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Are Drainage Tubes Used for Neck Lift and/or Face Lift?

asked 1 year ago by toadsmom in Long Island
Latest answer by Babak Azizzadeh, MD
Question viewed 570 times
Tags: drainage

I need a revision to my neck lift. Some doctors are saying the use of drainage tubes is obsolete. My original surgeon used them and I was left with alot of scar tissue where the tubes were. He said it was a fibrotic reaction. A friend had a face lift without the tubes and had a great amount of swelling from built up fluid that caused problems with healing. I am confused. If my original surgeon does the revison he will use them again. Is there anything I can do to prevent the fibrotic reation?

19 answers to Are Drainage Tubes Used for Neck Lift and/or Face Lift?

Both options are still utilized and should be customized

Both options are still utilized and need to be customized to the type of face and neck lift. Tisseel glue is an excellent option if you had a fibrotic reaction with tubes. Tisseel "locks" the skin to the underlying tissue and allows the surgeon to avoid putting a drain. see video

Babak Azizzadeh, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.facialplastics.info

Revision Face Lift, Neck Lift and Use of Drains

Hi Toadsmom, The use of drains following a facelift/necklift is based on a surgeon’s preference and experience. Many times the type of facelift may influence a surgeon to use or forgo a drain, as well. There are no definitive studies to show that a drain prevents hematomas, but if a surgeon has operated for years using drains and has not had a hematoma, chances are that he/she is going to keep using drains. Most surgeons stick to the procedure that has worked for them. In my... more

Sarmela Sunder, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.sunderplasticsurgery.com

To Put in Drains or Not on a Facelift

I have found that using drains for just one night after a Facelift or brow lift really does reduce swelling and bruising. Patients find the concept a bit disconcerting, however, it really isn't an issue at all. Like many surgeons who use drains on facelifts, I remove them the morning after surgery. Unlike some surgeons, I do not make a separate incision for the drain but rather bring it out through the regular incision in the crease behind the ear. Removal of the... more

Louis W. Apostolakis, MD
Austin Facial Plastic Surgeon

Use of drainage tubes in face lift and neck lift

It is not obsolete to use drainage tubes in a facelift or neck lift, nor is it mandatory. Each surgeon must assess the individual patient and procedure - size of the incision, amount of undermining of the skin flap, amount of oozing or bleeding noted at the time of surgery, etc. - and make a reasonable determination as to whether or not drains are necessary. Whichever surgeon you choose, let him/her use their best medical judgment regarding the use of drains. more

Vincent D. Lepore, MD
San Jose Plastic Surgeon

Drains and surgery

Drains are pretty much surgeon preference. If a drain were left in for an extended time in a very thin neck it is possible that it might create a bit of irregularity, especially if the drain were fairly large. Getting drains out sooner rather than later may be preferable and if fluid builds up, it can be aspirated (drained with needle and syringe) every few days until gone.

Byron D. Poindexter, MD
Reston Plastic Surgeon

Drainage tubes after facelift.

I do not use drainage tubes in facelifts for 30 years. Some good surgeons do. Pick a surgeOn who has good results with or without tubes!

Toby Mayer, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Drains are often used after facelifts or necklifts

Depending on the extent of your revision surgery as well as your surgeon's training and preferences, drains may or may not be used. I personally tend to prefer the use of drains overnight (I remove them the following morning) in order to prevent the accumulation of fluids that may encourage the formation of scarring underneath the skin. I find that early removal of the drains seems to prevent fibrosis around the drain itself. Best wishes on a successful outcome!

Jen Yuan Chow, MD
Pasadena Facial Plastic Surgeon

Drains After Face/ Neck Lift

Use of drains is largely decided by a Surgeon's training, experience, and preference. In certain cases, drains can be useful, but have potential drawbacks. I do not use active drains (Jackson Pratt: employ suction bulbs), but instead utilize a passive drain (Penrose drain: essentially a flexible rubber tube) while the compression dressing is in place after the procedure. This is my personal preference because I have experienced problems with JP drains in the past and feel I... more

Stephen Prendiville, MD
Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon

Face and Necklift drains

Depending on how much blood buildup occurs after a neck/facelift, a surgeons may or may not use drains. I do not use drains after a neck/facelift but instead attempt to keep bleeding as minimal as possible and use gentle manipulation the day after surgery to remove any possible collection. Therefore the possiblities of fluid collection after surgery are treated without the possibility of fibrotic reaction from a drain.

Thomas T. Le, MD
Baltimore Facial Plastic Surgeon

Are drains needed after facelift/necklift?

Not everyonne uses a drain with a facelift or necklift, but they are certainly not obsolete, Every case is different. If there seems to be extra bleeding the surgeon may choose to use the drain. Leaving the drain for less than two days and also not bringing it out a separate incision are two ways to minimize a fibrotic reaction.

Neal Goldberg, MD
Westchester Plastic Surgeon

Drains and facelifts

Drains are used by many plastic surgeons (myself included) for facelifts, usually for a short period of time (1-3 days) to eliminate fluid that might collect between the skin and the underlying muscle layer. Drains do not prevent hematomas from developing but might alert the surgeon to unusual bleeding. If the drain emerges from a separate small hole (usually way back behind the ear in the scalp), that hole might leave a scar, which is usually small and typically well hidden. The tract if... more

Tim Abou-Sayed, MD
Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

Drainage tubes for Neck lift

The use of drainage tubes can be variable depending on the extent of the surgery and whether the surgeon feels that there may be more fluid than usual after the surgery. A variety of drainage tubes can be used-with and without suction which may have an impact on scarring. Drainage tubes serve to evacuate fluid which can build up and leave to a poor postoperative result.

Kristin Egan, MD
Manhattan Beach Facial Plastic Surgeon

Drains after face lift

I ocassionaly use drain tubes in the neck or forehead of a face/brow lift. I do not plan this for every case but place them if I feel the patient needs them. They stay in overnight only. Samer W. Cabbabe, M.D. Board - Certified Plastic Surgeon Saint Louis Plastic Surgery Consultants

Samer W. Cabbabe, MD
Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon

Drainage Tubes with Facelift / Neck Lift

The need for drainage tubes is at the discretion of the surgeon. Most surgeons use the drainage tubes while some do not. The risk of not using the drainage tubes is exactly what you describe - build up of fluid under the skin. If you feel comfortable with your original surgeon that I would go there again. If not, I would suggest seeking other consultations. Good Luck.

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Facelift and drains

Every surgoen is different, but in the majoirty of the face and neck lifts that I perform, I use drains. I like to use them to eliminate as much blood that may sit under the flaps and thus potentially decrease the bruising that can persist in some patients for several weeks.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Facelift and Necklift Drains

The use of drains in face and neck lift surgery is variable. I keep most my patients overnight, and routinely use drains. I remove them in the morning, before the patient is discharged. While drains will not prevent hematoma, they do seem to decrease facial swelling. For revisions, I am less likely to use drains, because there is usually a defined plane to follow and it seems to swell less. However, I still use them most the time. It is how I trained, and it works. As the... more

Joseph Mele, MD
Walnut Creek Plastic Surgeon

Face Lift, Beverly Hills Face Lift, Local Face Lift, Radiesse, perlane, Cheek Implants

I have performed Face Lifts and Neck Lifts for over 20 years and the use of drainage tubes would and should depend on the amount of tissue dissection planned during your revision Face Lift and Neck Lift. As you mentioned, the main reasons for using a bulb suction (nothing more aggressive is required) drain is to remove the serous fluid and bleeding that otherwise would accumulate under the skin. This fluid accumulation is not only swelling and bruising that lasts... more

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Face lift and neck lift with good results.

Hi. Drains are usually not necessary, but that's not how you should make a choice of surgeon. You need to have absolute trust. I don't know why you have scar tissue, but I can tell you that drains do not cause scar tissue. There must be another explanation.

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Drains are a judgement call with necklift

I perform different styles of face and necklift on patients depending on their particular anatomy. Sometimes I use a suction drain that I remove the following day, other times I just place a pressure dressing. Their is no scientific evidence that either will prevent a collection of fluid, but if I am performing a rather extensive surgery, I feel better leaving a drain in. Ultimately, if you had fibrotic firmness in the area of the drain afterward, I would inject some dilute steroid and this... more