take about a month to go away. Sometimes it can take up to a year. But you don’t need to wait that long, especially if it’s big or sore. Sometimes you have surgery to remove tissue such as a lump in your breast or belly fat.
What does it mean when your seroma is red?
See your doctor right away if the area around your seroma is red, warm, or tender. This could be a sign of infection. You should also talk to your doctor if you have: See your health care provider if you can’t figure out what is causing your swelling.
Can fibrin glue help with seroma?
Doctors need more research to know if this glue can help prevent a seroma. But, some studies show that seromas are less likely when surgeons use fibrin glue and quilting together. Delayed shoulder movement: Some experts think you may be less likely to get a seroma if you keep your shoulder still after your mastectomy.
Can you get a seroma?
While you heal, you could get a seroma. That’s a lump of clear bodily fluid that forms under your skin in the empty space where the tissue used to be. Even though a seroma may feel strange, it’s not a medical emergency. But you can talk to your health care provider if it bothers you.
Can a seroma cause infection?
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.
What are the complications of seroma?
Complications of seroma include: Abscess formation.
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. Seromas can occur after a number of different types ...
How do you know if you have a seroma?
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.
What are the different types of surgeries that can cause a seroma?
These include hernia repairs, significant plastic surgeries such as breast augmentation or reconstruction, abdominoplasties (tummy tucks), and surgeries performed for breast cancer.
Can a seroma be treated on its own?
Small seromas may not require any treatment as they often resolve on their own. Larger seromas often require aspiration (removal of fluid), which is usually done with a needle. Sometimes multiple aspirations are required, or a drain may be placed until fluid stops accumulating.
Can a seroma be life threatening?
In some cases, a seroma can become infected or result in opening of the surgical site. Left untreated, these complications can be life threatening.
Can seromas form after surgery?
Seromas can form shortly after surgery if drains are not used, and they may also occur after removal of a drain. Small seromas often resolve on their own, although left untreated, they can calcify, forming hard knots. Larger seromas often require aspiration (removal of fluid), generally accomplished with a needle.
What is a seroma?
Home remedies. Treatment. Recovery. A seroma is the buildup of fluids in a place on the body where tissue has been removed. They often occur as a complication of surgery but can also develop after an injury. In most cases, seromas are harmless and are allowed to heal naturally.
What is a seroma in breast?
A seroma is a fluid-filled pocket that can develop after breast surgery. The exact causes of seromas are not clear, but they are commonly seen in the breast area of women after surgeries to treat breast cancer. Other procedures that can cause seromas include: breast reduction. breast implant.
How long does it take for a seroma to reappear?
They are usually reabsorbed into the body within a month, although this can take up to a year. In more severe cases, it can take up to a year for them to be reabsorbed, or they can form a capsule and remain until they are removed surgically. The area may experience hardening once the seroma heals.
What 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. The lumps can be tested to determine whether they contain serous fluid instead of pus, blood, or another fluid.
Can you leave a seroma alone?
In some patients, the best option may be to leave the seroma alone. For cancer patients, one concern with seromas is that they can sometimes delay additional cancer treatments. Seromas are now often considered a side effect of surgery rather than a complication, but all patients do not develop seromas.
Can a seroma be drained more than once?
Seromas can increase the chances of a surgical site infection, so it is important to monitor them carefully. Depending on the severity, a seroma may have to be drained more than once.
Can a seroma cause cancer?
Seromas are not related to cancer cells and pose no increased risk or concern. However, they can cause discomfort. Trusted Source. and lead to a longer hospital stay after surgery. One study of 158 participants found that 35 percent. Trusted Source. of patients experienced a seroma after surgery for breast cancer.
What is a seroma?
A seroma, one of the most common potential complications after surgery, refers to the accumulation of uninfected and clear (i.e., serous) fluid under the skin. Seromas are usually found near the site of a surgical incision and can form soon after surgery or, sometimes, weeks later.
What causes a seroma?
Usually, seromas develop in places where tissue has been removed with surgery. Dead space, or a remaining empty cavity in between tissues, may form as a result of improper healing of the surgical wound. Damage to neighboring lymphatic vessels during surgery can cause leakage of serous fluid into the dead space, resulting in seroma formation.
What does a seroma look like?
A seroma can typically be easily identified during physical examination, generally presenting at the site of surgical incision as a soft, swollen lump that discharges clear fluid. When physical examination cannot confirm the diagnosis, a bedside ultrasound can provide better visualization of the seroma.
How are seromas treated?
Treatment for seromas largely depends on the severity of the fluid collection. Often, the body will naturally reabsorb a seroma, resolving the issue without treatment. Even when small seromas do not fully reabsorb, they typically do not have any significant impact on an individual's health and may not require treatment either.
Do seromas go away on their own?
Small seromas often reduce in size and go away on their own. However, if seromas grow larger or appear infected, they may need to be treated by a healthcare professional. Larger seromas usually require treatment by a healthcare professional.
What happens if a seroma is left untreated?
If a sizable seroma is left untreated for a long period of time, a thin cover of tissue called a fibrous capsule can develop around the mass. The capsule can make it more difficult for the seroma to be completely drained, and therefore, allow fluid to continue accumulating rapidly.
What are the most important facts to know about seromas?
A seroma refers to the accumulation of clear fluid under the skin, typically near the site of a surgical incision. A seroma usually forms after some type of reconstructive surgery, during which dead space is created. Seromas vary in size and presence of inflammation, but they typically appear as a soft, swollen lump.
How to treat large seroma?
You may need any of the following to treat a large seroma: Antibiotics may be given if the seroma becomes infected with bacteria. Aspiration is a procedure used to remove the fluid. Your healthcare provider will use a needle to draw out the fluid. You may need to have this done several times.
What is a seroma in the body?
A seroma is a pocket of clear fluid that develops after surgery or an injury. The fluid can collect in tissues or under the skin. 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.
How long does it take for a seroma to close?
Liquid antibiotic or other medicine is injected into the seroma through a drain. The liquid sits for 30 to 60 minutes and then is removed through a needle. This causes the seroma to close. Surgery may be used to remove the pocket of fluid if other treatments do not work.
What to wear when seroma is drained?
You may also need to limit certain movements if your seroma needs to be drained. Wear pressure devices, if directed. Pressure devices include pressure bandages and binders. Your healthcare provider will tell you which device to use and how long to wear it each day.
Can a seroma go away without treatment?
A CT or ultrasound may be used to confirm that you have a seroma. A small seroma may go away without treatment . You may need any of the following to treat a large seroma:
Can you have surgery for a seroma?
Infection may mean that the seroma is developing into an abscess (pocket of pus). You may need surgery to treat an abscess. Follow your healthcare provider's activity instructions. Your healthcare provider will tell you if it is safe for you to exercise and do your daily activities while you have a seroma.
What are the symptoms of seroma?
A seroma may cause symptoms at the site of your surgery, including the following: a balloon-like swelling of the skin. a feeling of liquid or obvious movement under the skin. If the seroma is large, its size may cause you discomfort.
How does seroma happen?
How Does a Seroma Happen? A seroma can happen in an organ, tissue, or body cavity. After surgery, fluid may enter the surgical site, especially if the site is a cavity. This fluid is part of your body's natural healing process, which is initiated because your body's tissues need to be healed after surgery. .
What does it mean when your seroma is getting bigger?
Also, tell your doctor if you notice that: the seroma is getting bigger. the amount of fluid is increasing. the seroma is causing pressure, discomfort, or pain. the swelling increases. These all may indicate another medical issue that may require medical attention.
What is a seroma in 2021?
What is a Seroma? Medically Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on April 12, 2021. A seroma is a build-up of clear fluid inside the body. It happens most often after surgery. A seroma is not often dangerous, but it can cause pain and discomfort. If you have a seroma, your doctor or care provider can offer advice or relief.
How long does it take for a seroma to come out after surgery?
Seroma may happen after the drain comes out. Typically, a seroma may arise about 7 to 10 days after surgery. Sometimes a seroma happens even if you don't have a drain.
How does seroma affect breast cancer?
According to a 2018 study, in people living with breast cancer, seroma can result in the following: longer recovery. discomfort. delayed radiotherapy. Because a seroma can directly affect your health including the pace and timeline of your remaining treatment, talk to your care provider about your experiences and symptoms.
Is seroma a complication of breast cancer?
Seroma is most often associated with breast cancer surgery including the following types: Seroma is also a possible complication of other procedures like: Speak with your doctor or care provider before you have any surgery. A seroma may be a complication even if your type of surgery is not on this list.
How to tell if you have a seroma?
Some of the most common symptoms of a seroma include: 1 Swelling 2 Inflammation 3 Tenderness 4 Bruising
What is a seroma?
A seroma is a collection of fluid that develops under the surface of the skin following a surgical procedure. Also known as serum or serous fluid, this clear discharge of fluid is triggered by the injury and subsequent death of cells, typically along an incision or where skin tissue was removed. In some cases, seromas will cause ...
How to remove seroma fluid?
Needle puncture aspiration. The doctor removes the seroma fluid by placing a hypodermic needle into the seroma cavity and aspirating the fluid with a syringe. This is the first line treatment option to drain a seroma, and may require multiple aspirations over the course of days to weeks as the seroma may recur. Drain Placement.
What is the name of the infection caused by a seroma?
Larger seromas are more likely to trigger a secondary infection at the site. Infection caused by a postoperative seroma is called a surgical site seroma infection (SSI).
What is the best treatment for seroma?
For stubborn seromas that continue to recur after multiple aspiration attempts and suction drain placement, certain substances, such as talc and antibiotics ( tetracycline and doxycycline), may be injected into the seroma cavity, either following needle aspiration, or through a drain if present, to help prevent recurrence of the seroma.
How long does it take for a hematoma to form?
Hematomas tend to form more quickly over the course of minutes to hours, and may expand as a result of the involved blood vessels continuing to leak blood into the surrounding tissues.
How to know if you have seroma after drain removal?
If you are experiencing symptoms of seroma for several days following the removal of surgical drains, be sure to contact your doctor immediately so that they can treat the seroma and prevent infection. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms: Fever. Abnormal pulse rate.
