Many tummy tucks require the placement of drains for a few days post-surgery. A drain is a small tube that is temporarily attached to the body after surgery with sutures. These drains remove excess fluid and blood from the body to aid in healing and reduce swelling or inflammation.
What if drains after tummy tuck are removed too late? If drains are left in place too long after tummy tuck, this may promote ongoing drainage. It may also increase risk of developing an infection.
It may be possible to have your tummy tuck without using drains but remember that this may increase the risk of you developing a seroma. Ask your surgeon for more information.
A drainless tummy tuck will result in a much better overall healing process, as it can drastically help reduce postoperative symptoms. There is usually less pain and swelling, and surgical wounds heal faster without the need to measure fluids or change drains.
Generally speaking, most patients who require tummy tuck drains are able to have them removed after about 1 – 3 weeks.
– What is the purpose of drains after tummy tuck? Drains are placed to reduce fluid accumulation at the surgical site. They may reduce the incidence of seromas (fluid collections) and resultant complications following tummy tuck. Drains also indicate the amount of bleeding that is occurring during early healing.
Answer: You should only remove the drain after and abdominoplasty by yourself if permitted by your own surgeon.
During the tummy tuck procedure, Dr. Restifo attaches the abdominal tissue and muscles using TissuGlu®. This eliminates the pockets where the fluid would normally accumulate, and where drains would typically sit. The fluid has nowhere to go, so the body just reabsorbs it.
A tummy tuck can result in a weight loss of approximately four pounds. If you opt for a mini truck, you can expect to lose around three pounds of excess skin and fat. If you opt for an extended tuck, you can expect to lose around five pounds of excess skin and fat.
Answer: It is normal to have drains more than 3 weeks? Congratulations on having undergone the tummy tuck procedure. Yes, sometimes drains are necessary for three weeks, or even longer.
Why do patients PREFER not to have drains? Drain-free cosmetic surgery techniques AVOID unnecessary drain-tube incision(s) and related healing risks. This can help reduce complications linked with drain use.
Drains are not necessary after liposuction. Some surgeons may prefer to leave the incisions open for Drainage of tumescent. A proper compression dressing can take care of dead space after liposuction.
There is a myth circulating through the rumor mill that pulling out the drain tubes is painful. It's not. Taking the drainage tubes out is a painless procedure performed in your surgeon's office, and it usually takes about two seconds per side.
A properly performed tummy tuck can reduce your waist size and help you feel confident about your curves again. Some patients may lose many inches off their waist, while others will see more subtle results. It all depends on how much tissue can be removed safely.
It's not uncommon for people who have a tummy tuck to have a smaller appetite for the first three to six months following their surgery. The tightening of skin and muscles in your abdomen may cause your stomach to feel constricted, encouraging you to eat less.
The tummy tuck is very useful when exercise and diet have failed to tighten the abdominal muscles. However, a tummy tuck is not really designed to make you look “thinner.” Rather, the tummy tuck improves the muscle profile of the abdomen, which in turn can have the effect of making you look more fit and toned.
You may be a good candidate for a drainless tummy tuck if:
You have excess abdominal skin caused by childbirth or drastic weight loss. A healthy diet and exercise have not eliminated excess fat. You have a naturally protruding abdomen.
Depending on your location, the experience of the surgeon, and many other variables, a no-drain tummy tuck can cost you anywhere between $7,000 and $18,000 on the higher end. The use of tissue glue adds about $600 to the base cost of the operation.
Removing surgical drains can be painful. Currently, there is no evidence to predict which patients may experience greater pain than others. This prospective study is the first to determine the predisposing factors to higher pain scores during drains removal.
Plasma is fluid that develops outside of cells and normally transports nutrients around the body, while seroma is clear. Generally, you'll notice the tummy tuck drains — thing plastic tubes — first remove plasma, which is red or pink, followed by yellow or clear seroma.
Six weeks after a tummy tuck
It takes six weeks for the body to heal from cosmetic surgery. Swelling may last several weeks, but most patients are fully recovered in three months or less. At this point, it's safe to begin exercising and resuming normal activities.
The best sleeping position after tummy tuck surgery is on your back with your upper body elevated to create a slight bend or angle. Using pillows or sleeping in a recliner is ideal to achieve this position.
Following a tummy tuck, I have my patients wait until after their drain tubes are removed to begin showering fully. This is usually between 5 and 10 days . During that time, sponge baths are allowed. In general, a surgical incisional wound is sealed by 48 hours after surgery.
Answer: Excess fluid will resorb
If no fluid is coming out of your drainage incisions, it may be that there is no longer any excess fluid. After liposuction, the excess fluid will either drain out or be resorbed. I wouldn't let this worry you and I wouldn't pull open your incisions. Hope that helps!