What is the purpose of having drains for gynecomastia surgery? Is it highly recommended to have drains for the surgery?

Thanks for your question. In general the purpose of drains is to collapse the “empty” space after removal of tissue and prevent the accumulation of blood/fluid. The use of drains with gynecomastia surgery is both surgeon and technique dependent. There are other ways to achieve the same goal without use of drains. With my current technique I never use drains, even if large amounts of breast gland are removed, but compensate with use of a meticulous compression strategy. Ultimately you will want to rely on the recommendations of your PS, whether using drains or not, if they have extensive experience with gynecomastia surgery and predictable results. Good luck.

The aim of gynecomastia surgery is to restore a normal chest contour with minimal signs of breast surgery. Suction drains traditionally have been placed after gynecomastia surgery. They are thought to aid the removal of undesirable postoperative matter and minimize tissue dead space. Please see my attached link and video with more information on gynecomastia surgery.

Thank you for your question.The use of drains depends on the individual surgeon. They may prevent seroma formation but not bleeding. The incidence of seroma formation is so low that most surgeons do not routinely put any drains. I do not recommend the use of drains in any Gynecomastia surgery. All The Best !

I agree with Dr. Pensler because we do the surgery in such a way that we always avoid drains.  Find a PS who avoids drains.  All the best, Dr. Joe

Drains are used in surgery to evacuate blood and serum from the surgical space where tissue was removed, which helps protect the incision from pressure arising from underneath, as well as aids in smooth adherence of the tissues to heal the space closed in a predictable and smooth manner.  Drains are not always necessary, but they help prevent he need for multiple trips to the doctor to drain seromas that may accumulate and prolong recovery, or even become infected.  Many surgeons use drains for moderate or larger gynecomastia procedures. I have never seen a significant  problem arising from use of a drain in gynecomastia, but have seen many problems that could have been prevented by using a drain.  Therefore, I tend to use drains in most significant gynecomastia procedures.

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  For most patients drains are not needed after glandular removal or liposuction.  Some patients require skin excision and tissue rearrangement that may necessitate drain placement to limit the chance of fluid collections developing.  Hope this helps.

I find drains unnecessary in gynecomastia surgery, and their absence does not adversely affect postoperative recovery. 

If just liposuction is utilized then drains would not be necessary.  However, it a periareolar glandular resection is done a drain may be placed to keep the area dry as you heal and prevent a seroma.

Dear Alisha1214,
drains are used to prevent seroma formation but in case of gynecomastia surgery, they are rarely used. If you are considering a surgery, I would suggest you to consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Alisha  I appreciate your concern, however placement of drains after gynecomastia surgery is fairly rare.It is usually reserved for more drastic operations with direct excision of a lot of breast tissue. This particular procedure is usually not necessary. Most cases of gynecomastia may be treated with liposuction alone or at best, combined with removal of a small button of breast tissue underneath the nipples. Consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon in your area for a full evaluation and exploration of the best options for you. Good luck.