Letty's Liposuction Directory

All about Lipo Seroma

Author: Letty's Staff Writer

Not quite sure what a seroma is?

Well, you will find out what they are, how you may wind up with one after liposuction surgery.

I will also discuss what sorts of things you can do to promote healing after liposuction surgery.

I've said all along that my entire goal in starting Letty's Liposuction Directory online is to provide excellent information, a little entertainment, and a friendly community for those of you considering liposuction. So, in this article we will continue the tradition of making you a better liposuction patient.

Ready to get started?...

Me too.

What the heck are seroma?!

Simply put seroma is a particular kind of "bruising"...

Seroma - are the result of the trauma to the tissue of the skin and underlying layers of fat.

Those structures of the dermis are intact before the surgery begins. After surgery – cells have been disrupted and injured. Small pockets clear fluid often collect when blood vessels are ruptured.

And inflammation caused by dying cells also promotes the collect of fluid.

In fact, the truth is that liposuction is major surgery.

Many folks aren't aware of that fact going into it. They think that they will have quick results and quickly resume their normal activities.

No Big Deal... Right?...

So I really want it to sink in that bruising (seroma, hematoma, etc. – all types of bruises) is very common for any major surgery. Liposuction is no different.

Chances are good that you will be quite sore and tender afterwards, and need some time to recover.

How can I prevent seroma?...

Now that I've told you how common they are – naturally the next question is how to prevent them...

Instead of thinking of bruising as something you can prevent. I would like you to think of this particular side-effect as something you can heal quickly from under the right conditions. Because, the truth is that bruising after trauma is NOT preventable.

I hope that isn't shocking.

Bruising is a natural process. And some folks bruise less or more than other folks – based on factors not entirely under our personal control. Factors like genetics, and your doctor's surgical skill will play a huge role in how bruised and damaged you are after the fact.

How long does it take seroma to heal?

It can take up to a month or more for the discoloration and bruising to resolve. In some people the process takes longer than in others. No two bruises are exactly alike. Actually what appears to be a surface bruise can be something involving much deeper layers of tissue than appearances indicate.

Bottom-line is that you should plan on having bruising for a significant amount of time after surgery.

How can I promote healing after liposuction?

Okay. This is the real question... As we've discussed prevention is not entirely in your hands, but healing can be. Here are a couple of things you should do after your liposuction surgery:

1. Rest. One of the first and most obvious things to do after surgery is rest... However, being too inactive after liposuction surgery is not good. The goal here is to get plenty of sleep, but to get up and move around gently to keep your blood circulating properly.
2. Nutrition. Another really terrific thing to do is eat high quality foods, with low-fat healthy proteins in them. Protein provides the building blocks – amino acids – that will help you to build new proteins after injury.
3. Hydration. Water is truly the liquid of life here on the planet and in our bodies as well. Drinking plenty of water will help to sweep away toxins released when cells are broken during liposuction surgery. Water helps proper hydrate healing tissues as well.
4. Positive Attitude. I know it sounds hackneyed but a positive attitude will help you focus on what's really important. It gives you patience and grace that can relieve many stressors in your life (if only a little). And that is major. Unhealthy levels of stress can prolong and even prevent proper healing.

The advice above may seem pretty obvious. I get that. However, these are things we all sort of know at the "head-level" – but health is a matter of the "heart" as well.

What is the take-home here?

So you learned something today. Liposuction seroma are the "bruising" that occurs when tissues are disrupted during the liposuction-process. You also discovered that liposuction seroma are temporary and generally resolve in about a month's time.

Most importantly though I covered the things that you must do to promote healing after any physical trauma (liposuction surgery included). Even though the advice seems obvious or in some cases cliché is still the absolute best advice for healing quickly and well.

All About Liposuction Seroma References:

• Venkataram, Jayashree. "Tumescent liposuction: A review." Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery 1.2 (2008): 49. Expanded Academic ASAP. Web. 23 Jan. 2010.

• "The Skinny on Liposuction." USA Food and Drug Administration - Consumer Health Information. (From Web January 20, 2010) http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/liposuction082007.html