AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2600 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Question I have read a lot about seroma after tummy tuck procedures. On average how often does this occur? I am considering have LipoTuck and am concerned if this is a common outcome and would like to know if there are any predictors that I can look for to know if this will happen to me.
Thanks,
Wendee
Answer Dear Wendee,
Thanks for writing to me. There's lots more info about plastic surgery at my site, www.bodysculpture.com.
I do not know of any statistics that track that particular issue, although it would be interesting to know. Part of the problem is that there are so many different surgeons doing the procedures, different way the procedures are done, etc., that it would be hard to draw concrete conclusions based on whatever information is obtained. Which is not, of course, to suggest that it would be anything other than interesting to find out.
It is common to have fluid after these procedures, which is why drains are used. I have become increasingly reliant on drains after tummy tucks, specifically to diminish the likelihood of a persistent seroma. I use four drains and typically leave two in for a week or so, and the other two for up to two weeks, by which time the fluid has abated dramatically. And I do not hesitate to reinsert a drain at the first sign that fluid is reaccumulating.
Finally, I don't know of any way to predict whether or not this will occur.
