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Drainage After Tummy Tuck

asked 2 years ago by melissa1981 in Wisconsin
Latest answer by Nina S. Naidu, MD
Question viewed 1,640 times
Tags: abdomen, drainage

Why do some doctors choose to insert drains after a tummy tuck and others do not? What are the pros and cons to both?

17 answers to Drainage After Tummy Tuck

Drains after tummy tuck

Drains are used after tummy tucks to remove excess fluid so it does not collect and need to be drained with a needle. You can reduce the need for drains altogether by using fibrin glue. However it is a pool human blood product, and does not guarantee that fluid will not form. It also requires special consent forms because it is a blood product, and we do not use it for these reasons. Some doctors advocate quilting sutures, but these can leave puckering marks and fluid can still form... more

Brent Moelleken, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

Tummy tuck is safe without drains

You will notice immediately that there are differing opinions about the need for drains after a tummy tuck procedure. The drains are placed by some surgeons because they feel that there is a lower risk of a fluid collection called a seroma after the procedure. There are many well recognised publications which demonstrate that drains are no necessary, and indeed in our practice we have not used drains on tummy tuck procedures for over seven years. Surgeons should practice according to their... more

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Issues with drains and tummy tucks

As the other responses have explained, drains are used to prevent accumulation of fluid in a space where there has been dissection. Since a tummy tuck involves a lot of undermining in order to pull the skin tight, there is normally a lot of fluid buildup. However, there are some ways to minimize this, notably the use of what are called Progressive Tension Sutures. I started using them about 12 years ago and noted that drainage was way down so that we could get the drains out in a couple... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

After a Tummy Tuck, drains are your friends

Hi there- After a tummy tuck, there is a large space under your skin (the tunnel in which your muscles were tightened) that needs to heal in order for your body to achieve the best shape possible, and to prevent fluid from collecting (a seroma). While some surgeons avoid placing drains by placing quilting sutures, it is my opinion that the increased time required to place these sutures and the increase in risks to your health that come from extending the length of the surgery are not worth... more

Armando Soto, MD
Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

Use of drains in a tummy tuck

As Dr. Mckenzie indicated, the disection creates a large space between musculofascia and skin/fat. To be more precise it usually is about 36 sq. in.!! Properly placed and utilized drains can prevent the accumulation of fluid into this space and also aid in flap adherence. I've used them for forty yrs and have never regretted it.

Barry H. Dolich, MD
Bronx Plastic Surgeon

Using drains with tummy tucks

During the dissection of a tummy tuck, a fairly large space is created between the abdominal wall and the fatty layer above it. This space has the potential to accumulate fluid until the layers heal back together. Although the compression garment helps, the fluid can be significant and is typically removed with drains placed at the time of surgery which remain in place for a week or two. There are some tummy tuck techniques where internal stitches are placed to try and get the layers to... more

Douglas J. Mackenzie, MD
Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tucks and drains

Most surgeons use drains to empty the fluid that tends to accumulate in the space created during the surgery. Without these drains, the fluid may accumulate and require drainage, which prolongs the healing process. Some surgeons will use a biological glue to close this space down, while others will use sutures to close it. This is really based on a surgeon's personal preferences and experience. Best wishes.

Nina S. Naidu, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Drains in tummy tucks

When a tummy tuck is done, the skin and fat are surgically lifted off the underlying muscle layer. This creates a space into which serum and blood can collect after the surgery. Drains remove that liquid so that the two layers stick down to each other again. In the days after surgery, healing occurs and there is less serum leaking into this space, then the drains can be removed. There are procedures that can be done to help the two layers stick together immediately, but these are associated... more

Elizabeth Lee, MD
Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

artfulsurgery.com

The vast majority of doctors use drains for tummy tucks

I agree with almost all the previous posts that drains are necessary after tummy tuck in order to have the fastest recovery and more importantly the best final result. There are very few plastic surgeons who do not use drains at all after tummy tucks. I wanted to add my voice to the overwhelming majority of plastic surgeons who use drains.

Robert B. Pollack, MD
La Jolla Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck: To drain or not to drain?

The vast majority of surgeons still use drains. A small percentage do not. The reason for placement is to evacuate the space that is created between the muscle and skin. Surgeons who do not use the drains sew this layer closed with special stitches called quilting sutures.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck safer with drains.

Hi After a tummy tuck, drains help to prvent a seroma, which is a collection of liquid under the skin. It can be done without drains, but in Manhattan we always use them.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Drains are commonly used in tummy tuck surgery

There is an old adage from biology that applies here 'Nature abhors a vacuum'- in other words, when a space is created in the body, that space will become filled with something if left alone. During a tummy tuck procedure, a very large space is created between the abdominal soft tissue flap and the abdominal wall. Since this flap will be closed, its important to place drains in the space to reduce the collection of fluid that can occur. The temporary discomfort and inconvenience of a couple... more

Scott Sattler, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Drains with Tummy Tuck

Most plastic surgeons will use drains following a tummy tuck. A very large potential space is created when the skin and fat are elevated from the underlying muscle. If drains are not placed, fluid (seroma) accumulates here which interferes with healing. Some surgeons attempt to place "quilting sutures" to prevent the seroma formation, but the placement of drains is much more commonplace.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Pros and cons

Over 50% of patients will have some element of a seroma (collection of fluid) after a tummy tuck. This fluid has to go somewhere and most patients would prefer it come out as opposed to walking around with a water balloon. The drains are inconvenient, awkward, and cumbersome but they are also, in most instances, necessary.

Robert Frank, MD
Munster Plastic Surgeon

Drainage after Tummy Tuck

The previous posters have answered the reason for a drainage system after tummy tuck. From my point of view it borders on malpractice not to drain a tummy tuck. It is for safety and the standard of care. Be careful out there.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

You need a drain with a tummy tuck

There is a space between the skin and the muscle after a tummy tuck that will fill up with fluid without a drain (seroma). This creates a barrier between these two layers and significantly inhibits their chance of knitting together. Some have tried to use sutures to obliterate this space and avoid a drain, but I personally do not believe in this technique.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck and drains

As a general comment, drains are placed whenever a surgeon anticipates the continued creaton of fluid which in turn would slow proper healing. There is no reason to place drain tubes when this does not happen. The lifting of the skin and fat of the tummy to allow muscle repair and removal of all loose skin creates a large cavity which commonly secretes fluid. Failure to drain will always result in a seoma. Some surgeons believe that by stitching the raised skin/fat flap to the underlying... more