If You Want a Faster Tummy Tuck Recovery, Nix the Drains

If you are considering a tummy tuck procedure, chances are you have come across terms like ‘surgical drains’ and ‘drainless,’ but what do these terms really mean? Is having a drainless tummy tuck better than the standard tummy tuck with a drain? Does this new drainless technique improve recovery and results? 

Let’s examine the real difference between a traditional tummy tuck and the drainless tummy tuck and what it really means for you.

Difference Between a Tummy Tuck and a Drainless Tummy Tuck

During a tummy tuck, space is created between the skin and the abdominal muscle. During recovery, fluid can build up in this space, resulting in a complication known as a seroma. A seroma is a buildup of fluid and a common complication following surgery. While most seromas resolve on their own over time, they can be painful and increase the recovery process. To combat this complication, traditional tummy tucks have included drains that prevent this fluid buildup. These drains stay in place for around a week and require you to empty the drains multiple times a day.

Drainless tummy tucks eliminate the drains a nd instead incorporate a “quilting” technique that uses layered sutures to close the spaces where fluid commonly builds up after a tummy tuck procedure. This means there are no longer the traditional spaces for a seroma to develop and drains are no longer necessary. 

What the Studies Say

While many surgeons still perform traditional tummy tucks with drains, the evidence is clear that drainless tummy tucks offer many benefits, both during the procedure and during recovery. Numerous studies, including these published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and Aesthetic Surgery Journal, show that drainless tummy tucks reduce the risk of seromas, as well as the time in the operating room, a patient’s discomfort, how long a patient must stay in the hospital after the procedure, and helps to shorten their tummy tuck recovery  period, making it a much better choice for those considering a tummy tuck. 

If you are considering a tummy tuck and have questions about the drainless tummy tuck, Dr. Scot Martin is the one to ask. Drainless tummy tucks account for more than 98% of his procedures and he finds great success with this method. To learn more, call 575-521-7111 to schedule a consultation today.