I have my heart set on a drainless tummy tuck but I’d really like to go ahead and do the full lower body lift. I have a low BMI, about 18% so lipo isn’t a need. Does the lower body lift require drains to stay in or can it all be done drainless? Thank you
Answer: When we use drains? In my hands a Lower Body Lift means several procedures in order to achieve the best results: Circumferential Tummy Tuck, Muscle Repair, Pubic Lift, Front and outer thigh lift, real buttocks lift, gluteal flap (using your own tissues to create volume to top of buttocks) and if it is the case (almost a 100% of my AWL patients) liposuction to lovehandles and use that fat to transfer to bottom of buttocks and hips if needed. So because of the liposuction and buttocks flap I must use drains to prevent seroma. Drains are used for safety reasons. So if your surgeon determines is the best for you, there is nothing wrong about it, it means safety and we are obligated to do what is best for our patients Be encouraged. Dr. Cárdenas
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Answer: When we use drains? In my hands a Lower Body Lift means several procedures in order to achieve the best results: Circumferential Tummy Tuck, Muscle Repair, Pubic Lift, Front and outer thigh lift, real buttocks lift, gluteal flap (using your own tissues to create volume to top of buttocks) and if it is the case (almost a 100% of my AWL patients) liposuction to lovehandles and use that fat to transfer to bottom of buttocks and hips if needed. So because of the liposuction and buttocks flap I must use drains to prevent seroma. Drains are used for safety reasons. So if your surgeon determines is the best for you, there is nothing wrong about it, it means safety and we are obligated to do what is best for our patients Be encouraged. Dr. Cárdenas
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Answer: Drainless Body Lift Hello,Thank you for your question regarding whether it’s possible to have a drainless circumferential lower bodylift. This is an excellent question. While it is possible to have a drainless tummy tuck, I do not suggest a drainless 360 circumferential lower body lift, belt lipectomy, or circumferential lower body lift (LBL). You must consider your waistline. For easy math, consider your waistline is 30 inches. Therefore, during an average tummy tuck, the incision would be 10 to 12 inches. If however, you were to undergo a 360 circumferential lower body left, the incision would be 36 inches. This is three times longer than the tummy tuck. Also, consider the amount of surface area that is undermined. There is 2 to 3 times more surface area that is undermined during a body lift compared to a tummy tuck. The more surface area and a longer incision means that is more serous fluid naturally created by your body in an effort to heal and seal the wound. I have performed hundreds of body lifts and all of my patients have required drains. There is simply too much fluid that is produced by your body during a 360 body lift to undergo a body lift without drains. Therefore, I do not advise a 360 circumferential lower body lift without drains. Since the 360 circumferential lower body lift or belt lipectomy is considered to be a complex procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. Please seek a plastic surgeon who is performed hundreds of body lifts in their career. Travel out of state if you must. Good luck!If you have any, more questions regarding the 360 circumferential lower body lift, please call my office. Sincerely,Dr.Katzen(Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and member of the American Society Plastic Surgeons, International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery,and Fellow of American College of Surgeons and American Board for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery)
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Answer: Drainless Body Lift Hello,Thank you for your question regarding whether it’s possible to have a drainless circumferential lower bodylift. This is an excellent question. While it is possible to have a drainless tummy tuck, I do not suggest a drainless 360 circumferential lower body lift, belt lipectomy, or circumferential lower body lift (LBL). You must consider your waistline. For easy math, consider your waistline is 30 inches. Therefore, during an average tummy tuck, the incision would be 10 to 12 inches. If however, you were to undergo a 360 circumferential lower body left, the incision would be 36 inches. This is three times longer than the tummy tuck. Also, consider the amount of surface area that is undermined. There is 2 to 3 times more surface area that is undermined during a body lift compared to a tummy tuck. The more surface area and a longer incision means that is more serous fluid naturally created by your body in an effort to heal and seal the wound. I have performed hundreds of body lifts and all of my patients have required drains. There is simply too much fluid that is produced by your body during a 360 body lift to undergo a body lift without drains. Therefore, I do not advise a 360 circumferential lower body lift without drains. Since the 360 circumferential lower body lift or belt lipectomy is considered to be a complex procedure, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon. Please seek a plastic surgeon who is performed hundreds of body lifts in their career. Travel out of state if you must. Good luck!If you have any, more questions regarding the 360 circumferential lower body lift, please call my office. Sincerely,Dr.Katzen(Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and member of the American Society Plastic Surgeons, International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery,and Fellow of American College of Surgeons and American Board for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery)
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March 12, 2019
Answer: Drains after Surgery Thank you for your question. You could have a body lift without drains, however I always use drains after surgeries such as liposuction, Tummy Tuck and body lifts. I've found it's the most efficient way to remove fluids from the patient and should not be avoided.
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March 12, 2019
Answer: Drains after Surgery Thank you for your question. You could have a body lift without drains, however I always use drains after surgeries such as liposuction, Tummy Tuck and body lifts. I've found it's the most efficient way to remove fluids from the patient and should not be avoided.
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March 11, 2019
Answer: Is it possible to have a drainless circumferential body lift? Thank you for your questions. Often I have patients who are scared and afraid of drains and then once they have them, they realize that they are not that bad. Any procedure can be done without a drain, but the question remains, is that the best method? Drains are useful to remove fluid from the surgical site and to prevent complications. I find it better to put the drains in and then remove them when they are no longer needed. The alternative is to try not to use them and then try to figure out how to deal with problems when they arise. Studies have shown that over 50% of patients who have "drainless" procedures end up undergoing needle aspiration drainage of fluid collections in the office during the post-op period and I think this is worse than having a drain.Hope this helps!Dallas R. Buchanan, MD, FACSOwner & Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonVIVIFY plastic surgery
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
March 11, 2019
Answer: Is it possible to have a drainless circumferential body lift? Thank you for your questions. Often I have patients who are scared and afraid of drains and then once they have them, they realize that they are not that bad. Any procedure can be done without a drain, but the question remains, is that the best method? Drains are useful to remove fluid from the surgical site and to prevent complications. I find it better to put the drains in and then remove them when they are no longer needed. The alternative is to try not to use them and then try to figure out how to deal with problems when they arise. Studies have shown that over 50% of patients who have "drainless" procedures end up undergoing needle aspiration drainage of fluid collections in the office during the post-op period and I think this is worse than having a drain.Hope this helps!Dallas R. Buchanan, MD, FACSOwner & Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonVIVIFY plastic surgery
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
March 11, 2019
Answer: Is it possible to have a drainless circumferential body lift? You can perform any procedure without a drain. The concern would be whether no drains would provide you with the smallest risk for complications.Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA
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March 11, 2019
Answer: Is it possible to have a drainless circumferential body lift? You can perform any procedure without a drain. The concern would be whether no drains would provide you with the smallest risk for complications.Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA
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March 10, 2019
Answer: Drains Great question! For body lifts, absolutely you need to have drains. Personally, I use drains for tummy tucks as well. The reason is with both of these procedures, you are creating a lot of "empty space" that tends to fill with fluid. I have several colleagues who use the drainless tummy tuck technique but their seroma rates are very high and some have to even re-operate to remove the seroma. I personally don't feel the risk is worth the benefits - the drains are only in for 1 week for the vast majority of patients. If you end up getting a seroma, you would need to have it drained a few times a week by sticking a big needle into the fluid collection.Best of luck and hope this information helps!
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
March 10, 2019
Answer: Drains Great question! For body lifts, absolutely you need to have drains. Personally, I use drains for tummy tucks as well. The reason is with both of these procedures, you are creating a lot of "empty space" that tends to fill with fluid. I have several colleagues who use the drainless tummy tuck technique but their seroma rates are very high and some have to even re-operate to remove the seroma. I personally don't feel the risk is worth the benefits - the drains are only in for 1 week for the vast majority of patients. If you end up getting a seroma, you would need to have it drained a few times a week by sticking a big needle into the fluid collection.Best of luck and hope this information helps!
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
