As facelifts and other types of plastic surgery become increasingly common, plastic surgeons are able to keep any and all complications to a minimum. But, as with any other type of surgical procedure, there is a risk of complications.
The development of a seroma is one of these complications. If you have developed a seroma after your facelift surgery, the road to recovery and a more confident you is not quite over. At Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg offers his Manhattan area patients state-of-the-art treatments for any seroma developed after plastic surgery.
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What Is a Seroma?
A seroma is a buildup of clear fluid that can collect within body tissue or organs. The fact that a seroma involves the buildup of clear serous fluid differentiates it from a hematoma, a type of bruise which results from a pooling of blood from broken blood vessels within the tissue.
Seromas can develop at the site of a surgical procedure, or at the site of a traumatic injury. Not all plastic surgery procedures are equally prone to the development of seromas – breast reduction and mastectomies in particular are considered to carry a higher potential for the complication – but it is a possibility following nearly all types of procedure.
What Is the Risk of Developing a Seroma after Surgery?
Many patients want to know how common it is to develop a seroma after surgery, and wish to better understand what their odds of success are.
It can be difficult to determine how long a seroma can last after surgery – smaller seromas are likely to be reabsorbed by the body on their own with time, but in other cases a persistent seroma may last for weeks or longer and require treatment. But the truth is that seromas are not at all uncommon. The benefit of this is that an experienced and knowledgeable plastic surgeon is well-prepared to anticipate the appearance of a seroma and develop a plan of action.
Treatment for Seromas
Administering proper treatment for a seroma depends on the severity of the issue. In mild cases, noninvasive techniques like pressure dressings and massaging the affected area are enough to encourage reabsorption of the fluid by the body. Seromas that are not reabsorbed often require aspiration, or the manual removal of fluid from the affected area, through drainage tubes or corrective surgery.
Contact Your Plastic Surgeon Today
At Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Stephen T. Greenberg and his staff are committed to using the latest plastic surgery techniques to execute all types of plastic surgery procedures – and that includes corrective plastic surgery procedures to alleviate issues like seromas after your initial operation. Don’t let perfectly treatable complications stand in the way of you reaching for your plastic surgery dreams and a more confident future. If you believe that you are suffering from a seroma, or if you simply have questions leading up to your initial procedure, contact Dr. Greenberg at Greenberg Cosmetic Surgery to schedule a consultation and discuss treatment options today.