Does the recovery time for a drainless tummy tuck differ from a drain tummy tuck?

Thank you for your question.  Drain less tummy tuck is not a new idea.  It has been described and used for over 35 years.  Many surgeons are hesitant to advance to newer techniques until time has shown that the methods do really work.  So, while this is not new, it continues to slowly be embraced by surgeons.  In my experience patients have less pain, ambulate sooner and return to activities sooner.  Studies also showed less complications with this technique.  While the healing of tissues may be the same with or without drains the patients do better with drain less technique.

Drains are usually left in a week to two weeks, during which activity and mobility are limited. By using a drainless technique, my patients are up and around immediately and within 7-14 days are going back to work for sedentary jobs.  The virtual elimination of seromas with the need of needle aspiration to treat them, plus the elimination of the discomfort and scarring from drains are significant advantages.

The #drainage tubes for a tummy tuck are used by trained Plastic Surgeons for many different operations. The purpose is to drain extra fluid which may otherwise accumulate under the skin, fat or muscle following an operation.  Patients generally find this annoying and uncomfortable and they can impede mobility and therefore slow aspects of #healing. Over the years, surgeons have improved procedures and found ways to eliminate the need for these #drains in a variety of operations; including #tummy #tuck or #abdominoplasty.
I have found that most of my patients do very well with the exception of those have large areas of liposuction or lipo-abdominoplasty.  I may use drains on a case by case basis for these patients. A newer option now can include the use of tissue #glue to adhere the abdominal #skin to the #muscle; eliminating any space that previously required a drain.
Controlling pain after
the surgery not only provides more comfortable #healing, but also quicker
healing.  When patients are painfree
after a tummy tuck, they are able to get out of bed and move around more
easily decreasing the chance of DVT
or blood clots in the leg veins, pneumonia and muscle weakness. All which result from
inactivity following any surgical procedure.
The suitability of your procedures and any specific risks may be determined during you #consultation. Also, another element to a satisfying result of your procedures are realistic #expectations. The best method and #technique for your #procedures will be discussed in greater length during your one-on-one consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

The tummy tuck surgery with or without drains is basically the same. The only difference is the addition of some additional sutures (progressive tension sutures) that helps to "quilt" the skin back down to the abdomen fascia. Because of this, the swelling and discomfort during recovery should be the same. It is quite interesting that patients that do not have drains do report that the surgery recovery seems easier and even less painful. I think that there is a psychological benefit to not having drains that translates into a decreased perception of pain and discomfort. But the amount of time needed to get back to heavy core exercise and the time needed to see the end results of surgery is unchanged. 

Although it is still quite acceptable to have drains following a tummy tuck, some plastic surgeons are now performing tummy tucks without drains.  Generally speaking, drains are placed to help remove any build up of fluid under the skin and to allow healing progress.  One can avoid placing drains by placing multiple dissolvable sutures/stitches internally to reattach the fatty tissues to the underlying muscle.  This avoids the build up of fluid, thus drains are not necessary.  My patients find it very nice not to have any annoying tubes or drains hanging from them during their recovery.  Drains can be a bit cumbersome and can sometimes cause some pain or discomfort.

Drainless tummy tucks have an easier first few weeks for the simple reason they don't have drains to manage.  The actual recovery times and situations depend mostly on how much muscle tightening and liposuction is done and not merely because one has drains or not.  I try not to use drains unless I absolutely have to and use a drainless technique as my standard.

Thank you for your question! Generally there is no difference in recovery time between drainless and drained tummy tucks.  Managing drains postoperatively can be cumbersome and painful so this reason the drainless tummy tuck patients have an advantage. I recommend you seek consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon. Good luck to you!

The recovery timeframe is similar for a drainless tummy tuck compared to a tummy tuck with drains.  The advantages of the drainless technique are improved patient comfort postoperatively.  The lack of tubes hanging from your body helps with quicker return to activity in the early recovery period; this also means no need to empty blood-tinged fluid every day from the drains.  Some patients describe pain at the skin exit site of the drains due to movement of the tubing irritating the skin, which is eliminated with the drainless technique.  There is a theoretical risk of infection with drains from bacteria entering under the skin through the drain tract that is also avoided.  I would recommend an in-person consultation with a plastic surgeon well versed in drainless tummy tucks to further discuss the advantages of this technique.
Ziyad Hammoudeh, MD@drhammoudehMayo Clinic-trained, Double Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonDiplomate, American Board of Plastic SurgeryDiplomate, American Board of Surgery

When we switched to the drainless abdominoplasty a few years ago patients seemed to find the recovery time about the same but just much easier.  They found the drains inconvenient, sometimes messy, and just one more thing to take care of.  We probably had more calls and unscheduled visits because of drains (clogged, pulled partly out, etc.) than anything else in the post operative period.  A drainless abdominoplasty takes me a little longer to do because of the internal sutures involved to close off the space, but I think it's definitely worth it for the patient.

The use of the  drain less tummy tuck technique will be decided by your surgeon based on your anatomy . The recovery periods with and without a drain are comparable . Patients tend to be more comfortable with the drain less technique so they may recover more quickly for that reason alone.