I have been using this technique since 1998 and think it is a great addition to the procedure. Instead of using a drain to essentially suck an area closed (think of vacuum sealing food) the sutures sew the space together. With either method there is a chance for seroma to form. Seroma is a fluid collection under the skin (think water balloon.) In reviewing over a hundred of these many years ago we found that chance of seroma was no more than when using drains. As we have gotten even better with that suture we probably have even fewer now. The other advantage is that it takes tension off of the skin incision, less tension usually means better scars. Another name for the stich is progressive tension suture.
An abdominoplasty results in a lot of empty space between the abdominal muscles and the deeper fatty tissue connected to the skin. When this happens the body fills up space with fluid (that's why drains are so important).As this heals the skin slowly reattach to the muscles below. Quilting sutures are designed to speed up this process and make the body have less empty space even though the surgery remains essentially the same. Since there is less "space" there is less drainage and the need for less time with a drain or no drain at all. There is one additional benefit in that there is less tension at the skin and the scar tends to be even better. Tension normally produces widened and uneven scars.Given the opportunity, quilting sutures are a great addition to the tummy tuck procedure resulting in better outcomes and a quicker recovery. The only downside is that the surgery takes a bit longer as we are adding an additional step in the process. Discuss this with your surgeon.
