How to clear tummy tuck drains effectively and is this a burn? (Photo)

Question

Unfortunately I had surgey abroad so communication with my PS is unclear. I'm 10days post op TT, liposuction & breast uplift w/implants My drain is struggling to bring the liquid it catches through the tube to the reservoir, due to this the fluid is leaking from the site the tube is inserted in me. Syringing an effective declogger? 2ndly I noticed a new dry bruise looking patch on my side. Could this be a burn? It is dry, no pain. Any home solutions? Anything really Many thanks in advance

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  I would recommend that you 'milk' or 'strip' the drains to declog the drain.  As far as when to pull it out, I would recommend that you stay in touch with your surgeon.  If everything is leaking outside the drain site, then the drain may be ineffective and only poses a risk of infection.  You may also want to put some padding between the skin and the drain tube to help minimize the change of bruising or compression from the tubing.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Hello,It sounds as if your drain is blocked and so fluid will bypass or stay inside you. If milking the drain does not work for you, you need to be seen by a qualified Plastis Surgeon for  post op care and instruction. If you cannot reach your original Surgeon for some reason then I advise you to be seen in person as soon as you can in order to rule out any problems with your recovery and get additional instructions going forward. All the best

Sugene Kim, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi, there.  Each plastic surgeon differs in her/his post-operative instruction; therefor the best resource for you should be your plastic surgeon who operated on you.  I have my patients "milk" the drains couple times a day to prevent clogging. Hold the drain close to the drain site with one hand; with the other hand, strip the drain down.  It is common to have some leakage around the drain site and it is normal to have some irritation around the site as well.  The "bruise" may be from a blister.  Applying antibiotic ointment can help.Good luck with your recovery.

How to clear tummy tuck drains effectively and is this a burn? (Photo)

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How to clear tummy tuck drains effectively and is this a burn? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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