The following post from our forum is from a woman who had a tummy tuck 12 days ago and still has her surgical drains. Her drainage is deep purple in color. She is wondering if this is normal.

Date: 12/27/2011 Submitted by: MelissaSurgical Drains In Too Long? Purple Color Drainage?

I am a healthy 29 yo female and am 12 days post op from my complete tummy tuck. My incision looks great, I feel really good and my pain is minimal. My only issue is my right drain is still accumulating 80-90cc in 24 hours. Also the fluid has never turned yellow in color like I expected. It is still a deep dark purple color. My left drain is down to 20cc in 24 hours but is also a dark purple. Being I feel good and am relatively healthy I fully expected to have the drains out by now. I see the Dr tomorrow but am looking for any advice!! I haven’t heard of too many people keeping them in this long. Thanks!

RESPONSE

Date: 12/27/2011 Submitted by: Tanner

Melissa,

From what I understand, still having your drains installed 12 days after surgery is not too uncommon.

There are a number of people in the tummy tuck forum who had surgical drains for two weeks and longer.

It sounds like you are doing pretty well. Don’t be in too much of a hurry to get the drains removed. Drains that are removed too soon can lead to medical problems like seromas. Having them installed for the proper length of time may also prevent having the doctor to manually remove pooled pockets of fluids with a syringe.

Since you are seeing your doctor tomorrow, just be sure to make a list of all of your questions and concerns and get the answers directly from him/her.

There is nothing that I could suggest to help your drains stop draining except what you are already doing (wearing your compression garment, drinking fluids and not to overdo the exercise).

Good luck,

Tanner

Follow-Up Email
Tanner, Thank you for your help on my previous question! I am now 21 days post op and still have both drains. One drain has been at 23-26 cc’s for the past 4 days now. I saw my doctor 10 days ago and he said to contact him when I was at 20cc for 24 hours. It feels like I am never going to get there!! I am going to see him tomorrow and was curious if in your experience that was too much fluid to remove the drain. I am geared up to convince him to at least take that one out! They are painful, uncomfortable and not easy to hide under clothes in a professional office setting. My other side is putting out about 40 cc’s in 24 hours still. Whatever insight you can provide would be appreciated. Thank you so much for your help, it’s nice to know there is someone out there who understands!!

Response
Melissa, From what I understand, still having your drains installed 12 days after surgery is not too uncommon.

There are a number of people in the tummy tuck forum who had surgical drains for two weeks and longer.

It sounds like you are doing pretty well. Don’t be in too much of a hurry to get the drains removed. Drains that are removed too soon can lead to medical problems like seromas. Having them installed for the proper length of time may also prevent having the doctor to manually remove pooled pockets of fluids with a syringe.

Since you are seeing your doctor tomorrow, just be sure to make a list of all of your questions and concerns and get the answers directly from him/her.

There is nothing that I could suggest to help your drains stop draining except what you are already doing (wearing your compression garment, drinking fluids and not to overdo the exercise).

Good luck,

Tanner

Follow-Up Email
I have heard from so many other people that under 30cc for 2 days was what their doctor told them and I have been under 30cc for a week now! I find that most frustrating. If I had a different doc they would be gone. For whatever reason my doc tells his patients under 20 in 24 hr. I am sure it is a only for our own good. Thank again for your response, I really do appreciate it!

Response
Melissa, I am not sure I would do any “convincing”. I would let the surgeon use his medical judgment in determining when to remove the drains. Putting up with the discomfort and inconvenience for a few more days (if that’s what it takes) is probably a lot better than dealing with possible complications. If you remove the drains too soon the drainage that is still flowing has nowhere to go and will pool inside your body making your feel uncomfortable, swelled up and force your surgeon to remove it manually (possibly multiple times).

Which is better? Having the drains or having the possible complications and longer recovery time?

I can’t tell you if that is too much fluid to remove the drain.

I was told “after the amount of fluid put out by the drains falls below 30cc over a 24-hour period for 2 consecutive days, then the drains can be removed”. I don’t remember if that pertained to a single drain or the combined total of both drains. Anyway, each doctor uses his own judgment.

It seems like the other drain is slowing down but doesn’t seem to be there yet (my guess).

Sorry I can’t tell you more.

Good luck tomorrow.

Tanner

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