Tummy tuck: Infected drain? Please help. (photos)

Question

Infected drain? Please help- my drain is looking very red and angry and is admitting a fluid that has a slight odor to it. Please advise on how I should handle this-they're supposed to come out on Monday-I am 24 days postop.

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Your surgeon is the best person to discuss this with. There is a high risk of infection here, especially since you mention odour.

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

Thanks for posting your photo. The drain site looks pretty angry and beat up, but the diagnosis of infection cannot be made online. I suggest you see your plastic surgeon for possible drain removal as soon as you can. Best wishes, Dr. ALDO

Francis Johns, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.The photo you posted is what I would expect a drain site to look like after 3 weeks. The drains are not meant to stay in for a long period of time, the longer they have to stay in the more irritated the skin around them becomes.  It is not uncommon to get some drainage around the site and redness. I would keep your appointment with your surgeon, in the meantime keep the area clean and dry. Good luck with recovery.

Farbod Esmailian, MD · Answer

Although it is difficult to say just by looking at pictures, the area looks very irritated.  Given the drains have been in for so long, the way the area looks is not uncommon for the length of time you have had the drains.Follow up with your plastic surgeon and he/she will make a determination what the coarse of action would be.Good luck.

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Thank you for your pictures and question. If the drain has been in for almost a month, this appearance is fairly typical and is likely not representative of an infection. It is likely inflammation from irritation to the skin of having a foreign body there for so long. When you see your surgeon today, hopefully the drain can come out and you can follow his or her instructions on how to care for the area.Best of luck!

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

left for long periods of time can get infected.  If this is so, you need to see your surgeon.  If your drainage is still considerable where removal of your drain would predispose you to a seroma, consider having your surgeon convert the drain to an open drain where it is pulled out 2-3 inches a day until its out.  But if you do  this, you cannot get the drain site wet and you must be very careful to not allow it to retract as that would be disastrous.

Ivor B. Kaplan, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question and picture, but you need to see your surgeon and be evaluated.      Good Luck

Enamul Haque, MD · Answer

Considering the duration of your drain it is not surprising to see irritation around your drain site. As others have mentioned, you should contact your plastic surgeon to evaluate for surgical site infection, signs of which include fever, chills, redness, foul smelling and/or cloudy drainage from the drains.

Good Luck.

Good Luck.

Renee Burke, MD · Answer

Hello. The skin around the drain looks irritated. Your drains have been in for a long time, and you will want to discuss your concerns with your surgeon and develop a plan moving forward. In general, the skin improves when the drain is removed. If there is a new odor, or you find the redness is spreading, you should contact your doctor immediately. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

Arian Mowlavi, MD, FACS (license on probation) · Answer

It is common to have an irritated drain site especially when your drains are kept in for a long time. If your drainage in the drain is more milky than clear or has an odor, you should have it cultured so that you can tail a short duration of antibiotics. Contact your surgeon.

Tummy tuck: Infected drain? Please help. (photos)

Answers (12)

More Tummy Tuck Questions

Swelling in lower back after lipo of flanks and tummy tuck.

How can you tell if you tore the muscle repair from tummy tuck?

Dental problems but I want my TT very soon. Get my teeth fixed 1st or can I go under without fixing my teeth first?

When having tt/bbl combo what kind of compression socks should I get? Which are the best? (photo)

Will Medicaid/Medicare will pay for the removal of excess skin? I had gastric sleeve in Feb 2016, and I have already lost 120lbs

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS