Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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Drains or Quilting Sutures for TT?

I've had 2 consults for a full TT with breast implants. Both surgeons were highly recommended, board certified, 30+ yrs experience. One uses quilting sutures, no drains and lipo to sculpt entire area. Other surgeon uses drains and very Iimited lipo. Of course I'd prefer no drains and I think I'd need lipo on the upper abdomen to get a smooth result. But is this way of doing it safe? Are there increased risks? And if not, why don't all surgeons do quilting method? (I'm 39, 5'3", 123#, healthy)

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age 35-44 female 5 ft 0 in to 5 ft 3 in 110-129 lbs comparison drainage quilting risk sutures

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14 Doctor Answers | Asked by UGAgirl in Florida

Doctor Answers (14)
Community Comments (1)

Drains or Quilting Sutures for Tummy Tuck?

Not having drain tubes after Tummy Tuck surgery is obviously a very attractive proposition. The quilting sutures are NOT new and have been with us for over 10 years. The questions are: does it work in everyone? What are the consequences of NOT using drains? I was trained to do Tummy Tuck surgery with the use of drains. Years later, I switched to the use of quilting sutures as proposed by Drs. Pollock of Dallas and used various configurations with and without drains. I even used such... more

Why not BOTH drain and quilting sutures?

This is not how you choose a surgeon! A drain is useful to reduce fluid that collects in the cavity created by raising the skin flaps. Quilting sutures help to tack the skin flap down, but cannot completely eliminate the residual "dead space" where fluid collects. Why not use both, reducing the length of time the drain has to be left in, and increasing the likelihood that once it is removed that there is sufficient healing to prevent fluid from reaccumulating and aspiration via... more

Tummy tuck is safe without drains

Tummy tuck is safe without drains with a very low complication rate. It seems by reviewing this site that the techniques are controversial, though tummy tuck without drains is widely practiced, and the techniques are published, and repeated by many. You can have a great result with or without a drain, and the key issue is which surgeon do you put your trust and faith in. A drain is a secondary concern. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

New way of doing a tummy tuck - NO DRAINS

The use of quilting sutures is becoming more and more popular. This technique does not require the use of post-surgical drains and is perfectly safe and acceptable. I have been performing all tummy tucks for about 18 months now and I am very happy with the outcomes. Some surgeons have not yet considered the use of quilting sutures or just don't feel comfortable to change a technique that has worked for them for many years. It doesn't mean that the newer... more

Go with whoever you feel confortable with

Each surgeon has his/ her way of doing tummy tuck. Just choose the one that you feel confortable with. The drain should not your biggest concern.

Drains or sutures..

As you can see from the 3 surgeons responding to your question, there are varying opinions on this issue. Surgical judgement is based on individual surgeon's training, experience, and published scientific data. I have been using progressive tension sutures (PTS) with no drains for over thiry years without a single case of post op fluid accumulation (seroma). We recently published nearly 600 consecutive cases of TT using PTS and NO... more

Drains with tummy tuck

Either method is acceptable. I have gone back to using drains because of concerns over seromas(fluid collections). I will suction the upper abdomen at the same time, but some surgeons are hesitant to do so. If I suction, then I think the drains are even more important. Since either method works, I would choose the surgeon you feel most comfortable with. Good luck.

Drains or Quilting Sutures for TT?

Here Here for Dr. Rand. Drains are for prevention of accumulation of fluids. Quitting is a suture technique that has become a media issue. In my opinion over 90% of boarded PS use some form of drains in TTs. Only 5% use quitting. You do the math, chose upon experience. From MIAMI

Tummy tuck, liposuction and quilting sutures

Both approaches are be reasonable. When it comes to liposuction during an abdominoplasty, it can be safely performed in most patients when done in the deeper planes. This will usually result in a thinner and more sculpted final result. As far as quilting sutures go, it can allow avoidance of drains with probably a minimal risk of seroma formation. Most surgeons are simply used to using drains only. Also, plication sutures add more surgical time which may be seen as a drawback. more

Need individual plan for tummy tuck.

Hi. 1) I don't exactly agree with either surgeon. One should not do the same operation on different women. Also, the final decision about drains is often best made during surgery. Here are some general concepts: 2) We do use quilting sutures on most patients. You have to learn to do it, and it makes the operation a little longer, but they are a good thing. They distribute skin tension and decrease drainage. 3) We do quite a bit of liposuction of the upper abdomen and of... more

Tummy Tucks Using Drains vs. No Drains

Whether drains are used or not in tummy tucks is a matter of plastic surgeon preference and experience. The quilting technique used during surgery to eliminate the use of drains has caught a lot of media attention and is very valuable from a marketing perspective, but it is not conclusively proven to completely eliminate seroma formation and does not result in a better tummy tuck result. While it is appealing from a patient's perspective to not have a drain after a tummy tuck, your... more

Both may work,but drains use by most surgeon becuse they work

The issue of the drains as Dr Rand ststed should be the last thing in your decision making. I do use extensive lipo and drains.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD

28 reviews

New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

This drain issue with tummy tucks is ridiculous

Somehow this drain thing has become a big issue with patients on RS. It should not even be of concern to you as you decide where to go for surgery. The surgeon chooses which works best based on their experience in getting your best result with the fewest complications. I'd bet that 90+% of plastic surgeons use a drain in tummy tucks if you polled the nation.

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Comments (1)

BBGalini 14 Aug 2012

Drains are easy and I was most worried about them. I had one removed yesterday and it was a cinch! Just pin the bulbs to your garments and keep track of drainage amount. It's easy.

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