Is It Normal for Drain to Pull out Large Blood Clots During Tummy Tuck Recovery?

The drains were put in place to remove the blood/fluid/clots...if the clots slow the normal drainage into the bulb, then this can be fixed in the following way:
1. Undo the cap to release suction and replace the cap in place
2. Take an alcohol swab or moist gauze "strip" the tube towards the bulb, holding the tube closer to the abdomen
3. Keep stripping til the clot breaks into smaller pieces, then
4. Squeeze the bulb and replace the cap...and see if there is normal flow
5. If not, keep repeating 1-4 multiple times
6. If this doesn't work, the surgeon can irrigate the tube with a sterile technique...til there is normal flow.
7. Leave the drains in place til no clots and light yellow drainage, less then 20-25cc per drain per 24 hours.
Your surgeon should evaluate you frequently to mak e sure that you are not accumulating blood under the flap. Good luck! 

Some small clots are typically seen in the drain tubes.  The drainage color will also lighten as healing progresses.  I encourage you to discuss your situation with your surgeon to determine if the size and amount of your drainage is within normal limits.

            It’s
not unusual for patients to have clots of blood and fibrin within their
surgical drains. This is a normal phenomena that’s managed by frequently
stripping the drains. Although this may be a source of anxiety for patients
this is a normal finding.

             When
patients have large volumes of bloody drainage it’s important to consult your
plastic surgeon immediately. This finding could indicate a more serious problem
such as an abdominal hematoma. Under these circumstances it’s important to make
your plastic surgeon aware of the situation.  

Thanks for your question. Clots are definitely normal. As long as the output is not going up and your abdomen has a normal contour then it is likely okay. Let your surgeon take a look if you are concerned. Best of Luck!

It is very common for there to be large clots in the drains in the first few days post-op from a tummy tuck.  The key is to make sure that the overall output is not too high and that you are keeping your surgeon updated on the output.  If all else is well, I would not be concerned.