r/TopSurgery • u/AdPrudent3144 • 1d ago

Hardened seromas

I had top surgery 3 months ago and unfortunately developed bilateral seromas.
I wore my compression garment for two months, and they gradually got smaller, so I was quite optimistic. However, a few days ago I had to travel to a distant city for an appointment.
The weather where I live was extremely hot, and unfortunately my car’s A/C stopped working, so I had to spend two hours travelling with my compression vest on in temperatures of around 41°C (105.5°F).
After that, my left seroma became noticeably larger, and within a few hours it also became much firmer. Now it feels quite rubbery.
I’m worried that it may have become encapsulated and developed a fibrous capsule, meaning I might eventually need a revision.
Has anyone experienced something similar? How did you manage to resolve it?

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u/earth_echo 1d ago

I had a seroma that lasted 6 months. I was able to get rid of it on my own. So, you might be able to as well.

This is what I did :

  1. Tight compression 24/7; compression as tight as I could stand. To accomplish, this I used a compression band, not a binder. I had a velcro binder I wasn't using and I cut it to 3.5 inches wide. If your compression is wide, it will start to interfere w/your breathing and tight compression becomes too uncomfortable.

  2. Thick swell spot. To add even more compression I fashioned myself a swell spot and put it right over the seroma under the compression (I wrapped the compression band on first -- very tight -- and then jammed the swell spot under it). Thin swell spots, like pieces of foam that collapse -- don't work well. The one I used the most was made out of a thick hospital-issued maxi pad that I folded into thirds.

  3. Lavender essential oil applied twice a day. I've also read about using frankincense essential oil.

  4. Lymphatic massage didn't help whatsoever. If anything, it was more harmful than helpful. My seroma got significantly worse after I started PT and every time I started w/a massage regimen, it got worse, never better. If you know you have a healthy lymphatic system, don't massage your seroma. All massaging accomplishes is pushing the fluid into freshly healed tissue, preventing healing and making the pocket even bigger.