Is it normal to have swelling at the area where the drain tubes (sides) are located and how long does the swelling last?

This is normal and should resolve once the drains are removed. You may have generalized swelling for several months before reaching your final shape.

Thank you for your question and congratulations on your tummy tuck.  It is common for the skin surrounding a drain insertion site to have some mild swelling and redness as a result of friction and irritation.  This typically remains for up to a few days after the drain is removed.  If you are having significant swelling or spreading redness it would be wise to see your surgeon to rule out an infection which would necessitate drain removal.  Hope this helps.

Thank you for the question. It is rather difficult to fully assess your situation without an in-person examination. Following a tummy tuck, some swelling and discomfort is considered normal. Drains may cause additional irritation, which is expected to resolve itself naturally over the course of a healing process. In some cases, it may take up to 8 months for swelling to completely subside. If you have concerns, an in-person exam with a board-certified specialist would be the best way to assess your needs and obtain reliable medical advice. Best of luck! Dr. Michael Omidi.

That is a great question.  I typically bring the abdominoplasty drains out through 2 small incisions in the mons area.  With or without drains, swelling after surgery will increase for the first three days and then slowly diminish.  There may be even more temporarly swelling if wetting solution was used and if you are wearing a binder that doesn't include this area.  The swelling then decreases-much is gone by 6 weeks but some subtle swelling can last for 4-6 months, and the lowest, most "dependent" areas take the longest to resolve.  So swelling in the mons area is expected.