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Does Breast Lift with Implant Require Painful Drain Tubes?

asked 2 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 2,063 times
Tags: drainage, recovery

Is it possible to have the procedure Breast Lift with Breast Implants without using those drain tubes? They can add to post surgery discomfort. Thanks for your great answers. Very helpful website.

14 answers to Does Breast Lift with Implant Require Painful Drain Tubes?

Drains may be necessary depending on the type of breast lift

For my standard breast augmentation patient I do not use drains. Depending on the amount of lift a patient needs with an augmentation, a drain may be helpful. If a small lift is required (routinely called a crescent lift), a drain is usually not necessary as the amount of dissection to achieve the lift is not extensive. If a more extensive lift is required (in which the lower portion of breast tissue requires rearrangement or removal to help lift the breast) a drain may be required. ... more

David A. Robinson, MD
Munster Plastic Surgeon

Drains are sometimes needed for breast augmentation with lift

The use of drains with breast surgery is a matter of opinion as there are no clear cut right or wrong answers. The purpose of drains is to prevent serum or blood from collecting inside the surgical site. With implants, this fluid collection may increase the risk of postoperative complications. I use drains sometimes, based on my clinical judgement in the operating room. If I do use them, they usually are removed within 2 days after the surgery. I think that they may add to the discomfort of... more

Elizabeth Lee, MD
Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

artfulsurgery.com

Drain tubes after Breast Lift

I do use them after breast lift, and they are short and very soft. My patients literally do not feel them while they are in, or when they come out (which is usually the next day).

John LoMonaco, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.DrLoMonaco.com

Use of drains for breast augmentation and lift

The use of drains varies among plastic surgeons with the vast majority NOT using them for primary breast augmentations. There is no clear data to support their use but many surgeons continue to use them because they believe it reduces the risks of seroma or hematoma.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

I routinely use drains with breast lift and breast augmentation

Some surgeons use drains routinely with breast lifts associated with breast enlargements while many others do not. The good news is that they don't usually hurt. The use of drains is important for me because I feel you get a much nicer looking breast when you put a textured silicone gel implant under the breast when doing this with a breast lift. In this case you need a drain in my opinion. If under the muscle than a drain is not as important. But going under the muscle also hurts more. So... more

Carl W. "Rick" Lentz III, MD
Daytona Beach Plastic Surgeon

Drains or not for breast lifts

I personally do not use drains on first time breast lifts and or augmentations. Secondary surgeries often reuire them but drains do not have to be scary or painful. They serve a valuable purpose when they are necessary.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Drains helpful with breast implants plus lift

The use of drains is subject to the surgeon's routine and preferences, but they are used to minimize swelling and speed the overall recovery process. I use them most of the time with the combination of a lift and implants. Most patients do not say they are painful though, and they typically can be removed within a couple of days.

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

You don't need drains

I do not use drains, but if your surgeon thinks they are needed then they will use them. They do not add pain to the surgery. This surgery has some pain the first day or two but it is reletively pain free.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Drains in breast surgery

The use of drains in breast surgery is a very individual decision. Some surgeons use them routinely and others not at all. I rarely need to use them but will if necessary. I almost never use them for straight forward breast augmentation. If liposuction is used as well, I might put a small drain for 24 hours but they rarely cause discomfort.

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Drains after breast augmentation/ lifting?

Thank you for the question. Most my patients and not require drains for this procedure although I do use drains for many revisionary breast cases.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Breast lift with implants

Not all breast lifts with implant surgeries require drains, but some do. Sometimes this decision is made in the operating room.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Drains are not usually necessary for breast augmentation and breast lift

I do not use drains for routine breast augmentation and breast lifts. However, if drains are needed, they can be placed in such a way that they are very comfortable and painless to remove. Good luck!

Parham Ganchi, MD
Wayne Plastic Surgeon

Do I need drains if I have a Breast Lift with Implants?

Hi there- I do not use drain tubes when performing breast lift, with or without breast implants. They are useful in other breast techniques, and so the recommendation you get from your chosen surgeon may differ, depending on the details of the surgery you need.

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

I do NOT use drains with augmentations or lifts

As stated above, I do not use drains on my augmentations or lifts, including when the 2 are combined, with only truly rare exceptions. I also take additional steps such as using long-acting local anesthetic placed around the implant to help reduce postop pain.