My plastic surgeon doesn't use drain tubes after Neck Lift/Facelift. Is that okay?

I have not placed a drain in any face or neck lift in the last 2 years. My audited haematoma rate is 2%, and seromas if they happen are easily aspirated and/or self limiting. I see no benefit to placing drains at all, a haematoma needs evacuation with or without a drain in place... but they carry risks of infection and pain on removal. I suspect over time their use in facelifting will become less common place.

Truly this is up to the comfort of the surgeon. Generally on primary facelifts I do not use a drain and use fibrin glue which helps adherence of the skin. However on re-do facelifts or men I generally use glue as well as a drain. I tailor each operation to the patient so that being said using a drain or not should not be your deciding factor when choosing a surgeon. Hope this helps!

Thank you for your question.Facelift surgery does not require use of drains.  Many surgeons do, however, place small drains for a short time after surgery, with the goal of reducing bruising.  I personally do not use drains for my facelift patients.  Instead, I take a little extra time during the operation to ensure small areas of bleeding have been carefully cauterised.  Drains do not always necessarily prevent possible bleeding complication.  I do not use drains and have pioneered The Concept Facelift, having a 0% incident rate of hematoma.  It is important to focus more on the results of your surgeon as illustrated in their pre & post operative facelift patients.  Do you like their results, will the surgeon meet your expectations, is the facility where you are going to have your surgery performed accredited?  These might be much more important.  I do not think the use of drains or not drains would reflect the surgeons ability.All The Best