Abdominoplasty, do I need a drain?
A Drainless tummy tuck, sometimes referred to as a Modern Tummy Tuck is the ONLY way to go according to some plastic surgeons. Other plastic surgeons are equally dogmatic about always using drains with a tummy tuck. And patients – who wouldn’t want the “modern” technique?
Here is the truth. Sometimes a tummy tuck require drains, and sometimes they don’t. It makes sense for a patient to select a plastic surgeon with experience with drainless tummy tucks, and with tummy tucks using drains. Each patient should get the procedure that is best for them, based not just on their preference, but their unique anatomy. I perform tummy tucks with and without drains.
Potential Problems with Drainless Tummy Tucks:
In very thin patients, the quilting sutures used in a drainless tummy tuck may be visible. These irregularities and indentations may never disappear. The goal of a tummy tuck is to provide smooth contours. No one wants indentations, but these indentations have been observed following tummy tucks in thinner patients.
When high volume liposuction is performed with a tummy tuck, there is an increased possibility of a seroma in patients without drains.
An Individualized Treatment Plan for Tummy Tucks
With anything in aesthetic medicine, the latest may or may not be the greatest. I feel like it is important to learn about all advancements, but to incorporate new techniques only when they have been proven to be safe and effective. The Drainless or Modern Tummy Tuck is a great option for some, but it is not the best solution for everyone. At Blue Water Plastic Surgery our focus is on providing you with a beautiful, natural result, and to get you back to your daily routine as comfortably and as quickly as possible. When looking for a tummy tuck surgeon, I would strongly urge you to not let the issue of whether or not you will have a drain for a week be your deciding factor. Look at many Tummy tuck before and after photos. Look at the contour of the abdomen, the belly button – that can really be a telltale sign- and look for placement and thickness of scars. Ideally, incisions will fade to fine lines that are barely perceptible.
Dr. Alexandra Schmidt is a fellowship trained, board-certified plastic surgeon practicing in Raleigh, NC. Dr. Schmidt has been described as the Best Female Plastic Surgeon in North Carolina in many patient reviews. Dr. Schmidt performs aesthetic surgery of the face and body with a special emphasis on very natural looking results with a comfortable and rapid recovery. Patient safety and privacy are Dr. Schmidt’s highest priorities.
