How Much Drainage from Tubes is of Concern?

I'm emptying about 40 mL out of both breasts every 4 hrs., the 3ed day after breast augmentation surgery. It seems like a lot. We are hoping it will slow down greatly over the next few days and get my tubes out on day 6. Just worried over the amount I am loosing, and has anyone had a similar experience, or any advice?

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by muf

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Drainage after Breast Augmentation

First of all, I usually don't use drains for the breast augmentation procedure. Drainage should start to chage to a watery yellow or ink drainage unless bleeding is actively going on. You should contact your physician to see if this is normal for his patients. Personally, I like to see under 30 ml in 24 hours to remove the drain hence the 40 ml every 4 hours is 8 times that amount. I would suggest that you see your doctor soon.

Drain tubes after breast implants

It is very uncommon to have drain tubes placed after a routine breast augmentation. However, there are some situations that may require there placement. As long as the drainage is decreasing and not bloody then I wouldn't be too concerned, however, you should check with your plastic surgeon just to be sure.

Drainage after breast augmentation

The amount of drainage on the 3rd post-operative day is of some concern. Important factors are the colour of the fluid (the paler the better!) and whether the volume is decreasing with time. Many surgeons (myself included) do not like to use a drain tube at all, or at least remove them after one night. Please check with your surgeon - s/he may have had a very good reason to use the drains and will know when to remove them.

Anindya Lahiri, MBBS

4 reviews

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

May be too much drainage

That much drainage calculates to 240 cc or 8 ounces each day. That's more than usual. If it is clear, you may just need time. If it is blood, call your surgeon and get checked. Either way you should be seen.

Drainage tubes themselves are a concern!

I am sorry to be a spoilsport, but I believe that any surgeon who uses drainage tubes for "standard" breast augmentation is causing their patients to have a higher risk of infection, capsular contracture, and re-operation. If the pocket is created atraumatically, without blunt dissection, and with precise and complete bleeding control, drains are neither necessary nor desirable! Sure, if this surgeon's type of breast implant surgical technique causes so much bleeding that a... more