Increased Bleeding from Drain 1 Week Post Op After Tummy Tuck with Darker Color, is This Normal?

I had a big tummy tuck 1 week ago and had 2 drains inserted. One fell out a couple of days ago and since then the bleeding was decreasing. The color changed from dark red with some excessive clear yellow fluid to bright red/pinkish with some clots and assuming to stop. Yesterday it went from 180cc(ml) down to 40cc(ml). It only accumilated 40cc(ml) from 08:00 am till 23:00 pm. Today it increased and I'm now up to 300cc(ml) from this morning (7h ago) and color is back to dark red. Is this normal?

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by Darina

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Change in drainage

Although this may simply represent drainage of a pocket that had partly been sealed off from the drain, there is a small possibility that some bleeding has occurred, so a call to your surgeon is the best step. The surgeon will ask a few additional questions and decide whether you need to be seen. Best wishes.

Increased Drainage 1 Week after Tummy Tuck

Any increase in drainage with a change to a darker color may be a residual fluid or blood collection draining into the drain from a more remote locale. However, it could be a sign of bleeding, and an exam is likely needed or at least close observation.

Hello

You need to make sure you ask your PS that question without seeing what you are talking about its hard to answer that question.

Increasing drain output one week after a tummy tuck

The very large increase in drain output and appearance over the last 24 hours one week post tummy tuck is a worrisome sign. I would call your plastic surgeon immediately and be examined as soon as possible.