During my consults with my patients, I often introduce the concept of placing drains in the site of the surgery towards the end of the discussion. This by no means diminishes the importance of their function. Whether drains are left in place after facelifts or tummy tucks or even large body lifts and contouring procedures, they help patients by removing post operative fluid that is produced after these surgeries. These drains offer a window to what is going on at the site of the surgery and help manage post operative issues like bleeding or fluid accumulation (seroma). These drains are your best post operative friend as I have been known to explain to my patients.
Question that is often asked is how long do the drains have to be left in? The answer is..it depends.
Depends on many factors, but the main concept is that I like to wait for the drainage to be below a certain threshold before removal. Generally speaking the drains are removed anywhere from 5 to 7 days after surgery but this is not a rule written in any text book. Right after surgery as your body is making this fluid, it cannot absorb the fluid fast enough. Until the body can catch up to this absorption process, the drains allow an outlet for this fluid. So my answer to that question is that the drains are removed at the most PERFECT time after surgery as determined by me!
Question that is often asked is how long do the drains have to be left in? The answer is..it depends.
Depends on many factors, but the main concept is that I like to wait for the drainage to be below a certain threshold before removal. Generally speaking the drains are removed anywhere from 5 to 7 days after surgery but this is not a rule written in any text book. Right after surgery as your body is making this fluid, it cannot absorb the fluid fast enough. Until the body can catch up to this absorption process, the drains allow an outlet for this fluid. So my answer to that question is that the drains are removed at the most PERFECT time after surgery as determined by me!
