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Seroma common after surgery?

Page last modified on: October 16, 2008
Question from MissAli: Can you comment on seroma after mastectomy and implant and reconstruction? I continue to develop this drainage.
Answer —Joseph Serletti, M.D., F.A.C.S.: Seroma is an uncommon but nevertheless present complication after both implants and autogenous reconstruction. I would say for most implant patients, we tend to leave it alone for fear of passing the needle into the seroma and potentially rupturing the implants or tissue expander. We tend to be somewhat more aggressive in removing the seroma fluid in patients who have had a TRAM flap reconstruction, since there's no implant to potentially rupture. Most seroma will be self-limited and will go away with time.

On Wednesday, May 16, 2007, the Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Reconstruction Updates. Joseph Serletti, M.D. and moderator Jennifer Sabol, M.D. answered your questions about breast reconstruction.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Joseph M. Serletti, M.D., F.A.C.S. is professor of surgery and chief of the Division of Plastic Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a pioneer in the field of free flap autologous breast reconstruction.

Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S.Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon who directs the newly developed Breast Care Center at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pa. Among her many interests, Dr. Sabol spearheads several research initiatives to advance the care for women with breast cancer and improve methods of breast cancer detection and treatment.

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