Are drains required for liposuction of stomach, flanks and back?

If you have a big belly that hangs down over your pubic area then when you get liposuction there is a large cavity where the fat was removed which can fill up with serum and take a long time to absorb away and which then can inhibit the skin from contracting and tightening. Most patients who we used to do tummy tucks on, now get lipo alone instead and their bellies tighten up nicely without hanging skin. This is because the smaller cannulas are more precise and easy to control and can remove some of the fat just under the dermis skin which then can allow the skin to contract and shrink a lot. This doesn't work with the larger cannulas since they tend to puncture through the skin and cause problems. This is why being able to stand up during the procedure under local anesthesia is so critical to getting great results because of the fine tuning which the smaller instruments allow us to do. On big bellies, the drains are left in for usually 2 days and the usual compression garments are used for the usual 4 weeks.The drains are rarely used but when needed, they perform a vital job. Most patients dont feel or even know they have a drain in anyway so don't worry. Sincerely, David Hansen,MD

  Drains are not required after a liposuction procedure.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA....................

Although there are some doctors that use drains after liposuction, the vast majority do not. To reduce the amount of swelling and fluid in the tissue following liposuction, external compression is the most important post-operative treatment. Thanks for your question!