How long do I keep my drains after a tummy tuck? I am still draining after 2 weeks.

There are multiple techniques for tummy tuck.  Traditionally this operation is performed with drains.  The skin is elevated off of the abdominal wall, the excess is excised, and the skin is draped over the abdomen.  This leaves a large area that needs to heal by sticking back down to the abdominal wall.  Drains provide a way for the fluid and blood to be evacuated and speed the process of the abdominal skin sticking back to the abdominal wall.  If drains are not used, the fluid that is generated by the elevation of the skin is still generated.  Those of us that use drains do not believe that simply by quilting the skin to the abdominal wall will prevent the accumulation of fluid.  In fact, the quilting would make the fluid accumulate in isolated pockets.  Drains are a very useful tool in an abdominoplasty.   They are temporary.  If they affect the outcome in a negative way, were difficult to manage after surgery, or were permanent, then it would be a topic worth debating.  There are surgeons that have good outcomes with drains, and surgeons that have good outcomes without drains.  Pick your surgeon based on their outcomes, professionalism, experience, training, ability, not on whether they use drains.

In my practice, the drains are typically in for one week. Occasionally I will remove one first and leave the other one in for an extra few days if the output is higher than desirable. Surgeons have different criteria that they use regarding when to pull the drains. Best to discuss this with your surgeon. Best wishes to you!

Thank you for your question.  2 weeks post tummy tuck is still within normal limits to still have a drain.  I would continue to limit your activity and follow your plastic surgeon's recommendations in the meantime.  Best of Luck!
Dr. Tag

In most cases, drains come out within 1-2 weeks. Sometimes they have to stay in a bit longer. Each patient is different.

Most Plastic Surgeons use drains after a tummy tuck to remove the extra fluid that accumulates. Before they are removed, the drainage needs to be low enough for the body to absorb what is left behind. Most drains can be removed in one to two weeks but it can take longer (don't be too discouraged). Follow the recommendations of your surgeon and you should do well.

The drains are there to draw off the fluid that your body is producing between the skin and the deep muscles.  If the drains are removed too early, the skin will not "glue" to the deep muscles.  In my practice, when I use drains, I wait until the drainage is less than 30cc in a 24 hour period for at least 2 days in a row.  Most patients get their drains out within 2 weeks, but some linger longer.  On most of my patients, I no longer use drains because we perform the #HollywoodTummyTuck.  This means that the skin is stitched down to the muscles internally so there is no space for the fluid to accumulate.  Because of this, some patients have gone back to work in a week (instead of the usual 2 weeks off).  Also, they don't have the discomfort or the hassle of taking care of the drains.