Question:
When will the drainage stop from a tummy tuck?
I am 5 weeks post op from a tummy tuck/hernia repair. I had my drainage tubes taken out at 10 days. I had to go back and have more fluid drained about 2 weeks after that. I went back yesterday and had over 1000cc drained an another Jackson type drainage tube put in. Everything is building up on the right side. Is this common and if so how long before the fluid stops building up? — beachdog (posted on December 2, 2004)
December 2, 2004
I'm guessing here, but it sounds like your drains should have never been
pulled as early as they were. Were they below 30cc's per day/drain? That
is the criteria my surgeon and most use for pulling the drains. That said,
he is about to pull my leg drains from my medial thigh lift tomorrow and
they are putting out way more than that. But since it's getting close to
3-1/2 weeks he is getting very concerned of infection developing. He plans
to sclorse (sp?) them tomorrow, which essentially involves backfeeding a
cocktail of some sort to get the tissue to slow down and stop producing so
much fluid. I had the same issue when I had my LBL. I had all 5 drains
pulled at 3 weeks and he knew I would have problems because two of them
were putting out 150-200 cc's per day, but he did not want to leave the
original drains in any longer. So basically he let the fluid pool up so he
could see where the problem was and then added drains back in one at a
time. I eventually ended up with drains for 8 weeks. The last one would
not get lower than about 40-50 but he decided to pull it at 8 weeks and
force my body to deal with the fluid, which thankfully it did.
<p>It is a good thing he put a drain back in. Hopefully it will
resolve things and within a week or two it will be able to come out for
good. Drains are a pain in the butt but they are so necessary! Hang in
there!
— zoedogcbr
December 2, 2004
Like the last post, it was under 30cc criteria to pull the tubes. WOW!
1000cc!! I think I'd be concerned. I did have complications where the fluid
built up after the drains were pulled (even after criteria was met) and he
had to re-open to fix the problem. I had 2 add'l surgeries for this
fluid/blood build up. Best of luck!
— ZZ S.
December 2, 2004
I must be the odd one. I was really concerned about drainage after my RNY
and my TT. My surgeon removed one drain 1 day post-op and the other on the
second day after my RNY. With my TT they were both removed the next day.
I was very prepared to go home with drains, but like I said, I am either
odd or lucky. I never had fluid build up and as a matter of fact, with 2
other abdominal surgeries was without drains at all. I would think that
you should be clear of build up in the near future, within a week or 2, as
this seems to have been the time frame for several people I know who had
longer drainage times than I did. Best of luck!!
— Fixnmyself
December 2, 2004
I had one drain out in one week, the second one came out after week two
post-op. Are you stripping your drains? Blood clots can build up and block
the drainage from coming out. I would get a big stringy clot in the tubing
and work it until I got it out, then I would have increased drainage for a
day and it would go down again. A thousand cc's is a lot of drainage, but
everyone is different. As long as the drainage is clear - not cloudy, even
if still somewhat bloody to golden, it's okay. (By the way, I had a lot
more drainage from my right drainage tube, and it was the second to be
removed.)
— koogy
December 2, 2004
I had two drains put in when I had my TT; the first came out in 2 weeks,
the second one at 4 weeks. I then had a blood pocket form right away; the
surgeon tried draining it by needle every day for a week; when that didnt
help he put back in the drain. It stayed until almost July. (was put in in
mid may so about 6 weeks total.. He would NOT take it out until it was
draining less than 20 cc I think.... better to be left in for a while than
risk having to have it put back in....
— star .
December 3, 2004
My drain is draining steadly. I do strip them every time I empty it. The
fluid is golden in color. I am still getting over 100ccs a day. Thankfully
all the hardness in my stomach area has gone away once they drained the
1000cc and removed some other clots, tissue etc. The first time they were
put in they were only in for 10 days, I then had my stomach drained with a
syringe a few times after that.
— beachdog
December 3, 2004
Dear Lisa,
It is certainly not common to have that much drainage 5 weeks after your
TT. After the surgery, the drains are usually removed 5 - 10 days post-op.
I will wait until the drain is less than 30cc per day for two days. Also,
I prefer to remove one drain at a time. The amount of drainage varies
depending on many factors including amount of tissue removed, undermining
of the abdominal wall, type of hernia repair (mesh), liposuction, abdominal
muscle repair, amount of previous scar tissue, presence of a hematoma/blood
clot and post-operative activity. It may be useful to limit your activity
as much as possible and to wear a tight binder to compress the fluid
collection. Sometimes, if the seroma is there long enough your body will
form scar tissue around it and it may take another surgery to remove the
affected area. Hopefully, your collection will resolve quickly and
disappear after a couple more weeks. I hope this information is useful to
you. Joshua Kreithen, M.D. Lakewood Ranch Plastic Surgery, Bradenton FL -
www.lakewoodranchplasticsurgery.com
— Joshua Kreithen, M.D.
December 4, 2004
I had 4 JP drains total after my tummy tuck (two on the left side, two on
the right). I had one on each side pulled one week postop. I had one more
pulled on the right side the following week. The remaining drain on the
left wasnt pulled until 5 weeks postop because it was still draining too
much. Once it was draining less than 30 cc in a 24 hr period, the doc
pulled it. If he had pulled it any earlier, he said he might have to go in
with a needle and drain any excess fluid buildup, which I really didnt want
to happen. I know those drains are a pain, but it's better to have them in
for a little while rather than having them pulled too early and the doc
having to go in there with a needle. Good Luck!
— Kris T.
December 4, 2004
How is your protein intake and what has your weight been doing since
surgery? Hair and nails OK? Weight loss patients have a much higher chance
of developing seromas than other patients...partially because of the large
amounts of tissue that are often removed, and also (my opinion) because of
metabolic and nutritional deficiencies after a big surgery like tummy tuck.
I perform a series of lab tests to try and identify patients at risk of
fluid collections before the surgery and make some dietary changes if
needed. I also keep an ultrasound machine in my office to check for fluid
before pulling the drains and also to help look for fluid afterwards!
— DrL
December 6, 2004
I also discovered I have a fluid build up after having TT. (TT removal 25
lbs) I'm not worried yet. it's just a pain in the neck. or I should say
tummy. He removes a full needle then about 1/2 the second time of fluid.
how much that is. I have no idea. any how, what sent me back to him was
having a full feeling and pain and soreness like the day I had tt. he told
me to limit my activity as much as possible and to wear a tight binder to
compress the fluid collection. and I have to come back every week until it
stops. how long who knows. I dislike it but I will roll with it. it beats
having a hernia. which I thought it was. I'll be glad when it's over. I
want to see my flat belly again.
— B4real
December 6, 2004
My protein intake is the same as before the surgery. My weight has actually
come down some since I came home from the TT/hernia repair but not to the
12 pounds they took off. My hair and nice look normal as well
— beachdog
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