How long will I be leaking after liposuction?

Hello and thank you for your question. Drainage typically stops in 24-48 hours. I would seek consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon
for a full evaluation and advice. Best,
Pejman Aflaki, M.D.                                            
Johns
Hopkins-trained double board-certified plastic surgeon

Thank you for your question! For my patients having liposuction, they typically have drains for 2 weeks post surgery. I recommend discussing specific post op questions with your plastic surgeon. Best of luck!

Thank you for your question.  I typically find that most patients stop having some drainage within 48 hours after surgery.  That may vary a little bit.  Best of luck to you. 

Thank you for your questions. This can depend heavily on the surgeon's technique and preferences. For most common cases, drainage from the incisions should stop within 24-48 hours but I would discuss these concerns with your specific plastic surgeon.Good luck!Dallas R. Buchanan, MD, FACSOwner & Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonVIVIFY plastic surgery

Thank you for your question. Leakage depends on type of liposuction you will have and also on the surgeon's philosophy about closing, leaving open the liposuction poke holes or using drains. With regular fat reduction only liposuction, probably it does not make a difference. In my practice, which specializes in advanced body sculpting techniques, drains are used routinely. This is not only for the patient's comfort to avoid messy drainage, but most importantly, to allow the excess serous fluid to egress and not loose shapes and muscle definition that I create. Leakage time varies due to how aggressive the sculpting and how much fat the patient has prior to the procedure and the surgical technique. I normally remove front drains in 3-5 days, back drain 7-10 days as long as the drainage is less than 40cc/drain/24 hours.Good luck with your surgery.

Thank you for your question. You could leak for a few days after your procedure, but the majority of it will be within the first 24 hours. I would consult your plastic surgeon with any concerns you may have.Kamran Azad MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Drainage for a few days after liposuction is normal, but any concerns of too much drainage or particularly bloody drainage should be addressed with your plastic surgeon.

Thank you for your question. The majority of  drainage will take place the first 24 hours after surgery. However, you can have drainage that lasts up to 3 day or so. Be sure to see a board certified plastic surgeon. 

Lbear2I appreciate your concern, and leakage after liposuction usually depends on the amount of fluid infiltrated prior to surgery. However, even after large amounts of fluid are injected, drainage usually stops within 1 to 3 days after surgery. Continued drainage while rare, is usually not an issue. Voice your concerns with your board-certified plastic surgeon prior to surgery. Good luck.

Dear Lbear2,
every patient is different. Some patients won't have much leak and it will stop after one day, others will have leakage for several days. If you have any concerns, I 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