Liposuction: Q&A
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Is It Normal to Have Lipo to You Entire Abdomen, Flanks and Back and Not Get Drains?
I had Lipo in my entire abdomen, flanks and back with fat trasnfered to my buttocks and I didn't get drains put in does that affect my recovery? Does it prolong my recovery? I'm 4 weeks post op and I still have swollen and hard spots which I know it's normal, I was just wondering if the drains would have made my recovery faster or give me better results?
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12 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
Jus418
in New York, NY
+3
Liposuction and drains
No. Drains would not change your recovery. They are rarely used in liposuction.
Why not? Drains collect surgical fluid when there is one particular large space after surgery. Liposuction creates many surgical areas, all very small. Drains serve no purpose except if the surgeon wants to keep the incision open to allow fluid to drain. I prefer taping and snug garments.
Lymphatic massage may help your healing. Ask your surgeon if he/she recommends this for you.
A little more...
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+3
Drains Are Not Needed With Liposuction
Dear Jusi418, I have never used drains for liposuction in the last 18 years of performing this operation. Using drains does not increase or improve healing. Your swelling at 4 weeks is not related to fluid that can be removed with a drain, but is due to tissue swelling that resolves with time. We have used external ultrasonic massage starting at 2 weeks post-op and continue this for 2-4 weeks. We have found this to speed up lymphatic flow and improve results.
+3
Drains are not typically used for liposuction
It is an individual surgeon's choice to use drains and techniques vary widely, but typically drains are not utilized with lioposuction. There is alot of fluid (tumescent) infused into the tissues at surgery, some of which is removed by the liposuction. During the first few days, much of the fluid plus your own body fluids responding to the trauma of the procedure will leak out through the loosely closed incisions (or drains). Once the openings seal, the...
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+2
Are Drains Used for Liposuction?
The vast majority of plastic surgeons do not use drains following liposuction, in fact it would very unusual to find one that did. If you could see beneath the skin following liposuction it would not be an empty space where you could simply lay a drain in place, rather it is more like a honey comb appearance with the small arteries and veins, lymphatics vessels and nerves preserved. So even if you wanted to use a drain it would be hard to place.
What you are...
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+2
Liposuction and drains
I have never used drains for isolated liposuctin using PAL or with traditional liposuction. Aas for other technqiues like VASer or Smartlipo these two generat alot of heat and are more prone to seroma formation. A drain is sometimes used for these techniques.
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Liposuction and the use of drains
I have never used drains for any liposuction procedure, no matter how extensive or the volume. It is very common to have a lot of swelling after liposuction that persists for some time. This is largely temporary lymphedema of the tissues which takes months to go away. The use of drains after surgery would not likely have made any difference in what you are seeing now. They remove loose fluids and do not affect lymphedema. I leave the small stab incisions open at the completion of the...
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Drains arent used after liposuction
I have been doing liposuction for a while now and I have never had the need to use drains. additionlly, the tumescent assisted liposuction is a very safe and a minimally invasive procedure that is performed under local anesthesia without any skin loss. most of the fluid leaks out in the first 12 hrs and the rest is absorbed over a week or so. in certain cases it can take upto 6-8 weeks. I advised compression staockings which helps to resolve the swelling and gives better results, faster...
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Liposuction and drains
Drains are not typically used in liposuction as the excess fluid within the tissues drains itself via the access sites. The swelling after liposuction is within the soft tissues and usually can take 6-8 weeks to completely resolve. Compression garments can help control this edema and offer comfort during the recovery period.
+2
Drains are not always used after liposuction.
I often use drains after more aggressive liposuction cases or high definition liposculpture. This is because with aggressive liposuction fluid can continue to collect for many days and needs a way out. I do not use the same drains that I use for tummy tucks, I just use an open tube which helps to keep the incision open long enough to facilitate drainage.
Having said that, I don't use drains with every liposuction case though. I select those that would...
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Drains are not used after liposuction
Surgical drains are used in abdominoplasty because this involves dissection of the subcutaneous tissues from the fascia and musculature such that fluid could amass and create a seroma. However , liposuction is more superfical. Given the volume involved, it may take more time for the swelling to resolve.
+2
Drains are not used in liposuction.
It is normal to not have drains after liposuction and placing them would not have improved your results. There is no area where the tissues have been completely separated from the underlying structures so there is no pocket for the fluid to collect in. There is tissue swelling after liposuction but it is diffuse throughout the tissues and rarely forms a discreet pocket. The compression garment which is worn for weeks after liposuction helps to push the fluid out of...
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+1
Drains are not necessary following liposuction of the areas mentioned.
Drains are not normally necessary when liposuction is performed on these and other body areas.
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