Does it hurt to have the drains removed?

Thank you for your questions regarding drain removal after a 360 circumferential lower body lift. Most of my patients tell me they have minimal to no pain upon drain removal after a 360 circumferential lower body lift. Having performed many hundreds of 360 circumferential lower body lifts, I have found the best treatment for drain removal is using a freezing spray to numb the area. Alternatively, if a patient is very sensitive to pain, the drain removal site can be injected with a local anesthetic, like lidocaine. Another alternative is to have the patient apply a topical anesthetic cream to the site approximately 30 minutes prior to drain removal. All these tricks I learned over the years.  You may want to suggest them to your plastic surgeon. Thank you for your questions regarding drain removal after a 360 circumferential lower body lift. When considering a 360 circumferential lower body lift, please seek an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon in your area. If you cannot find in your area an experienced plastic surgeon who specializes in 360 circumferential lower body lifts, especially in massive weight loss patients, you may want to consider looking to another city or state.  If you have any questions regarding drain removal after a 360 circumference of the body lift or any other plastic surgery procedure, please call my office. Good Luck! Thank you.  Sincerely, Dr. Katzen.

Usually removing drains after surgery is pain free.  Sometimes there is a slight dragging sensation but provided the suction has been released and care is taken the removal process is quick, easy and painless.  Usually the thought of removing is far worse than the reality.I don't use drains in my body lift patients because I have found they are not necessary and whilst they are generally straightforward to remove, whilst the drains are in patients find them annoying and they can restrict movement and may increase the risk of infection.I suggest you discuss your concerns with your surgeon.Kind regards,Dean

No.  It does not hurt.  The type of drains that I use for my surgeries are the same diameter from tip to tip, so pulling the drain out is smooth and painless.  Drains are secured into place with a small nylon stitch during surgery while you are asleep, and to remove them the stitch is cut in the office.  This is also painless.  I bring all of my drains out through the existing incisions that I have made from the surgeries so there are no additional scars from a small stab made into the skin.  Most patients are totally worked up and nervous about drain removal and I've already pulled the drain(s) out before they realize anything was done.  

It can be somewhat uncomfortable when the drains are removed but most patients do great with it.  If they are in the incision line, then the removal usually is more comfortable than if they are in the pubic hair or upper thigh area.  Make sure you tell your doctor that you are afraid of the removal and sometimes we will inject some lidocaine in the insertion site before removal.