Drains after surgery depend on the type of facelift, and the individual patient. Mini-lifts, and less invasive lifts generally do not need drains. SMAS or deep planes lifts can be performed without needing drains but if the patient has a propensity for bleeding (either during the facelift surgery or from previous surgeries) then using a drain might be necessary.In all cases, a compression wrap is used to minimize a hematoma or seroma formation.I would ask your surgeon how he manages this because there is a lot of variability and no one approach is standard.
Drains are used at the discretion of the surgeon. I still use a drain overnight but I'm not convinced that it really makes that much difference.
