How long after getting a tummy tuck do the drainage come out?

Thanks for your question.
It varies from patient to patient. It could be a couple of days to a couple of weeks. Most tummy tuck patients take off between 2 & 3 weeks. You need this time to heal and recover from the surgery. Schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your options. Best wishes!

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. If drains are used, removal is based on output. On average 7-10 days. Recovery also varies from patient to patient but on average 2 weeks off from work will be enough.

If drainage tubes are used, they should be left until the daily volume reduces to a safe level. I find that this will take at least a week for a standard procedure and less for a mini. Most patients can return to work in a week or two for a desk job, sooner after a mini, and much longer if the job requires vigorous physical activity.

Thank you for your question about the recovery process following a tummy tuck, including how long drains typically remain and when you can return to work. These factors can vary depending on the specific procedure and your body’s healing response.

After a full tummy tuck, drains are often placed to remove excess fluid from the surgical area, which helps prevent complications like seromas. These drains generally stay in place for about 7–14 days, though some patients may have them removed earlier if fluid output decreases to less than 25–30 mL per drain within a 24-hour period. In cases of mini tummy tucks, where less tissue is manipulated, drains may not be necessary, or if used, they are often removed within 5–7 days. The decision depends on the surgical technique and your body’s fluid production during recovery.

Returning to work also depends on the type of job you have and how your body heals. For desk jobs or light duties, most patients feel ready to return after about 2–3 weeks, as long as they feel comfortable sitting for periods and moving around when needed. If your work involves heavy lifting, bending, or other strenuous physical activity, you may need to wait at least 4–6 weeks. Your surgeon will provide tailored advice based on your progress.

During the recovery period, it is crucial to follow your surgeon's instructions for drain care, which involves measuring and recording output daily, keeping the area clean to avoid infection, and wearing a compression garment to help reduce swelling and fluid buildup. Some surgeons may also use advanced techniques, such as progressive tension sutures, to eliminate the need for drains altogether. If this is important to you, discussing it with your surgeon is recommended.

If you are still in the consultation phase, I suggest working with a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced in tummy tucks to create a recovery plan that aligns with your needs and lifestyle. Every patient’s recovery journey is unique, and your surgeon can guide you through the process to ensure the best outcomes.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

Hello and thank you for your question! If drains are used, then they are typically left in place until discharge is less than 20mL in two consecutive 24-hour periods. As for downtime, strenuous activity should be avoided for a minimum of 6 weeks post-op (8 weeks if hernia repair or plication is also done). Hope this helps!

Hello. Good question. Generally in 1-2 weeks. You can return to work (depending on the type of work/job) after 2 weeks with light activity. Thanks

Hello!
This is a great question!Drains are placed after tummy tuck to remove excess fluid from accumulating and causing further issues. All surgeons are different in when they like to remove their drains. For me, I choose to remove drains once the patient is draining less than a certain amount for 24 hours. This may take just a few days in most, or may take a couple of weeks in some.
Best,Dr. Tanovic

These do vary from surgeon to surgeon and depending on how much liposuction was done. When patients have a lot of fat, we do much more liposuction to create a bigger difference, and they put out more fluid....which makes the drains take longer to come out. However, it is usually drain 1 comes out at week 1 and drain 2 at week 2. I find patients need a minimum of 2 weeks off to get back to a desk job, and 3 weeks is better (or working from home). This is because the muscle repair really makes things more stiff and sore, combined with the decreased energy from lots of liposuction. I would ask each surgeon you consult with this question because it will vary depending on surgeon and your body exam. Best of luck on your journey!

Hello and thank you for your question. The majority of surgeons use drains during abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) procedures to prevent seromas- most surgeons use 2 drains, but it varies. Every surgeon is different, but typically the drains stay in about 2 weeks or so, sometimes longer if needed, but this is largely dependent on drain output. The downside of leaving a drain in a little longer is it's obviously annoying and patients hate them, but the downside of pulling a drain too soon is it can result in a fluid collection (seroma) because there is still more fluid being produced relative to how much the body can absorb. Seromas can then become infected or result in wound breakdown or other issues. Because of that, it is safest to leave drains in until they are absolutely ready to come out.
Of course every surgeon and every case is different, so ultimately you should defer to your surgeon to make the final decision for when to remove your abdominoplasty drains. I hope this helps!
Best wishes,
Dr. Donald Groves
Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for your question. We pull out the drains in 24-48 h. İn 12-15 days you can turn to work easly. Hope this helps!