What Color Should the Drain Outage Be After Tummy Tuck?

asked 2 years ago by chickenlady184 in Massachusetts
Latest answer by Tom J. Pousti, MD
Question viewed 1,425 times
Tags: drainage

Just had a full tuck with lipo and have 4 drains. Can't remember what color is good or bad for the drainage. Is dark yellow liquid coming from the drains good or bad?

5 answers to What Color Should the Drain Outage Be After Tummy Tuck?

Drain output following tummy tuck

The color is not necessarily used as a good or bad indicator. Generally, the initial drainage is bloody and tends to be thick and dark with a tendency to clot. As the drainage diminishes it goes from dark red to lighter red (Hawaiin punch) to clearer red orange, to a lighter orange yellow and eventually to a clear yellow (serous) fluid. This is typically about the time the drainage dimishes.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck and drains

Drain output fluid is usually bloody becoming more serous (yellow) after a few days. I don't think any specific color of drain output should be concerning; however, thicker/more dense fluid especially associated with an unpleasant odor would be concerned (no matter what the color).

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Color of Tummy Tuck Drainage

All drains do is remove the fluid appearing in between the two walls of the operated areas. As the fluid is removed, the opposite walls spend more time in contact with each other and ultimately stick to one another stopping the fluid production. The color of the fluid reflects WHERE in the stage of healing the wound is located. Early after surgery, the fluid is bloody. As the tiny oozing stops, the drainage becomes blood tinged and occasionally narrow strips of clots are seen in a fluid... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Drain output after tummy tuck

Initially your drain output should be a little blood-tinged. After a few days, it begins to look like Kool-Aid -- pink to red. Following this it will become more watery and yellow to clear as the output decreases in volume. If the output smells foul to you, or you are concerned about the color, I suggest calling your surgeon for a brief evaluation. Good luck, /nsn.

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Drainage following Tummy Tuck

I also use 4 drains routinely on a full tummy tuck. Typically the drainage is initially red since is it largely blood. Over the course of a few days as the drainage usually decreases in volume it also becomes less red and more yellow. At this later point, the drainage is largely serum.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

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