Drains After Tt?

Im having a tt-mostly just for loose skin aboube belly button-my stom already flat. do I really need a pain pump and drains?

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13 Doctor Answers | Asked by beth5062 in nj

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Pain Pump and Drains after Tummy Tuck

A pain pump is not a necessary item and, according to some plastic surgeons, drains are not necessary either. I would say that most plastic surgeons use drains to presumably prevent a fluid collection.

Drains after a tummy tuck.

The drains collect fluid which will invariably build up and help the skin flap reattach to the abdominal wall. In certain cases of a lipo-abdominoplasty where the liposuction cannula is used to free up the skin, drains can be avoided. I prefer to bring the drains out the ends of the incision which eliminates the (sometimes) bothersome scars in the pubis.

David Bogue, MD

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Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

Drains

The drains are for eliminating the dead space until there is a seal and it heals. Otherwise the area fills up with fluid

Drains and Tummy Tucks

Yes, I would use drains for your tummy tuck because, even with a smaller tummy, a so-called dead space is created during the procedure when the skin is lifted or undermined. Weepage of body fluid from the lifted fat on the abdominal flap may be too much for the body to absorb without drains for a few days and can lead to a fluid collection called a seroma. Many South American plastic surgeons are using "quilting sutures" underneath the lifted skin flap to obliterate the... more

Drains and pumps

I use drains in all my tummy tucks because they reduce the risks of seroma and wound dehiscence. As for the pain pumps, I have not been a fan because they can malfunction and are quite expensive. I have found that pain can be controlled with medication and my patients have reported that the pain is much more tolerable than they expected. Pain elimination in full can pose a dilemma as, if you don't feel pain, you are far more likely to overexert and risk a complication.

Drains and pumps

Most plastic surgeons use drains for abdominoplasty. As far as pain pumps many of us are giving them up in favor of a new pain control injection called Exparel. I would research this medication too as I believe it is a game changer in abdominoplasty recovery. The medication is a long lasting local anesthetic that numbs the muscle and skin for 72 hours after the procedure. My patients have been showing recoveries literally night and day from 6 months ago. It is... more

Drains and pain pump after TT.

Most surgeons routinely use drains after a TT, but there is a small trend to use multiple sutures tacking the tissue to the muscles and not using drains. The majority of cases are performed using drains. I stopped using pain pumps 8 years ago as they were expensive and leaked and often times malfunctioned. I now inject long acting numbing medicine in the fascia (deep layer just above the muscles) before closing the incision. Using standard oral pain medicine and muscle relaxers after... more

Drains after Tummy Tuck

I previously used pain pumps for my tummy tuck patients, but rarely do so now. The painful part of the surgery is the tightening of the muscles. This is usually tolerable with oral pain medication. If you know that you don't handle pain well, a pump might be a good idea. Most plastic surgeons use drains to evacuate the fluid that always fills the space betweent he skin/fat layer and the muscle layer after surgery. The drains need to stay in place until the drainage is low enough that an... more

Drains and Pain Pump after Tummy Tuck

Regarding a pain pump after a rummy tuck, this is purely your choice. The pain pump infuses a small amount of numbing medicine for 3-5 days after surgery. My experience is that it doesn't entirely get rid of the pain and it adds more tubes that you need to carry around after surgery. I stopped using them about 2 years ago and now use an injectable long acting pain medicine. Drainage tubes are standard after tummy tucks and you should expect to have 1 or 2 drains for up to a week. They... more

Drains after Tummy Tuck

The pain pump is a matter of choice, the drains are a matter of necessity. Patients who have used pain pumps are generally happy with them. There is an added cost and they are a bit cumbersome. If you choose to go without the pain pump, which is the most common approach, you will have pain medication provided and will do ok also. The question of drain use depends on your surgeon. Some surgeons use a technique that doesn't require drains. If you read some of the... more

Yes to drains, no to pain pump after tummy tuck

In my opinion, a drain is necessary to prevent fluid build up and hasten healing but a pain pump is not necessary when you can take pain meds and muscle relaxants by mouth.

Drains and Pain Pump after Tummy Tuck

This is bets discussed with your surgeon. Many tummy tuck patients do fine without pain pumps. Some plastic surgeons don't use drains and instead use internal sutures to decrease the occurrence of seromas.

Drains After Tt?

You may not need a pain pump since nothing is done to the abdominal muscles, there should be less discomfort. (Many surgeons never use them.) As to the use of a drain, the absence of muscle repair has no bearing. The large space created is the same, and for the majority of surgeons who use drains, they would use them in your case. Thanks and best wishes.