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.
Click Here to Return