What is Average Time for Drains to Stay in After Tummy Tuck?

                   Drains
are frequently used in the post-operative period in abdominoplasty patients to
minimize the potential for seroma formation.  Drains are typically left in place for 7-14 days following
surgery.  They are usually removed
when drainage drops below 25cc per 24 hour period.

                   The
management of surgical drainage varies from patient to patient.  Each patient has unique surgical
anatomy and surgical procedures are modified for each individual patient for
these reasons.  In addition each
surgeon has his own drain protocols. 
In some patients, drainage may persist for longer periods of time,
especially if patients are physically active.  When drains are removed to early, there may be an increased
complication rate.  This might
result in seroma formation which requires multiple aspirations or replacement
of the drain.  Although drains seem
to be a major nuisance, they serve  a very important function in most
abdominoplasty patients.

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.

Thank you for your question! On average patients have the drains for 2 weeks post surgery. Removal of the drains is dependent on the 24 hour totals of fluid that the body is producing. Best of luck!

I almost always place drains with an abdominoplasty; while a mini-abdominoplasty without liposuction may not warrant drain placement, a full tummy tuck with liposuction has more potential to create fluid collections under the skin. The drains provide an egress point for the fluid as your body is healing, Think about a scrape on your knee. Once it stops bleeding, you will note some clear yellow liquid on your bandaid; this is the type of fluid your body weeps with an injury. Now imagine the surface area of "injury" with a tummy tuck. That same kind of fluid will weep, and you don't want it to collect in a pocket under the skin - the drains do a good job of providing an exit point. As your knee scrape heels, it weeps less and less fluid. Similarly, as your abdomen heals, it will weep less and less fluid, making the drains no long necessary. I usually place two drains for an abdominoplasty with flank (love handle) liposuction; one drain is usually removed at about 1 week and the other drain is usually ready to come out closer to 2 weeks. 

Thank you for your question.  Drains serve an important purpose after tummy tuck:  to prevent seroma, or fluid collection, in the area of operation.  Most patients typically keep the drains for 1-2 weeks.  I allow my patients to shower with the drains in place, they can be concealed beneath loose clothing, and are essentially painless to remove.

Hello Time4meTX, Thank you for your questions about how long drains stay in after a tummy tuck.  This is a very common question. There is no "magic" number of days the drains stay in after a tummy tuck. Drains are removed when their output is low. Different plastic surgeons have different parameters on when drains should be removed.  In my Beverly Hills plastic surgery practice, I remove drains when their output is less than 30 mL per drain over a 24 hour period for two consecutive days. If you had a "small" tummy tuck, drains are removed 7 to 10 days after surgery, on average.  If you had a "large" tummy tuck, drains may stay in for 2 to 3 weeks, on average.  I hope that I have answered your questions regarding how long, on average, drains stay in place after a tummy tuck.  If you have any more questions regarding the tummy tuck or abdominoplasty, please contact my office.  Sincerely, Dr. Katzen.

Drains are placed during a tummy tuck, because the body produces fluid in response to any injury (and the body doesn't know the difference between an injury and surgery) and this fluid needs a way out. While the body can reabsorb some of that fluid on its own, if it is producing more than it can absorb, the fluid can collect and lead to infections or contour irregularities. The drains provide a way for the extra fluid to exit the body. They are removed when their output has decreased to a certain point (meaning the body is now capable of reabsorbing all the wound fluid). In tummy tucks, the first drain can usually come out in 5-7 days and the second drain in 10-14 days.

This is one of the most common questions I get asked! Unfortunately, there is not one correct answer. The time to remove the drains depends on the amount of fluid draining out of them each day. Typically for my patients, all drains are removed by 7-14 days. The drains are important to prevent fluid from building up which can cause pressure on the stitches or even lead to an infection. 

Thank you for your question.  Drains are typically removed when there is less than 30cc in the drain for 24 hours.  In most cases, the first drain comes out by day 7 and the second drain by day 14.  Note that the drainage may increase after the first couple of days and the patient moves about more.  Each Board Certified Plastic Surgeon is different.  Best to share the goals with them, and together you will make a plan. 

           

Thank you for your question.  For an average tummy tuck, drains are often left in place for about a week.  Occasionally and depending upon the extent of the procedure these drains will be left in for longer depending on the amount of drainage that is being put out over a 24 hour period.  The purpose of the drains are to prevent the development of a seroma (a collection of fluid below the skins surface) post-operatively.   I hope this helps.

For a straightforward abdominoplasty, drains will be in for a week or so.  If a lot of liposuction has been performed, maybe 2 weeks.  Drains are not always required, but if they are not used, seroma formation and the need for in-office aspirations will be more common.