BBL drains or no drains? Lymphatic Massage or not?

I do not use drains.  This is more preference than anything else.  Lymphatic massage is OK, but I do not think it is mandatory.Find a board certified plastic surgeon who performs hundreds of
Brazilian buttlifts each year. Look for great reviews and great before
and after pictures.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

When doing comprehensive 360 liposuction of the trunk before a BBL, I most often use drains.This is because there is always a chance for there to be a seroma. A seroma is a pocket of clear serous fluid that sometimes develops in the body after liposuction or surgery in general. By placing one or two drains, we greatly reduce the chance to have fluid build up.When it comes to lymphatic massage, I always recommend it. I have every patient who undergoes a procedure return the very next day for a lymphatic massage with a massage therapist. After surgery, your body goes into a state of trauma and will swell. Lymphatic massage will aid your body during recovery and reduce the amount of time recovery takes by addressing that swelling. Check out this video with our massage therapist as she discusses the importance of lymphatic massage.

Thank you for your question. I do not use drains for liposuction.  Lymphatic massages will help with the swelling after liposuction. Best Wishes.

Hello, Thanks for your question.Lymphatic Drainage Massages are pretty helpful when it comes to reducing your recovery period because they aid, like the name says, to drain the inflammatory fluid accumulation. The will normally not affect the outcome, but after liposuction, the lymphatic system is kind of overloaded, so they definitely help on draining that lymph excess. Now concerning the drains, I rarely use them for liposuction. Just in cases where it has been a major one and specially for the lower back region. When a lot of fat is extracted, normally the cannula has passed more than several times through that area, and that creates what in medicine we call a "third space", which is what could be described as a empty space created due to dissection (in this case the cannula dissects and creates it). Interstitial fluid (blood, serum, etc) may collect in this space and the surgeon may have to puncture and aspirate it. To avoid this, pre-cautious surgeons sometimes may foresee this and put a drain for 24 hours. Both of them are not mandatory, but may result very helpful in many situations. Hope this explanation can help you better understand this concept and clear your mind of doubts about this subject. Take good care of yourself, Dr. Fernandez Goico

It is like making chicken soup amongst chefs. They all make it differently but it comes out like chicken soup!  Don't focus on the way they do it, focus on the results.

I do not use drains on my BBLs nor do my colleagues.   They are not necessary and are an entrance route for infection.  NO NEED FOR DRAINS!     As far as massage is concerned I believe this also is not necessary but okay if it feels comforting.  BUT UNNECESSARY.   My theory is that fundamentally all massage is lymphatic.  When you massage an area you are hoping you can massage and influence some of the fluid in the tissues to find its way into the lymph vessels and be washed away.   Fundamentally massage is directed toward the heart or locally to a lymph collecting center.   But remember that after surgery the lymphatic vessels are in a disorganized state and must connect before they function effectively.  So if a massage manages to get rid of the fluid a little, the next day it is right back there.  The lymphatics take a long time to connect  ...(4 to 6 months or more).   So does massage really help speed things along.  I believe the answer is no.  Nevertheless it is comforting for some patients to have a massage and that is fine and temporarily there is a reduction of fluid in that specific area.   SO MASSAGE IS OPTIONAL AND HOPEFULLY ALL MASSAGE IS LYMPHATIC.   Hope this helps.    My Best,  Dr C