How Long Do You Have Drains After Breast Reduction
Breast reduction is surgery to reduce the size of the breasts. Many women with large or heavy breasts have back pain and neck pain that get worse as they age. Breast reduction surgery helps relieve the pain by reducing the weight of the breasts and improving how they sit on your chest. It can also improve other symptoms such as skin irritation, swelling and discomfort that occur in larger breasts during everyday activities.”
In this guide, we find out How Long Do You Have Drains After Breast Reduction, why no drains after breast surgery, how long should i have drainage after breast reduction, and lymphatic drainage after breast surgery.
How Long Do You Have Drains After Breast Reduction
You’ve had that nagging feeling that something was off with your breasts for years. You’ve tried everything to alleviate the pain and discomfort, including wearing different bras, taking medication and seeing a chiropractor. Nothing has worked. So you make an appointment with a plastic surgeon, who tells you about breast reduction surgery as the solution to all your problems—and it’s exactly what you need!
Breast reduction surgery often involves placement of a drain for several days after the procedure. The drain is used to remove excess fluid from the surgical site.
A drain is a small tube that is placed in the breast reduction surgery site immediately after the procedure. It may be placed under the skin or through one of your nipples. The drain allows excess fluid to flow out of your body, helping prevent swelling and preventing complications from developing.
The drain may remain in place for several days, or it can be removed earlier if desired by your surgeon. It will not affect your ability to move around or perform daily activities like showering but should always be kept clean and dry so bacteria does not grow inside it.
Drains are placed in the immediate post-operative period to collect any blood or fluid that collects from the large incisions used during surgery.
Drains are placed in the immediate post-operative period to collect any blood or fluid that collects from the large incisions used during surgery. The drain is attached to a small tube which is tunneled out through one of your incisions. The drain is usually removed on day 5 after surgery, but may be removed earlier if draining slows down or stops.
Drains are used to remove excess fluid from the surgical site. If there is excessive fluid, it can lead to swelling and pain at your surgical site because fluid causes tissues to stretch beyond their normal capacity and become swollen.”
The drain is attached to a small bulb that is squeezed and then released every few hours to empty its contents. A nurse will teach you (or your caregiver) how to care for the drains prior to being discharged home after surgery.
The drain is attached to a small bulb that is squeezed and then released every few hours to empty its contents. A nurse will teach you (or your caregiver) how to care for the drains prior to being discharged home after surgery.
In general, it’s normal for your breasts to feel tender or swollen in the days following breast reduction surgery. The swelling should go away within two weeks of having drains removed; however, there are some rare cases when they may not completely disappear even after several months have passed by. If you notice that some areas of fluid retention persist after several months have passed since your procedure, consult with your doctor again so he/she can make necessary adjustments in treatment plans accordingly.”
Drain bulb contents are measured; if there is a lot of fluid coming out, it can indicate that there also may be bleeding inside the breast pocket.
When you feel the need to change your drains, it is important to weigh the fluid. If there are a lot of fluids coming from your drains, it could mean that there is some bleeding inside your breast pocket. This can be an indication of other complications including infection or capsular contracture (hardening).
This can be a sign of bleeding and more time will be spent in the recovery room with your surgeon before you can go home after breast reduction surgery.
Bleeding is a rare complication of breast reduction surgery. The most common sign of bleeding is an increase in pain, swelling and/or drainage.
If you notice any changes to your incision site or drain site, contact your plastic surgeon immediately. Your doctor may want to check your drains again or replace them if they are no longer working properly.
The amount of drainage typically decreases over time and it is not unusual for one side of your breasts to drain more than the other side after surgery.
It is not unusual for one side of your breasts to drain more than the other side after surgery. This happens because the amount of fluid that drains initially is usually greater on one side than on another. The amount of drainage typically decreases over time, but it may continue for several weeks or months after surgery as small amounts of fluid are reabsorbed by tissues in your body.
When you leave the hospital or surgical facility, you’ll be given instructions on monitoring drainage from your drains, as well as how long you’ll need to keep and take care of them at home.
You’ll be given instructions on monitoring drainage from your drains, as well as how long you’ll need to keep and take care of them at home.
Your doctor will also give directions about administering any medications that may be prescribed, such as antibiotics.
It’s important to follow these instructions carefully and report any concerns or problems to your surgeon or other health care providers.
Typically, a single drain will remain in place for five to seven days after breast reduction surgery; two drains may take up to 10 days before they are removed, although some surgeons use two drains only very infrequently for this surgery.
Typically, a single drain will remain in place for five to seven days after breast reduction surgery; two drains may take up to 10 days before they are removed, although some surgeons use two drains only very infrequently for this surgery. Drain placement is individualized to each patient and is based on the amount of fluid that was removed during surgery as well as any additional factors such as your age and overall health.
Drain duration is based on the patient’s needs rather than a specific number of days recommended by a surgeon or other professional. Your surgeon will discuss your postoperative care plan with you prior to and following your surgery so that you have time to ask questions about anything related to this process. Your doctor might also recommend speaking with other patients who have gone through similar procedures in order to learn more about what their experience has been like after breast reduction surgery with drains at home.
why no drains after breast surgery
Surgical drains are intended to prevent excessive accumulation of fluid after breast reconstruction. This reduces swelling and prevents seromas and other post-op complications. If you underwent a mastectomy before undergoing breast reconstruction surgery, you will be familiar with surgical drains, their use, and how to properly care for them.
Dr. Ravi Tandon would like to offer patients in the greater New Orleans, LA a brief overview of how to care for surgical drains after breast reconstruction surgery. We will provide more details on post-op healing and recovery during the consultation process.
How Long Will the Surgical Drains Be in Place?
This can vary from patient to patient. Most breast reconstruction patients will have surgical drains in place for 10 to 14 days. Having drains in place longer can pose a serious infection risk, so it’s rare for drains to remain in place significantly longer than two weeks.
The amount of fluid that is drained will be the primary factor that determines when they can be removed. In many cases, drains are removed once there is less than 30cc’s of fluid drained in a day for 48 consecutive hours.
Pinning Drain Tubes to Prevent Pain
With drains in place, patients may notice that slight tugging or pulling on the drains can be uncomfortable. Obviously avoid tugging or pulling on the drains, and only allow them to be removed by your surgeon. Patients can carefully use safety pins to attach the drain tubes to clothing or undergarments. Do not puncture the tubes, but use the pins to keep them secure so they do not tug on your skin while healing.
Drain Management Garments
If safety pins sound like a hassle, there are also garments for drain management that may be worth considering. There are numerous options for post-surgical bras and drain management clothing we can discuss during the consultation process and/or that you can research online.
Recommended Clothing for Surgical Drains
On the note of clothing, we recommend that patients wear loose blouses, oversized sweaters, and other garments that are easy to put on and take off to minimize discomfort while drains are in place.
Keeping the Area Around the Drains Clean
Keeping the area around the drains clean is important for preventing infection. Remove and discard the bandage around the tube first. Use warm water and soap to gently clean the skin around the drain. Once your skin is dry, replace the bandage.
Emptying the Drains
When emptying drains, you’ll want to “milk” the tube to prevent clogs. Be sure to carefully pinch the tube at the top and run your pinched fingers down the length of the tube to help push out any thickened fluid that has accumulated. Empty the fluid that has been accumulated into the bulb into drainage cups.
Once the tube has been cleared of blockages and all of the fluid is out of the bulb, be sure to squeeze or fold the bulb so there is no air in it before sealing the bulb again.
You will want to empty the drains two to three times a day based on your surgeon’s directions.
Monitoring Drain Activity
The drainage cups provided will allow you to measure the amount of fluid that is removed. Record this information on a log each day. This information will be passed on to your surgeon as a way to monitor your post-op recovery.
In terms of color, the fluid that’s removed will typically start as red or reddish. Over time, the fluid will turn pink in color, then pinkish, and eventually a transparent yellow color.
Noting Any Abnormal Issues with the Fluid
If you notice excessive drainage, odd colors in the fluid, or a foul smell from the fluid, alert your surgeon about these matters immediately. This could be the sign of an infection or other complication.
Learn More About Breast Reconstruction Surgery
To learn more about your options for breast reconstruction and enhanced wellness, be sure to contact an experienced cosmetic reconstructive surgeon. The team at Tandon Plastic Surgery can be reached by phone at (504) 455-1000.
how long should i have drainage after breast reduction
Doru Paul, MD, is triple board-certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine. He is an associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and attending physician in the Department of Hematology and Oncology at the New York Presbyterian Weill Cornell Medical Center.
If you are having a mastectomy for breast cancer treatment of prophylaxis, you will most likely have surgical drains in place when you go home. Surgical drains are also usually placed during breast reconstruction surgery. Your surgeon or nurse will give you instructions on how to manage your drains, but knowing what to expect can make living with drains a bit easier.
The Purpose of Drains
Surgical drains perform an important role in healing after breast surgery. Fluid often builds up in the area where a breast is removed and can cause discomfort and delay healing if it is not drained.
Drains also reduce the chance that you will develop a seroma, a collection of fluid that can be uncomfortable and sometimes cause scarring. For this reason, your surgeon will place drains in the regions where fluid is expected to accumulate.
The downside of drains is that they offer bacteria a way to enter the body, so keeping the area around your drains clean and dry is important.
While there are different types of surgical drains, the type used most often for breast surgeries is the Jackson-Pratt drainage system. These drains are placed within your surgical field and are attached to flexible tubing that passes through and is stitched to your skin. The tubing is capped with a soft plastic bulb, which catches and holds the fluid, and a stopper outside of your body.
Most drains are left in place for two to three weeks, but some may be removed before you leave the hospital and others may need to be left in place for longer than three weeks. The risk of infection, however, begins to increase rapidly after they have been in place for 21 days.
Surgeries That Typically Require Surgical Drains
Surgeries requiring drains are those in which fluid collects during healing. Drains are usually required following a mastectomy or reconstructive breast surgery. You may have only one drain, or you may have five or more if you have a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction.
A separate drainage tube is often placed if you have a lymph node dissection. You will not usually need a drainage tube if you are undergoing a surgical biopsy, lumpectomy, or a sentinel node biopsy.
The location of your drains will depend on the surgery you have, but often includes a drain at your mastectomy site and one in your armpit if you have lymph nodes removed.
How to Care for Surgical Drains
When you wake up from surgery, your recovery room nurse will probably warn you that you need to be careful with your drains. Depending on the length of the tubes (usually 14 to 18 inches), it’s easy to get these tangled up with IV lines, your bedclothes, and anything else nearby.
Your nurse will periodically drain your bulbs and show you how it’s done. He or she will log the amount of drainage from each tube, and you will be instructed to continue the log on your own until your drains are removed.
Before you leave the hospital, your healthcare team will review drain management, tell you about symptoms that should prompt you to call, and schedule a follow-up visit to have them removed.
Emptying and Tracking Drainage
Always wash your hands before and after each measurement. Early on, you’ll likely have around 100 cc drainage per day, but this will steadily decrease. You may be asked to empty your drains two to four times daily, or whenever they become about half full.
Note the color and consistency of the drainage. Early on, it will be bright red, but this should change to a straw color after a few days. After emptying your bulb into the toilet, rinse it with water and gently compress it to make sure a vacuum is recreated when you close the system. It is very helpful to have someone assist you with draining your surgical bulbs, if possible.
If you notice an increase in the amount of fluid, think about what you have been doing that may be causing that.
Increased drainage may be a sign that you’ve been too active and need to take it easy for a few more days.
Keep the insertion site clean and dry by washing with soap and water and gently patting dry.
lymphatic drainage after breast surgery
Lymphedema is a problem that may occur after cancer surgery when lymph nodes are removed. Lymphedema can occur months or years after treatment. It’s a chronic (ongoing) condition that has no cure. But steps can be taken to help keep it from starting, and to reduce or relieve symptoms. If left untreated, lymphedema can get worse. Getting treatment right away can lower your risk of infections and complications.
What is the lymphatic system?
The lymphatic system is a network of tiny vessels and small, bean-shaped organs called lymph nodes that carry lymph throughout the body. Lymph is a clear, colorless fluid that contains a few blood cells. It starts in many organs and tissues. The lymphatic system is part of your immune system. It helps protect and maintain the fluid balance of your body by filtering and draining lymph and waste products away from each body region. The lymphatic system also helps the body fight infection.
How Lymphedema Happens
During surgery for cancer, nearby lymph nodes are often removed. This disrupts the flow of lymph, which can lead to swelling. This is lymphedema. Lymphedema can affect one or both arm, the head and neck, the belly, the genitals, or the legs. Swelling can worsen and become severe. Skin sores or other problems can develop. Affected areas are also more likely to become infected.
Often during breast cancer treatment, some or all of the lymph nodes under the arm are treated with radiation. The lymph nodes under the arm are also called the axillary lymph nodes. They drain the lymphatic vessels from the upper arms, from most of the breast, and from the chest, neck, and underarm area.
When many lymph nodes under the arm have been removed, a woman is at higher risk of lymphedema for the rest of her life. Radiation treatments to the under arm lymph nodes can cause scarring and blockages that further increase the risk of lymphedema. Lymphedema may occur right after surgery or radiation, or months or even years later.