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Drains or Quilting Sutures for TT?

asked 1 year ago by UGAgirl in Florida
Latest answer by Peter A. Aldea, MD
Question viewed 781 times
Tags: age 35-44, female, 110-129 lbs, 5 ft 0 in to 5 ft 3 in, comparison, drainage, quilting, risk, sutures

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)

12 answers to Drains or Quilting Sutures for TT?

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

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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

Martin Jugenburg, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

www.torontosurgery.ca

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.

Moneer Jaibaji, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

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

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Quilting sutures or drains

Each plastic surgeon will have their own preferred method of performing a tummy tuck. there is no right or wrong procedure or way of doing a TT. One of the commonest problems after surgery is seroma (fluid collection) in the tummy. Seromas often need repeated needle aspiration. The use of quliting sutures has markedly reduced the seroma rate. Quilting sutures and liposuction help to contour the abdomen as part of the surgery. The other advantage of quilting sutures is the... more

Isolde Hertess, MD
Gold Coast Plastic Surgeon

www.plasticsurgerycentregoldcoast.com.au

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

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

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

David A. Bottger, MD
Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon

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

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

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

George J. Beraka, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD
Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.eppleyplasticsurgery.com

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
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.