Removing drains following an abdominoplasty
Drains usually stay in place for 5 to 10 days. Once the drainage is less than 30 cc over a 24 hour period they can be removed. (Jeffrey Zwiren, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy tucks and drains
Drains are placed during a tummy tuck to minimize fluid collection.
Typically, it is recommended that drains stay in for about one to two weeks. This varies from case to case and is usually indicative of how active a patient is after surgery.
The less active you are – the less fluid the drains collect and they may be removed sooner. Following your doctors post-op recommendations may speed your recovery. (George John Alexander, MD, FACS, Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy Tuck and Drains
After tummy tuck, I place 1 drain which is usually removed in an average of 7 days. This really depends on how much drainage is coming out and the size of the patient.
Sometimes, a drain may not be needed especially after a mini-tummy tuck. Most of my patients will go home after tummy tuck. (Stanley Okoro, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)
I usually remove drains within a week to ten days for the majority fo patients that are undergoing a standard tummy tuck. (Steven Wallach, MD, Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)
Surgical drains after tummy tuck
We keep our surgical drains in after a tummy tuck until they are draining less than 30 cc (= 1 ounce) per 24 hour time period each. Usually, this is about 7-10 days, but varies from person to person.
The drains are removed easily thereafter, and the drain site is hidden in the pubic hair region. Hope that helps! (Thomas Fiala, MD, Orlando Plastic Surgeon)
Drains in abdominoplasty
Patients often have drains in the surgical area for 10-14 days after surgery. Your surgeon may choose to take them out earlier or later based on how much they are draining. (Jason Brett Lichten, MD, Columbus Plastic Surgeon)
Average time for drain after tummy tuck
I usually place two drains after tummy tuck. Both of the drains usually come out within two weeks. They may come out as early as 3-5 days and as long as 3-4 weeks. I take the one drain out first that has a less drainage and the second drain out in the following couple days.
The duration of drains that stay varies depending on the amount of liposuction, area of undermining (dissection), and each patient’s body. I find that more obese patients tend to have more drainage, thus the need to keep the drains in place longer. (Sugene Kim, MD, Houston Plastic Surgeon)
What is Average Time for Drains to Stay in After Tummy Tuck?
By the text book 5 to 10 days on average. But there are times where I have left them in a few weeks as long as drainage is occurring. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl J. Blinski (Darryl J. Blinski, MD, Miami Plastic Surgeon)
Drains may not be necessary for tummy tuck
Typically drains have been left in large surgical areas for 5 to 7 days after surgery. We feel that drains are a two way street in that after this time the risk increases that bacteria can also work their way back in.
Newer methods in tummy tuck have allowed us to omit the drains altogether and we have not used them in the last 7 years. The benefit is an easier recovery, faster on your feet and faster into the shower. (Peter E. Johnson, MD, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)
Drain time with abdominoplasty depends on several things
A drain tube has long routine after abdominoplasty since there is normally a tendency for some fluid to build up. About 15 years ago i started using a technique that later came to be known as the progressive tension suture method (credit to Dr. Harlan Pollock.) One of the things that immediately became apaprent was much lower output in the drains, and in fact many plastic surgeons using that method no longer use drains at all.
In my practice we use the On-Q pain pumps with tummy tucks, and it seems useful to have the drain tube in while the pump is still infusing, about 3-4 days. (Richard Baxter, MD, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)
Drains and tummy tucks
For most patients with a tummy tuck we have typically removed all drains by the 7 day, though you may need a drain for as long as two weeks. (Delio Ortegon, MD, San Antonio Plastic Surgeon)
Most drains can be removed after 7 to 10 days following a tummy tuck, sometimes sooner, depending on how much fluid is coming from the drain. Some surgeons (including me) have stopping using drains in most abdominoplasties so the need for a drain is not universal. (Karol A. Gutowski, MD, FACS, Chicago Plastic Surgeon)