Having a drain removed usually does not hurt, but it can feel rather odd as the tubing slides out of the body. The incision is then covered with a dressing or left open to the air. Stitches usually are not needed. But it's a good idea to avoid swimming or soaking in a tub for several days.
Patients may experience a pulling or pressure sensation, however there is generally no pain experienced during drain removal. Drain removal takes only a few seconds.
The drains typically stay in place until they are draining less than 30ml's of fluid per day. Face lift and neck lift drains usually come out within 1-3 days, as well as breast reduction drains. Tummy tuck drains typically stay in the longest, and may be left in place for 1-2 weeks.
A reported method to decrease pain while removing the drain is injection of lidocaine through the skin around the drain tube [14].
On average, JP drains can continue to drain for 1 to 5 weeks. Keep a log and bring it to the clinic for discussion so your surgical team can determine the best time to remove the drain. slide the fluid towards the bulb. hands with a clean towel.
Seromas tend to appear 7–10 days after surgery, after drainage tubes have been removed. Areas involved in the surgery may develop spots that are swollen and feel like liquid under the skin.
Although uncommon, possible complications associated with removal of a surgical drain include infection and drain fracture or retention of a drain fragment. Monitor the surgical drain site for signs of infection, including pain, erythema, warmth, edema, and purulent drainage, and notify the surgeon of these findings.
You may shower 48 hours after your drain is removed. If you have more than one drain, you cannot shower until the last drain has been out for 48 hours.
Remove the bandage after 24 hours. You may shower after you remove the bandage, but don't take a tub bath or submerge the area in water (such as in a bathtub or swimming pool) until your incision is completely closed and there's no drainage.
Allow yourself sufficient time for healing properly before removing the drains-a premature drain removal could lead to infection, infection-related complications, and possibly other associated risks such as hematomas or seromas (fluid buildup).
Surgical Drain Removal
Your drains will be removed in your plastic surgeon's office. We will cut the stitch that holds the tubing in place and gently pull it out of your skin. You will have small scars that fade over time.
The drained fluid is collected into a dressing, bag, or container. You should see the drainage decrease after you go home, and you may see it change color. You should be shown how to empty the drain before you are discharged, and you should ask if you need to measure the drainage.
In the days and weeks after surgery your body needs time to repair the incision. During this time, the incision will likely become inflamed and there may be some drainage. A mild amount of drainage from the incision is normal.
A nurse can remove your drain. You may take pain medication 30 to 60 minutes before the drain is removed. This does not usually cause pain. You may have a small amount of fluid come out of the hole where the drain entered the body.
To remove the drain, remove any visible tape that may be securing the tubing to your skin or dressing. Gently pull the plastic tubing out. There may be slight discomfort but the tube should pull out easily. You should leave the rest of the bandage intact unless the physician has instructed you otherwise.
Do not let your pain become greater than 6 on a 0-10 scale. Take your pain medication if the pain is 4 or higher. Do not drive until the JP drains have been removed. Do not lift, carry, push, pull or move anything that weighs more than 10 pounds or bend over to reach your knees, feet or the floor.
You will have small scars where the tubing exited your skin, but these often fade over time.
Generally, drains should be removed once the drainage has stopped or becomes less than about 25 ml/day. Drains can be 'shortened' by withdrawing them gradually (typically by 2 cm per day) and so, in theory, allowing the site to heal gradually.
It is common for small debris or a blood clot to be found inside the tubing or bulb. The blood clot appears as a dark, stringy lining. It could prevent the drainage from flowing through the tube. Try to strip the drain to move the clot into the bulb.
When you first get the drain, the fluid will be bloody. It will change colour from red to pink to a light yellow or clear as the wound heals and the fluid starts to go away. Your doctor may give you information on when you no longer need the drain and when it will be removed.
Sanguineous Wound Drainage
This type of drainage is a normal part of the inflammatory phase of wound healing, but it should lessen considerably over time and stop after a few hours in most instances. In some deeper wounds, sanguineous wound drainage may continue for a few days but should distinctly lessen in volume.
A seroma, one of the most common potential complications after surgery, refers to the accumulation of uninfected and clear (i.e., serous) fluid under the skin. Seromas are usually found near the site of a surgical incision and can form soon after surgery or, sometimes, weeks later.
Patients appreciate that drain-free procedures CAN offer:
Not only, less discomfort during recovery (better sleep) But, fewer incisions for the drains/tubes. And, fewer skin disruptions as they heal. As well as, less risk of wound infection.
Surgical drains are required for procedures which involve a significant amount of dissection, lifting or undermining of soft tissues. Whenever a large amount of space is created in the body, the body tries to fill that space with fluid.