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Hey all...

Those who followed my implant journal know that I developed a seroma (fluid-filled pocket) under my surgery incision. This morning Dr. Hakky drained it. The procedure went well, no apparent damage to the implant and it was relatively painless.

The fluid drained off was substantial, I didn't ask the amount but it filled a very large syringe...I'd be very surprised if it was less than 5cc and could easily be double that. The fluid was expected to be clear but was reddish...Dr. Hakky said I probably had some bleeding into the seroma pocket, possibly due to rough sex. I didn't think any sex I've had was particularly rough, but given the seroma location and size it could have gotten banged around.

The fluid didn't look infected to Hakky, but he sent it off for a culture for both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. If the culture comes back positive, or the seroma returns, he wants to book an OR and do a better clean out and repair. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen as that carries increased risk of infection and/or damage to the implant.

Hopefully this will be it and I'm done, but time will tell.

ElbowRoom wrote:Hey all...

Those who followed my implant journal know that I developed a seroma (fluid-filled pocket) under my surgery incision. This morning Dr. Hakky drained it. The procedure went well, no apparent damage to the implant and it was relatively painless.

The fluid drained off was substantial, I didn't ask the amount but it filled a very large syringe...I'd be very surprised if it was less than 5cc and could easily be double that. The fluid was expected to be clear but was reddish...Dr. Hakky said I probably had some bleeding into the seroma pocket, possibly due to rough sex. I didn't think any sex I've had was particularly rough, but given the seroma location and size it could have gotten banged around.

The fluid didn't look infected to Hakky, but he sent it off for a culture for both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. If the culture comes back positive, or the seroma returns, he wants to book an OR and do a better clean out and repair. Fingers crossed that doesn't happen as that carries increased risk of infection and/or damage to the implant.

Hopefully this will be it and I'm done, but time will tell.

Thanks for the update Elbow - I’m sorry to hear that this saga continues on a bit more, I’m glad it was at least drained out initially and fingers crossed the culture comes back negative and it doesn’t come back. Keep us posted man.

Sorry Elbow, I didn’t see your post.

I’m glad it went well, I hope the fluid turns out ok when the lab test comes back.

SWorks

Fingers crossed for you mate
Funny how we always think get worst. I’m sure you will be fine.

ElbowRoom, glad the procedure went well and things are looking very hopeful. As others said fingers crossed the culture turns out negative.

- Chuck

great news - know you're not out of the woods yet, but the fact that Hakky was able to drain it with a needle is amazing. best of luck

Thanks guys! I’m staying optimistic, but I honestly don’t know how it will turn out. All I can do is wait and see. I feel okay and the implant is working great, so I really hope we don’t have to mess with things further.

Elbow, fingers crossed for you. It's often a precaution that these things are sent away for testing. But likewise I always worry that there will be an outcome I don't want. Thankfully so far in my life I've been lucky and mostly tests comes back negative. Hopefully that's the case for you as well. I keep reading great things about Dr Hakky, I'm sure you're in good hands.

Elbow, just relax, in most cases the seroma is not bacterial, otherwise you'd have redness around the incision.
Seromas are usually a simple wound fluid and it's always a little reddish.
So don't worry.
Dan

dan_bionic wrote:Elbow, just relax, in most cases the seroma is not bacterial, otherwise you'd have redness around the incision.
Seromas are usually a simple wound fluid and it's always a little reddish.
So don't worry.
Dan

Thanks Dan. I’m less concerned about bacteria in the fluid, and more about if the seroma doesn’t shrink. In that case Dr. Hakky wants to do surgery to fill it with Vancomycin and close it off, but that carries risks and I don’t want to go under the knife again so soon.

But I have decided not to worry about it, whatever will happen will happen and stressing over it won’t change it.