How Long Should I Expect to Have Surgical Drains After Mommy Makeover Surgery?

Almost every patient who undergoes a mommy makeover gets to
experience the ‘joy’ of drains.Surgical
drains are used to siphon off excess blood and fluid from the operative
area.Most often they are used with
tummy tucks, much less frequently for breast surgery.On the abdomen we have to lift the skin and
fat up off of the muscles in order to shift them down and cut away the
excess.This creates potential space.
Blood and fluid tend to seep from the raw surface area of the flap, and if this
is not drained out (with the surgical drain), it can build up, put pressure on
the incisions and create would healing problems.That fluid pocket is called a seroma, and
seroma formation is a bothersome complication that can be hard to treat.They are much more likely if drains are not
placed or are removed too soon.Usually
drainage from the drains gradually tapers off as healing progresses after
surgery, and typically by 7-14 days post-op the drainage has reduced to the
point that your body can just absorb any excess fluid.They key is how much drainage is coming out
daily from the drain.Usually if it is
less than 25cc in 24 hours it is safe to remove the drains.Everybody is a little different on how long
it takes to get down to a low enough level for drain removal (some people just
make more fluid than others). Don’t be alarmed if on you the drain has to stay
a little longer.Certainly it is easier
to deal with the drain in a little longer than it is to deal with a seroma.

My patients will typically have two drains which are placed and come out from just below the wounds on the left and right side. The drains are removed while you are still in hospital 1 -2 days after surgery.  This may vary depending on surgeon preference and the individual.

Hello, drain removal can vary from 1- 2 weeks. It also depends on how much fluid is coming out. Surgeons have different volumes of when they feel comfortable pulling the drains out. Thanks

TissueGlu allows a tummy tuck to be done without having to use a drain.  The recovery is much easier and quicker without the drain.

Drains are controversial, both in their use and duration of use. Surgeons have very specific preferences and you should check with yours.

#TummyTuckDrains timing for removal varies from surgeon to surgeon following a #MommyMakeover surgery. One to two weeks is the usual time for my patients for drains to be left in place and are generally removed when they drain less than 30 cc per 24 hours. If a lot of liposuction is done at the same time, it may take a bit longer.

Thank you for your question.  Drains are generally removed within 10 days following surgery. Some patients are able to have them removed earlier.  The level of activity can contribute to increased drainage and prolong the number of days you are required to keep your drains.  Follow your surgeon's advice regarding activity level and strenuous activity.Best of luck,

The use of drains, and time that they are left in after surgery, varies depending on the surgeon.  Some plastic surgeons leave drains in for a certain length of time, others remove them when they are draining a certain amount of fluid, and others avoid routine drain use altogether.  I have not used drains for the majority of my breast operations for years, and have decreased their use in many of my tummy tuck patients (depending on the extend of surgery etc). I have not seen an increase in complications in my patients as I have decreased the routine use of drains.  However, I would recommend speaking to your plastic surgeon about their practices.

We typically use three drains because it results in fewer complications in the long term. The first drain typically comes out at 7 days, the second at 9 days, and the third at 14 days. This minimizes the chance that will be a hemotma or seroma as things heal. However, this all depends on the amount of drainage you have.

Drains after a tummy tuck are placed under the abdominal skin. The skin has been elevated off the abdominal wall and fluid has a tendency to collect in the space. The drain prevents formation of seroma. Abdominoplasty drains are typically left in place for 1 to 2 weeks.I also like to use a pain pump. This infuses local anesthetic onto the abdominal wall and can help with some early postoperative pain. This is removed within the first week.