Why can't you shower with your drains in after a tummy tuck?

Thank you for your question. There’s no reason why not to shower with a drain in place. I have my patients shower within 24 hours if they are up to it, but most elect to wait 2-3 days. I tell them that they can hang the drain with a string around their neck, so it won’t tag on the drain insertion site. Go ahead get cleaned up! You’ll feel 100% better.

Every surgeon has their own ideas about showering with or without the drains.  I allow my patients to shower with the drains after 48 hours of surgery.  I ask them to wash around the drains with soap and water to help keep the area clean and lower bacterial count.I would discuss this with your plastic surgeons office as every surgeon has their own protocol.Hope that helps.

Dear misskaymae88,every plastic surgeon has his own postoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery