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Lack of Drainage After Liposuction?

asked 3 years ago by kcoolmama in houston, tx
Latest answer by George J. Beraka, MD
Question viewed 552 times
Tags: fat reduction, healing

I am 12 days post op from liposuction. I was very surprised to find my incisions were stitched closed and I had NO drainage. I thought my surgeon said he used tumescent and no sutures. Anyway, I see some results in the abdomen, but my back is very swollen and there are some large, hard sensitive areas on my flanks.

My lower body does not "seem" to be swollen but also doesn't seem changed. What is the likely cause of the lumps and is it OK? For the body parts that do not seem swollen, should I see future results or is this it? Why no drainage?

3 answers to Lack of Drainage After Liposuction?

+1

Drainage after liposuction stops in 48 hours.

Hi. At 12 days, I would not worry unless you have hard lumps.  We leave the incisions open, but many plastic surgeons close them
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Lack of drainage after Liposuction?

Liposuction is a closed procedure, as such it does not require drainage. When done with small cannulas, there are no large continuous cavities where lakes of fluid, or seromas, can accumulate. I don't know any surgeon that drains liposution with drains. As far as leaving the incisions open, practices vary. I personally put two staples on each incision just to help it heal faster, but it still drains thru a little bit. I inject a lot of tumescent fluid, but frankly, I like to leave that... more
Ricardo Rodriguez, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Liposuction drainage is brief, swelling is expected to an extent

Hello, I loosely close my liposuction incisions and they drain for only a day or two. Swelling is pretty normal whether or not you drain much as some doctors inject more tumescent solution than others. Swelling is seen as the remaining fat responds to the procedure. As you can see some of this depends upon the technique your doctor used and you might be better off addressing your concerns with him or her. Small liposuction cases do not look much changed right afterward until the swelling... more
John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon

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