Tummy tuck, liposuction and quilting sutures
Both approaches are be reasonable. When it comes to liposuction during an abdominoplasty, it can be safely performed in most patients when done in the deeper planes. This will usually result in a thinner and more sculpted final result.
As far as quilting sutures go, it can allow avoidance of drains with probably a minimal risk of seroma formation. Most surgeons are simply used to using drains only. Also, plication sutures add more surgical time which may be seen as a drawback. (David A. Bottger, MD, Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon)
Both may work,but drains use by most surgeon becuse they work
The issue of the drains as Dr Rand ststed should be the last thing in your decision making. I do use extensive lipo and drains. (Kamran Khoobehi, MD, New Orleans Plastic Surgeon)
This drain issue with tummy tucks is ridiculous
Somehow this drain thing has become a big issue with patients on RS. It should not even be of concern to you as you decide where to go for surgery. The surgeon chooses which works best based on their experience in getting your best result with the fewest complications.
I’d bet that 90+% of plastic surgeons use a drain in tummy tucks if you polled the nation. (Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)
Tummy Tucks Using Drains vs. No Drains
Whether drains are used or not in tummy tucks is a matter of plastic surgeon preference and experience.
The quilting technique used during surgery to eliminate the use of drains has caught a lot of media attention and is very valuable from a marketing perspective, but it is not conclusively proven to completely eliminate seroma formation and does not result in a better tummy tuck result.
While it is appealing from a patient’s perspective to not have a drain after a tummy tuck, your decision to choose a plastic surgein based on the drain issue is short-sighted. The use of a drain is an adjunctive procedure. It is not the operation.
Likewise whether one surgeon does a lot of liposuction during a tummy tuck or does not is again a matter of preference and experience. There are potential healing risks with extensive upper abdominal liposuction during a tummy tuck and some surgeons may understandably be more conservative due to those concerns. (Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD, Indianapolis Plastic Surgeon)
Need individual plan for tummy tuck.
- I don’t exactly agree with either surgeon. One should not do the same operation on different women. Also, the final decision about drains is often best made during surgery. Here are some general concepts:
- We do use quilting sutures on most patients. You have to learn to do it, and it makes the operation a little longer, but they are a good thing. They distribute skin tension and decrease drainage.
- We do quite a bit of liposuction of the upper abdomen and of the love handles on most women. It can dramatically improve shape. For this to be safe, you need to do a ” minimal undermining” tummy tuck to preserve the blood supply to the skin.
- Sometimes we just use quilting sutures, and sometimes we use quilting sutures and drains. It is not either or. Liposuction increases drainage, so we are more likely to use drains when we have done a lot of liposuction. Drains are uncomfortable for a few days, but they are not terrible. We do whatever we can to prevent a seroma. (George J. Beraka, MD (retired), Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)
This drain issue with tummy tucks is ridiculous
Somehow this drain thing has become a big issue with patients on RS. It should not even be of concern to you as you decide where to go for surgery. The surgeon chooses which works best based on their experience in getting your best result with the fewest complications. I’d bet that 90+% of plastic surgeons use a drain in tummy tucks if you polled the nation. (Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS, Seattle Plastic Surgeon)