Seroma: Know What This Breast Augmentation Complication is All About

Published:August 14th, 2011

Did you just undergo a breast enhancement surgical procedure? Are you having some fluid oozing from your surgical wound site? Have you noticed some bulging on your right under the incision sight? If you are having fluid oozing from your surgical wound and you have noted some bulging around it, chances are you are having one of the most common complications of breast augmentation procedure, the seroma. Most surgical experts define seroma as the surgical site accumulation of fluid. It usually happens right after surgery. However, it can also happen in body areas exposed to injury. Smaller seromas do not need any additional interventions because the body has the ability to resolve them. However, larger seromas may need drainage by aspiration to resolve.

Seromas may occur because of plastic surgery. They may occur because of the presence of a foreign body, such as your breast implant. Nevertheless, they may also develop even without any foreign bodies. Extensive surgical procedures are always at risk for the occurrence of seroma. Once seroma sets in, secondary bacterial infection can happen.

What are the usual symptoms of seroma formation after the surgical procedure?

Bulging of the surgical site and fluid-like movement right under the surgical site on touch are some of the most common symptoms of seroma formation.

How are seromas managed?

Most surgeons resort to performing drainage and aspiration to manage large hematoma formation. However, in some cases, a drain may be inserted to prevent further accumulation of fluid under the surgical site. However, in very large seromas, the seroma cavity may be removed and the surgeon may consider doing a removal of breast implant.

The fluid found in the seroma formation may serve as a nidus or locus for bacterial infection, thus antibacterial medications may be given as an adjunct for the surgical drainage.

What are the other possible complications of seroma infection aside from bacterial infection?

Untreated cases of seroma formation may result in the development of pseudo-bursa formation, the formation of scar tissue around the fluid. In breast implantation procedure, a seroma formation often leads to capsular contracture, the thickened capsule formation around the breast implant that results in breast shape distortion and too much firmness of the breast.

What is the best way to prevent the occurrence of seroma?

Refrain from exercise activities right after the procedure. Exercise can increase your heart rate as well as your blood pressure resulting in the increased swelling of your newly operated breasts. Furthermore, exercise results in the existence of friction between your breast tissue and you implant leading to fluid production and accumulation.

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