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Tummy Tuck surgery Without Drainage Vs. with Drains?
Does it make a difference on swelling? I notice that people who have Tummy Tucks surgery without drainage seem to be more swollen than tummy tucks done with. What is the difference?
Tummy Tucks and Drains
Thanks for your question. Tummy tucks creates a large dead space above the belly button down to the incision. Fluid can accumulate in this space. In addition, incisions used to perform abdominoplasty divide small lymphatic vessels decreasing the body's ability to return fluid from tissue back into the circulation. Drains usually stay in from 4 days to two weeks. The drains are used to remove fluid that collects in the dead space created. When drain output is low enough (most surgeons use about ~30 cc/day as a point that indicates the drains are safe to take out). Even after the drains are removed there will be some degree of swelling in the tissue flaps themselves because of the divided lymphatics. It takes those channels several months to reconstitute. The swelling within that tissue will last until your body has rebuilt them. I hope that helps.
