A leakage detecting implant can detect leakage of body fluid from an incision, resection, or other internal surgical site in a subject. The leakage detecting implant can include: one or more biodegradable colorant members having a tissue-contacting inner surface and an opposite outer surface; a resilient member having an inner surface coupled to the outer surface of the one or more colorant members; and a cover member having a body with an internal chamber and an opening on a tissue-contacting side, the internal chamber containing the resilient member and at least a portion of the one or more biodegradable colorant members with the tissue-contacting inner surface exposed through the opening, the cover member having an inner surface of the internal chamber coupled to an outer surface of the resilient member, the tissue-contacting side having one or more affixation surfaces adapted to be affixed to tissue of a subject.