Is it normal to have a lump under a scar after surgery?
Every surgery has an incision that lets the surgeon visualize and correct the internal parts of your body. He cuts, suctions, sutures, and may or may not use foreign materials to improve your form, shape, size, and contour. All these he does as with a cosmetic or functional reason, but there are some postsurgical effects that are expected or unwanted. Here, let us find out about one of the common unwanted after-effects of surgery: seroma. Is it normal to have a lump under a scar after surgery? Click on the link to know how to smooth scars on your skin after a surgery and other information.

Every surgery has an incision that lets the surgeon visualize and correct the internal parts of your body. He cuts, suctions, sutures, and may or may not use foreign materials to improve your form, shape, size, and contour. All these he does as with a cosmetic or functional reason, but you can have some postsurgical effects that are expected or unwanted. Here, let us find out about one of the common unwanted after-effects of surgery: seroma. Is it normal to have a lump under a scar after surgery? Click on the link to know how to smooth scars on your skin after surgery and other information.
Seroma: Meaning and causes
Do you notice a blister-like formation under your skin days or weeks after your plastic surgery? That is called a seroma. It is filled with body fluid the was unable to drain during your recovery period. A small seroma is not dangerous and can sometimes go away on its own. The cause of developing a seroma mainly comes from the body’s reaction to replace a missing tissue or fill a space in the body where a removed tissue or fat used to be.
Common plastic surgery procedures that cause seroma
Liposuction
- Breast augmentation
- Tummy tuck
- Hernia
As mentioned earlier, if the fluid buildup is small, then there is no need to panic and be worried. The body can drain the lump on its own and reabsorb the fluid. However if the lump causes pain and sensitivity, then treatment is needed.
Is it normal to have a lump under a scar after surgery?
Treatment for seroma
Pain relievers. Large and infected seromas can cause pain, so NSAIDs or analgesics with anti-inflammatory properties can help relieve this symptom.
Fluid drainage. Depending on the size of the seroma, a simple disposable but sterile syringe can be used, or a drainage tube attached to the seroma may be used to drain the excess and trapped body fluid in the body.
Seromas may come and go as the body pleases, or they may return multiple times. Talk to your doctor about your options on how to address fluid build-up and ways to prevent it from happening at all.