Does This Drain Need to Come Out 10 Days Post-Op Tummy Tuck? (photo)

Question

I have been producing 25ml for the last 3 days. Today it is the color of pale yellow. My drainage tube insertion is bothering me. It is red, a little sore and has crusty discharge where the drain pokes into my body. Does it need to come out?

Robert F. Centeno, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Most Plastic Surgeons typically remove drains once the output is less than 30 ml in 24 hours.  It sounds like you may be there. Drains are placed to reduced dead space so that fluid does not accumulate. If they are removed prematurely it can increase your risk of a seroma. If it is left in too long it can get infected.    I would discuss drain removal with your surgeon since the skin is beginning to get very irritated.  Best wishes.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

#TummyTuckDrains timing for removal varies from surgeon to surgeon. One to two weeks is the usual time for my patients for drains to be left in place and are generally removed when they drain less than 30 cc per 24 hours, so it seems like you may be ready. Confirm with your plastic surgeon.

Pablo Prichard, MD · Answer

Thank you for your post.  Whenever there is a potential space in your body, your body tends to fill that space with serous fluid (the yellow type of fluid that also comes out of a 'weeping wound'.  This is similar to when you get a blister: the layers of skin separate and fluid is deposited in to the space.  In a tummy tuck, the space is in between the skin/fat layer and the muscle layer.  Most surgeons will place a drain to remove this fluid while your body is secreting it until the fat layer grows back together with the muscle layer.  At that point, no more fluid is secreted into the area, because there is no more space for fluid.  The length of time that this takes varies from patient to patient.  Some patients heal much faster, thus the layers seal together much faster.  Also, the more twisting motion you have in your belly area, the slower the two layers grow back together because they are moving in relation to each other.  The fluid coming through the drain can be initially dark red, and eventually clears to pink then yellow.  This is because it takes just a little bit of blood to make the fluid dark red.  Also, initially, there can be a large amount of fluid (few hundred cc's in the first day is not out of the range of normal) and this should slow down substantially over next few days.  Once the fluid slows down to the amount that your surgeon is comfortable with (usually 25-50 cc in 24 hours) then they will be pulled. There is minimal discomfort in pulling the drain in most patients.  More recently, 'drain free' surgery has become more popular. Fat layer is sutured down to the muscle layer starting at the ribs and progressively down to the lower incision.  This makes the space for the fluid to collect much smaller, and in many patients can have surgery without drains.  However, I have seen multiple patients come from other surgeons because they developed a seroma despite the suturing of the tissue.  This is not the surgeon's fault, but some patients just do not heal fast enough or put out too much fluid for the body to absorb.  Best wishes,Pablo Prichard, MD

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

My particular guideline is 30 cc/day, and if less is coming out, I will remove the drain. 

	The decision, though, is your surgeon's. Call for advice. Best wishes.

Angela Champion, MD · Answer

Typically, drains can be removed when you are producing less than 25-30ml in a 24 hour period. The final decision is up to your surgeon, so make sure to let your surgeon know how much fluid has collected.

Mennen T. Gallas, MD · Answer

Based on the information you provided, your drain can typically be removed.  When drainage drops to 30ml or below in a 24 hour period the drains are generally ready to be removed.  Good luck.

Steven M. Lynch, MD · Answer

Hi,

	  Your drainage is certainly within the range to remove it.  It is surprising that you have achieved this so quickly and this would indicate that you did not have a lot of liposuction to add to your contouring.  The fluid that is put in the body (tumescent) to prevent bleeding will make its way to the abdominal pocket and therefore the amounts would normally be more for  longer period.

	  The fact that you have yellow fluid with this low amount being recorded for 3 days is certainly a good indication that the removal would be safe.

	  Ask your doctor what his/her criteria are for the removal.  You certainly are close if not there.

	              Steven M. Lynch, M.D.

Heather Rocheford, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and the picture. It does look like there is irritation around the drain site - this is totally normal and does not look like infection. The color of the output sounds normal. Generally, if the output from the drain is under 30cc in 24 hours the drain can be removed. Your output has been less than that for a few days. I would recommend following up with your plastic surgeon about removal of the drain. Best wishes on your recovery!

Kamran Khoobehi, MD · Answer

You have minimal drainage and the site does not look good. Please call your surgeon for evaluation.

Lisa M. DiFrancesco, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question. I usually take drains out when the drainage is less then 30cc per day. Please check with your plastic surgeon about their preferences.

Does This Drain Need to Come Out 10 Days Post-Op Tummy Tuck? (photo)

Answers (11)

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