Drain after butt implant removal - is it a must? (photos)

I had a professor who once said “ no plastic surgeon ever regret putting in a drain“.

I didn’t quite understand what he meant at the time but now I do.

If a surgeon creates a potential open space during surgery like removing an implant or doing a tummy tuck that space can and sometimes it does fill up with fluid.

If there is a drain in place the fluid continuously leaves the body and the tissue surfaces can touch each other and adhere. If there’s a fluid build up then the tissue surface is are not in contact and a seroma or chronic fluid collection develops.

When is aroma develops it requires surgical intervention to manage and this can be prevented by placing a drain.

So to answer your question it depends on what the probability is of developing a seroma and the consequence of a seroma forming.

Implants often create a thin membrane of scar tissue called a capsule and the more developed or thick this capsule is the more the surgeon needs to either remove the capsule and consider using a drain.

Implants placed intramuscularly are less likely to develop a significant capsule.
Removing a gluteal implant can also allow the skin and fat layer separated by the implant to slide down with gravity and hold the new position. To prevent this from happening quilting Sutures can be put in place so that the skin and fat layer stays in the correct place.

If these are not placed and this skin and fat layer slides down after taking out the implant and heals in this position it tends to not be very desirable and it’s difficult to correct later.

Perhaps a little difficult to comprehend. make sure your surgeon has taken out a lot of gluteal implants in the past.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom MD