When you have a thigh lift procedure performed, why do they put in drain tubes? What is the purpose for this?

Drain tubes are often required after plastic surgical procedures. They are soft silastic (silicone) tubes that go under the skin to drain excess fluid out of a wound or incision. When a surgery like a thigh lift, tummy tuck or arm lift are performed, the skin and fatty tissue is mobilized off of the underlying muscle and bones so that the excess tissue can be removed. The skin that we are saving is then repositioned and tightened to make a better contour. Underneath that ‘flap’ of tissue that has been moved is now a potential space that can fill up with blood and fluid, which can cause problems healing. The cut surfaces on the inside weep fluid after surgery as a response to the injury it has sustained from being lifted and moved. The drains pull that out. Right after surgery your body makes a lot of fluid, but after a week or two the tissue starts to recuperate and heal, and no longer makes so much fluid. Once the fluid production tapers off it is safe to remove the drain tubes without worry of build up or the fluid collection causing problems during healing.
Admittedly, drain tubes are a pain, a nuisance and a bother to take care of. However, they do make it possible for us to do some wonderful body re-contouring surgeries safely.

Hi Rudolph, thanks for your question! Surgeons often use drains in patients who have a large amount of skin excised due to the increased amount of space between the layers of the skin.  When there is more space under the skin, there is an increased chance of fluid build up and an increased risk for seromas and poor wound healing.  This is the same reason for compression after surgery.  Compression garments force the skin layers to stick together, preventing the formation of seromas.  Drains usually remain in the body for up to a week.  Hope this helps! 

Drains are an important tool to manage space after the resection of large amounts of tissue.  They keep the fluid out and let the layers of your body on the inside heal together.  They are temporary and usually remain for a week depending on the volume of fluid produced.
With that said I will sometimes not use a drain for thigh lifts or tummy tucks when I use progressive tension sutures.  these are sutures I place on the inside to have the tissue down and together to close the space off that would normally collect fluid.
Each patient is approached differently so you need to be seen by a plastic surgeon to come up with the final treatment plan.  Not every patient is a candidate for the no drain thigh lift.