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What is Average Time for Drains to Stay in After Tummy Tuck?

asked 1 year ago by Time4meTX
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 1,706 times
Tags: drainage, drains

22 answers to What is Average Time for Drains to Stay in After Tummy Tuck?

+2

Tummy tucks and drains

Whether getting a mini-tummy tuck or complete tummy tuck you will likely have drains. When I perform mini-tummy tucks I usually use one drain, and two drains in a complete tummy tuck. The drains help remove excess fluid throughout the healing process. A natural part of the healing process includes your body producing a little fluid. Your body is also able to reabsorb some fluid, but in the beginning there is more than your body can handle. The drains help remove that fluid. In most... more
Adam Rubinstein, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+2

Drains after tummy tuck

When drains are used in a tummy tuck they usually remain for 5 to 14 days. They are usually left longer in heavier patients. I do use drains, but place multiple internal sutures to allow me to remove the drains more quickly. They usually are removed at 5 to 7 days.
Eric Pugash, MD

Vancouver Plastic Surgeon

www.vancouvercosmeticsurgery.ca

+2

Tummy tuck recovery

Because a tummy tuck tightens loose or stretched abdominal muscles and a lot of excess skin is removed, the recovery for this surgery is notably long, but you can generally return to work in 2 weeks. This surgery takes about 3 hours and can often can be performed as an outpatient procedure under twilight sedation instead of general anesthesia. After surgery, you may walk and sit a little hunched over for a few days after the operation and should not even try to stand up straight during... more
Michelle Copeland, MD, DMD

New York Plastic Surgeon
+2

Drains may not be necessary for tummy tuck

Typically drains have been left in large surgical areas for 5 to 7 days after surgery. We feel that drains are a two way street in that after this time the risk increases that bacteria can also work their way back in. Newer methods in tummy tuck have however allowed us to omit the drains altogether and we have not used them in the last 7 years. The benefit is an easier recovery, faster on your feet and faster into the shower. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd
Peter E. Johnson, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+2

Drains stay as long as needed.

If there is almost nothing draining after 1 week, we take both out. If there is a small amount, we take the one out with the less drainage and the other comes out a few days or 1 week later. If there is still a lot draining we leave the second drain in till it has almost nothing, but that is a rare occurrence.
Victor Au, MD

Chapel Hill Plastic Surgeon
+2

Average time for drains to stay in after tummy tuck

The time required for your drains to stay in can vary depending upon a number of factors: the amount of liposuction that is performed at the time of your tummy tuck the degree of undermining of tissue your overall health and ability to heal That being said, these are only a few of the factors which influence the amount of drainage that you can expect.  Many physicians go by the rule that the drains can be removed once there is less than 30cc per drain per day... more
Gregory A. Buford, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck and drains

I find in my practice that the average time per drains to remain in place (removed when output less than 20 mL per drain per day) is is 2 weeks. Of course this varies from patient to patient depending on the drain output.
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

+1

Tummy tucks and drains

Drains are placed during a tummy tuck to minimize fluid collection. Typically, it is recommended that drains stay in for about one to two weeks. This varies from case to case and is usually indicative of how active a patient is after surgery. The less active you are – the less fluid the drains collect and they may be removed sooner. Following your doctors post-op recommendations may speed your recovery.  
George John Alexander, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+1

About 1 week, but depends...

Drains are placed to create a suction effect to remove additional fluid buildup underneath the skin that has been tightened.   Drains are placed because we are counting on more fluid to buildup underneath the tissues than the body can absorb.    They can be uncomfortable and cumbersome, but are placed for good reasons:   the additional fluid that builds up can continue to build or can become infected.    I do not always use... more
Charles K. Lee, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy Tuck and Drains

After tummy tuck, I place 1 drain which is usually removed in an average of 7 days. This really depends on how much drainage is coming out and the size of the patient. Sometimes, a drain may not be needed especially after a mini-tummy tuck. Most of my patients will go home after tummy tuck.
Stanley Okoro, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

www.georgiaplastic.com

+1

The drains are important

I like to place two drains on my abdominoplasty.  I will take them out when they are draining less than 30 cc /24 hours and this can take about 7-10 days.  Remember, you can always take a drain out, but you can't simply put it back in.  Patient's can often return to work with a drain and disguise it under the clothes.
Vishnu Rumalla, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Drains and tummy tucks

Great question.   Drains are small silastic tubes that are usually placed below your incision to allow any extra fluid building up where your excess skin and fat was removed with your tummy tuck.  Drains are not painful but are somewhat of a nuisance. They tend to tug at your skin and patients are eager to have them removed as soon as possible.  But they are necessary to prevent postoperative fluid collections also known as seromas.   Depending on your surgeon and... more
C. Bob Basu, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.basuplasticsurgery.com

+1

Drainsa and tummy tuck

I usually remove drains within a week to ten days for the majority fo patients that are undergoing a standard tummy tuck.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Surgical drains after tummy tuck

We keep our surgical drains in after a tummy tuck until they are draining less than 30 cc (= 1 ounce) per 24 hour time period each. Usually, this is about 7-10 days, but varies from person to person.  The drains are removed easily thereafter, and the drain site is hidden in the pubic hair region.   Hope that helps!
Thomas Fiala, MD

Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon
+1

Drains in abdominoplasty

Patients often have drains in the surgical area for 10-14 days after surgery.  Your surgeon may choose to take them out earlier or later based on how much they are draining.
Jason Brett Lichten, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck drains

Often, after a tummy tuck is performed there are drains needed.   On ocassion, a mini tummy tuck will not require a drain at all but this is for a tiny thin patient who has not had babies before (usually, but there are some genetic exceptions).  With that, the drains are typically dry within a week.   When they come out, the office nurse clips the suture and the drain literally falls out.  They keep draining for a couple of days, just a few drops and then... more
Ricardo A. Meade, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

www.DoctorMeade.com

+1

You May Have a Tummy Tuck Without Drains

Some surgeons use a technique that requires no drains. Often referred to as the "Brazilian technique,"  many sutures are placed to eliminate or reduce the need for drains. I have been using this technique for 3 years without using drains with great success.
Paul C. Zwiebel, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Average time for drain after tummy tuck

I usually place two drains after tummy tuck.  Both of the drains usually come out within two weeks.  They may come out as early as 3-5 days and as long as 3-4 weeks.  I take the one drain out first that has a less drainage and the second drain out in the following couple days.  The duration of drains that stay varies depending on the amount of liposuction, area of undermining (dissection), and each patient's body.  I find that more obese patients tend to have... more
Sugene Kim, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

What is Average Time for Drains to Stay in After Tummy Tuck?

By the text book 5 to 10 days on average. But there are times where I have left them in a few weeks as long as drainage is occurring. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl J. Blinski
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Drain time with abdominoplasty depends on several things

A drain tube has long routine after abdominoplasty since there is normally a tendency for some fluid to build up. About 15 years ago i started using a technique that later came to be known as the progressive tension suture method (credit to Dr. Harlan Pollock.) One of the things that immediately became apaprent was much lower output in the drains, and in fact many plastic surgeons using that method no longer use drains at all. In my practice we use the On-Q pain pumps with... more
Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Drains and tummy tucks

For most patients with a tummy tuck we have typically removed all drains by the 7 day, though you may need a drain for as long as two weeks.
Delio Ortegon, MD

San Antonio Plastic Surgeon

www.sacs-sa.com

+1

Drains after tummy tuck

Most drains can be removed after 7 to 10 days following a tummy tuck, sometimes sooner, depending on how much fluid is coming from the drain. Some surgeons (including me) have stopping using drains in most abdominoplasties so the need for a drain is not universal.
Karol A. Gutowski, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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