3 weeks post TT and lipo. Is it safe to remove drains at 25cc per day on each side?

Hello,Protocols vary for this but often, if drainage is measured at 25cc or less, consistently for 48 hours or more, the drains can come out and the body will effectively resorb the remaining amount. Each plastic surgeon has a plan that they are comfortable with for this and your will know your situation the best.Take care 

Hello,Data suggests that the use of drains beyond 2 weeks does not alter the outcome after removing them. In other words, if you are going to get a seroma, you will get one regardless of how much fluid is coming out. Having said that, it is difficult to convince surgeons to remove them at two weeks if there is a lot of fluid coming out. I don't use drains anymore, but when I did, I found that the majority of people got seromas if their drainage was substantial enough for me to keep them in longer than about 10 days. Best of luck.

Dear Dominga1,every plastic surgeon has his own postoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS 
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery  
Member, Am. Society of Plastic Surgery 

Thank you for your question.Every surgeon has their own specific requirements for drain removal. The drains should be under 25cc for at least 3 days before even considering removing them. I would call their office and ask if you are where they want you to be, since you say it has been this amount for 10 days.  Good luck with recovery.

Every surgeon has a different approach here. Some don't use drains at all (though I think some of them will falsely claim to never get a seroma), and others keep drains routinely in for 2-3 weeks. Most surgeons who do use drains use somewhere between 25-30cc as the daily threshold. One could argue that once you get to a stable amount like 25cc, the presence of the negative pressure from the suction may be keeping lymphatic channels OPEN by providing a pressure "sink" for them to leak into, and that the drains should just be removed. If a seroma then accumulates, it can be drained with a needle and compression increased externally. Often 1-3 of these needle drainages are necessary to resolve the issue definitively. However, you are unlikely to talk your surgeon into changing his/her protocol so it is best to follow the surgeon's instructions.

Typically, it is safe to remove the drain if it put out less than 30 cc each day for 3 consecutive days.  But, each surgeon has different experience, level of comfort and protocol.  Please follow his/her protocol.  Thank you

Congratulations on your recent surgery and thank you for sharing your question about your post operative recovery and results after your surgery.  Final results can take 6-12 months for all the swelling to subside.  At our office we actually see all of our surgery patients the very next day after surgery and then again at two weeks and beyond. We enjoy staying closely connected to our patients and enjoy giving the extra attention and service. Your concerns are important to discuss directly with your board certified plastic surgeon.  He or she will appreciate the open communication and will want to help you. I hope this is helpful and wish you all the very best.  Sincerely, Brian S. Coan, MD, FACS

Its best to follow your plastic surgeon's guidance after your tummy tuck. I think your surgeon's protocol to wait until the drain output is less than 25cc per day is sound advice for the prevention of a seroma. Best wishes.