Still have one drain 6 weeks post full tummy tuck and lipo. Is producing fluid this long a complication?

Since we are not your treating physician, it's difficult to answer your question as well as your own surgeon.  Six weeks is somewhat long to still be dealing with that high of an output.  In my experience, if one of my patients has prolonged need for a drain (greater than 3 weeks), I will either switch their antibiotics, or culture their fluid to see if there is a bacteria growing.  Having a drain in for several weeks make this more likely.  If i switch their antibiotics and it is still draining that fluid, I often remove the drain.  Many times, this does the trick, and they have no long term sequelae after that.Since you have had some other complications during this procedure, this may be slowing down your progress.  Good luck to you...

Dear Yalemom,

Six weeks is a long time to still be draining but the criteria in our office to remove the drain is to have 30 cc of output in a 24-hour period or less for three consecutive days. It is important that you continue wearing your compression garment and keep your activity level low so it does not produce so much. I also sometimes use tetracycline instilled through the drain for an hour then resume suction to see if that will cause it to collapse down. If it does not slow down, your cavity may have already formed a slick rind which then will require surgery to strip out that tissue and get fresh surfaces again.
I hope this has been helpful.
Robert D. Wilcox, MD

Your plastic surgeon is in the best position to understand why you need the drain for an extended period of time.