ROLE OF DRAINS AFTER A TUMMY TUCK
One of the most popular plastic surgery procedures is the tummy tuck. We use it to remodel the lower and middle abdomen and remove the extra skin and fat that can be a result of weight loss or pregnancy. The tummy tuck is a procedure recommended to both men and women who have sagging skin or muscles on the abdomen.
What Happens after the Tummy Tuck Procedure?
As soon as the tummy tuck procedure is over, you will have to wear elastic bandages or a corset to speed and help the healing process. The corset will be required for about six weeks. Also, for a few days after the surgery, usually three to seven days, there will be a few thin drain tubes to eliminate the fluids that naturally accumulate where the surgery was performed. The pain after the procedure is moderate in intensity, and it will be controlled with medication. Sometimes a slight pain can persist for a few weeks due to small nerves affected during the surgery, but it usually disappears in two to three weeks. In some cases, the doctor will prescribe oral antibiotics to prevent infection and anticoagulants to prevent thrombotic complications.
What Is the Purpose of the Drains after a Tummy Tuck Procedure?
For approximately seven days or less, you will have one or two extremely thin drain tubes inserted to eliminate the liquids that accumulate in the body after the surgery. The drains will prevent seroma (a collection of fluids that creates a pocket beneath the surface of the skin). It is not at all unusual for a seroma to form after surgery, and without the use of drains it is almost a certainty. Seromas need to be surgically removed, so the role of the drains after the tummy tuck procedure is to prevent this.
The forming of seromas after tummy tuck procedures continues to be a frustrating issue for both doctors and patients. Over time, researchers have found that seromas are more likely when the patient suffers from obesity. However, these fluids between the skin and the abdominal wall can be easily removed using drains. This is why the drains are mandatory after a tummy tuck procedure. There is no pain or significant discomfort associated with the drains, and patients have not complained about any issues or complications related to them.
Doing your best to follow the doctor’s hygiene recommendations is a must for any tummy tuck patient, as well as giving the body time to recover after the surgery. It is also recommended that you spend the first two weeks at home to avoid physical effort, and during the next six weeks, resume your daily activities step by step while still avoiding challenging activities.
