Question:
I am planning to have my tummy and thighs done in March.

I have researched for months but I have not found out how long or how many drainage tubes this will involve. I had my arms and breasts done and the arm tubes remained about 1 week post-op. No tubes for breasts. I would also like any info about your experiences. Thank you. Amy Perdue    — Amy P. (posted on February 2, 2005)

February 2, 2005
I had a medial thigh lift in Nov and had one drain down the inside of each leg. They stayed in almost 54 weeks because they just would not settle down. One of them was still in the 50-60cc range per day when they were pulled. The strang part is the one that was producing the most did not end up causing any problems once the drain was removed. The other leg has developed an egg sized seroma along the incision line. It was there early on but stayed more in line while the drain was still in. I can squeeze it and disperse the fluid into the leg but it fills right back up. The surgeon drained it about 3 weeks ago and it was filled back up by the next morning. I was frustrated the other night so I drained it myself only to have it fill right back up. I'm sure this will have to be resolved through minor surgery. Other than this I had very minimal problems. I did have the T connection open up on one leg but it healed out in about 6 weeks. <p>I also had a significant revision to my upper torso at the same time. I had three drains from that work and they came out at about 2 weeks. It comes down to how much they are putting out and that seems to be somewhat of an individual person's thing. I had drains for 8 weeks after my LBL. My surgeon could not believe how they just would not give up. Other people have drains for a week and have no problems, so there is no way of knowing. All I know is that all of the surgeries were worth whatever I had to go through.
   — zoedogcbr

February 2, 2005
If your having an inner thigh lift with a tt, I would advise against having them done at the same time. I had them done separately and was glad I did. Each surgery required 2 drains plus the pull of the inner thigh lift (one of the most difficult plastic surgeries there is) and the pull from the tt would make you almost incapacitated.
   — Patty H.

February 15, 2005
HORRIBLE!!!! i was bed ridden for 3 months with open wounds from thigh lift...had to pee in a funnel and had daily nursing care to change/pack my wounds for about 45 days....it was so very painful!!!! I went to the very best in Phila. and was told this was a walk in the park surgery....WRONG !!! be prepared to be out of commission for a while!!!! My surgeon refused to do more than one procedure at a time (TT< ARM LIFT>Thigh lift) and now I know why....
   — irene B.