Role of drains after a tummy tuck

During a tummy tuck procedure, there is a significant amount of tissue from the abdominal wall that is being elevated. This creates a space that is vulnerable to infections and can trigger a condition called seromas. To deal with this condition, surgeons place drains in the abdomen in order to remove the fluid that has been accumulated. Using drains is the easiest way to avoid fluid collection and collapse the cavity that was created during surgery to provide good results.

Generally, surgeons use two drains. In case the first drain might get clotted or it can be dislodged. The second one works as a reserve in case these conditions occur. This is also to ensure that a patient has enough drainage in the abdomen to avoid infections and other complications after the surgery. It usually takes 7-10 days before that the drains are removed. If the drainage is less than 30 cc, surgeons can also proceed to remove the drains.