2 weeks post. Have 1 drain left in middle. I'm just concerned with the amount of drainage and pain. Is any of this normal?

Question

I'm 14 days post opp from a panniculectomy. I have 1 drain left in the middle. My middle one is now leaking at the insertion site (pouring out drainage), I went to my surgeon this am, He said it's not ready to come out and to just pack it with gauze and said to change as needed. The drainage is a light amber color with sentiment in It. I have an increased amount of pain near drain site. I'm just concerned with the amount of drainage and pain. Is any of this normal?

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Based on your description, what you're experiencing is normal after a panniculectomy. The drainage you're seeing, especially the light amber color with sediment, is typical for fluid that accumulates during the healing process. Drains are placed to help remove this fluid and prevent complications like seromas.

It’s also normal for the insertion site of the drain to leak a bit, especially as the healing progresses and the drain starts to become less effective at fully capturing the fluid. Your surgeon’s advice to pack the area with gauze and change it as needed is a common approach.

Increased pain around the drain site is also normal, as the tissues around the drain may be healing or reacting to the tube. The important thing to watch for is any signs of infection, such as:

Redness spreading around the area.
Fever.
Drainage that becomes cloudy or foul-smelling.
If the drainage remains consistent in color and amount, and the pain doesn’t worsen, it’s likely just part of the healing process. Continue following your surgeon’s advice, and if anything changes, reach out to your surgeon for further evaluation.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Babak Moeinolmolki, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello,
Thank you for your question. It is not unheard of to still have a drain 14 days after surgery. The drainage will continue to decrease. The color sounds within the range of normal. Unfortunately the drains can become uncomfortable over time.
Tips to make surgical drains more comfortable include using simple 4x4 gauze for padding and a lanyard holder. Searching "drain lanyard" on Pinterest will give you an idea. They can be simple to create on your own. In addition Tylenol can also help with the discomfort. Extreme cases of discomfort can be treated with lidocaine patches around the site. Such a patch would need to be prescribed by your surgeon.
Best wishes,
Dr Moein

2 weeks post. Have 1 drain left in middle. I'm just concerned with the amount of drainage and pain. Is any of this normal?

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Everything you need to know about Panniculectomy

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2 weeks post. Have 1 drain left in middle. I'm just concerned with the amount of drainage and pain. Is any of this normal?

Answers (2)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Panniculectomy

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.