Seroma Management

What is a Seroma? 

A seroma is a build-up of straw-coloured bodily fluids in an area where tissue has been removed at surgery.  The fluid can make the area feel hard and this can become uncomfortable.

Seromas can happen after the following surgery

• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy - for melanoma or breast cancer

• Lymph Node clearance – of the axilla, groin or neck

• Breast Lumpectomy

• Mastectomy

• Mastectomy + Reconstruction

• Breast reduction

• Removal of a Soft tissue tumour or Large Lipoma

• Repair of a Large Abdominal or Groin Hernia

Your surgeon may place a drain in the surgical site to control the fluid initially. A seroma can appear a week after surgery or after drainage tubes have been removed. The site of the surgery may become swollen and feels like there is hard lump under the skin. 

Managing a Seroma

Many seromas can be reabsorbed back into your body over a period of a few months and require no intervention. However, if the affected area became very swollen, painful or the seroma does not improve, your doctor may need to use a needle and syringe to drain the fluid. Sometimes, the seroma may have to be drained on multiple occasions. Rarely, it may not fully resolve, which may mean a small seroma persists, however your surgeon will discuss all available options. 

Please contact our practice and notify your Surgeon if:

• The amount of fluid seems to be increasing or the seroma is putting pressure on the healing area 

• You notice signs of infection, such as redness, warmth, or tenderness 

• You develop flu like symptoms 

• The swelling increases beyond the site of the surgery - this could be a sign of lymphedema (a condition where the lymphatic system in the body stops functioning properly and results in swelling, most often of a limb).