Hi...I was just wondering how long your drains stayed in...i had lipo and tummy tuck and breast lift on Jan 4th...breast drains removed now as well as the left abdominal drain but still getting alot of output on my right abdominal drain. I was so disappointed that i didnt get it out last visit but do understand that taking it out to early could make it where i had to go several times a week to have it removed with needles. Id just like to know if anyone else kept their drains or drain for a long period of time. Thanks in advance.

For ME --- One week PO, had tw drains, left and right side, placed in pubic area...

Mine stayed in for 3 days...
I had a TT and a LBL, drains in left and right hip, and left and right groin area...

For my original TT... My drains were removed at 7 days.
I had two in my pubic area.

For me, first drain was out 2 dpo, second drain was out 6 dpo. I was kind of nervous about getting mine out so soon, was afraid of seroma, etc., but the drainage about was low enough.

I had 3 drains, one was taken out 4 days post op and the other to are still there. I imagine by 7 or 8 days post op they'll come out as well. They are draining fairly slow now. I feel like I have udders under my clothing and will also be glad to get rid of them! I was quite suprised at the look of it when it came out! Never knew it was that long and thick!!

I'm an extreme example... but it is possible for them to stay in much longer... my right drain came out at 10 days, but left drain was very high output from the beginning. It was dark and thick output... it took three weeks to lighten up, but was still pretty red and still putting out 50-70cc's per day. Finally, in my fourth week post op, the drain output dropped to below 25cc's for three days in a row and PS agreed to take it out (I sort of threatened him... in a polite way... I really couldn't take it anymore... ) I still have a small hematoma, and may end up having another drain put into a different spot to try and get rid of that next week, but I'm hopeful my body will take care of it on its own, but only time will tell.

I think it''s rare to have a drain in for that long- I know there are one or two others on here that have had drains stay in from 4-6 weeks, but most surgeons will pull them regardless of output amount between 3-6 weeks becasue of the risk of infection.

Wishing you quick and easy drain removal!

~Aimee

Hi! Today is day 11 and i still have both drains in. Suppose to get them out tomorrow at my post op visit. Also, my drains were placed low on either side of my hips. Not sure why, seems like everyone else has them placed low on the pubic area!

I had 4. Two were removed at day 3 and two more removed at day 6.

Hey my drains stayed in til 6 days post op.

Dr wanted them below 30 and I had two days of 20.

So far so good!

Congrats!

One was removed at 14 days, and the other was removed at 6 weeks...and it was removed at 6 weeks because it is my PS limit on how long she will leave it in. It was still draining 45-60 cc per day.

I had it removed on Friday, and I can noticeably see swelling on that side...

They do a job, and honestly I am surprised some surgeons remove them in less than 2 weeks. I find it hard to believe that they have almost stopped by then...but then again every surgeon has different philosophies on how to do things...each has their pluses and minuses...

brianstill wrote:One was removed at 14 days, and the other was removed at 6 weeks...and it was removed at 6 weeks because it is my PS limit on how long she will leave it in. It was still draining 45-60 cc per day.

I had it removed on Friday, and I can noticeably see swelling on that side...

They do a job, and honestly I am surprised some surgeons remove them in less than 2 weeks. I find it hard to believe that they have almost stopped by then...but then again every surgeon has different philosophies on how to do things...each has their pluses and minuses...

Brian, one of mine had practically no more output when it was removed, (was not clogged), and the others all had less than 20 ccs a day).

Not sure why some drain more than others? Mine were out day 3 and 6.

Hi Got my last drain out yesterday..Yea!!!! I feel almost normal again instead of dragging that ball and chain around. I had it in from Jan 4 to Feb 4. Now back to living. I just didnt like to do much walking with that darn drain in ..it was becoming irritating at the entry site and im so glad to be rid of it. Thank you all for your replys. It helped me feel not so alone in having mine in for so long. Thank you

i never really drained more than 20 ccs or so from any one of my 3 drains.. he took out the ones in my breasts at day 5 and the tummy day 9.. i had no swelling issues up until now.. week 4.

I was very lucky, one drain in pubic area and it was removed 6 days po. Output stayed low from third day to sixth. On day 13, PS stuck me with two needles in belly to make sure there wasn't fluid (and there wasn't) and it really didn't hurt much because I was still numb. Not sure if this is accurate information, but I was told that the more fat removed the more likely to have longer term drainage. Don't quote me on that, but I'm going to try to remember to ask my PS.