Medically reviewed by Jason D. Wright, D.O., board-certified cosmetic surgeon, Wright Surgical Arts
Surgical drain care is part of your recovery after a tummy tuck. If you're having a tummy tuck, you'll go home with surgical drains. They can feel intimidating at first, but caring for them takes only a few minutes a day once you've done it a couple of times. This surgical drain care guide walks you and your caregiver through what drains do, how to strip and empty them, and when to call us.
In this guide
Table of Contents
Why you have drains
After a tummy tuck, fluid naturally collects in the space under the skin while your body heals. Drains are thin, flexible tubes placed under the skin that carry this fluid out into a soft bulb. Removing the fluid lowers the risk of a seroma, a pocket of fluid that can build up under the skin, and helps the skin heal smoothly against the tissue beneath it.
At Wright Surgical Arts, drains are used for every full tummy tuck. They usually come out 7 to 10 days after surgery, sometimes later depending on how much fluid you're producing. After a mini tummy tuck, a drain usually stays in for about a week. Drains are occasionally used after a breast reduction, and then only for a couple of days.
Surgical drain care supplies
- A small measuring cup marked in milliliters (mL)
- Your drain log, or a notebook and pen
- A safety pin or lanyard to secure the drains
- Clean gauze and tape, if you were given them
- Soap and water or hand sanitizer
How to strip your drains
Stripping, sometimes called milking, moves small clots through the tubing so they don't block the flow of fluid. Strip your drains two to three times a day, or any time you see clots in the tubing.
- Wash your hands.
- With one hand, pinch the tubing right where it comes out of your skin and hold it steady. This keeps you from tugging on the drain.
- With the thumb and index finger of your other hand, squeeze the tubing just below your first hand and slide your fingers firmly down the tubing toward the bulb.
- Keep holding the tubing near your skin, then repeat the squeeze-and-slide motion two or three times, working down in short sections if needed.
- Repeat for each drain.
Some patients find it easier to slide their fingers over the tubing with an alcohol pad or a little lotion to reduce friction. Either way, don't pull on the drain where it enters your skin.
How to empty your drains
Empty your drains at least twice a day, and any time a bulb is about half full.
- Wash your hands.
- Unpin the drain and open the cap on the bulb.
- Turn the bulb upside down and squeeze it to empty the fluid into your measuring cup.
- Squeeze the bulb flat, and while it's still squeezed, close the cap. This restores the suction that pulls fluid out.
- Check the amount in the cup, write it down, and note the color.
- Pour the fluid into the toilet and flush. Rinse the cup and wash your hands.
- Secure the drain to your garment or lanyard again.
Keeping a drain log
Record each drain separately every time you empty it. Your output is what tells Dr. Wright when your drains are ready to come out, so bring your log to your follow-up visits.
| DATE AND TIME | DRAIN 1 (ML) | DRAIN 2 (ML) | COLOR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1, 8:00 AM | 40 | 35 | Dark red |
| Day 1, 8:00 PM | 30 | 30 | Red |
| Day 2, 8:00 AM | 25 | 20 | Pink |
| Day 2, 8:00 PM | 20 | 15 | Pink to light yellow |
The fluid is usually dark red the first day or two, then gradually turns pink and finally light yellow or straw colored. The amount should trend down over the following days, though it can go up a bit after a more active day.
Showering with drains
You can shower with your drains in. Keep it quick:
- Don't let the water stream directly on the drain sites. Rinse off, and get in and out.
- After your shower, clean each drain site with warm, soapy water or a mix of hydrogen peroxide and tap water.
- Apply a thin layer of antibiotic ointment, such as bacitracin, around the drain site.
- Cover the site with a clean dressing.
- Keep your drains secured while you shower so they don't hang and pull.
Everyday surgical drain care tips
- Keep drains secured to your garment or a lanyard at all times, so they don't pull or dangle. Be careful when using the bathroom and getting dressed.
- A small amount of fluid leaking around the tube can be normal.
- Keep the dressings around the drain sites clean and dry between showers.
- Rest. Doing too much can increase your drain output and keep the drains in longer.
When your drains come out
Drains usually come out once each drain is producing about 30 mL or less over 24 hours. Removing drains too early raises the risk of a seroma, so timing is based on your output, not the calendar. Removal is quick and done in the office. Most patients feel a brief pulling or pressure as the tube slides out, and many say it's easier than they expected. The small opening closes on its own within a few days.
When to call us
Call our office if you notice:
- A bulb that won't stay compressed, which means it has lost suction
- A sudden increase in output, or fluid that turns bright red again
- Output that stops suddenly while swelling around the area increases
- A clot you can't clear by stripping
- Cloudy or foul-smelling fluid, increasing redness at the drain site, or fever
- A drain that falls out or slips partway out
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room for chest pain or shortness of breath.
Surgical drain care questions
Does it hurt to strip my drains?
It shouldn't hurt. Holding the tubing near your skin keeps you from pulling on the drain. You may feel a slight tugging sensation.
Can I shower with drains in?
Yes. Keep the water from streaming directly on the drain sites, rinse off quickly, then clean each site, apply antibiotic ointment, and cover it.
Can I sleep with drains in?
Yes. Secure them to your garment or a lanyard so they don't pull when you move.
How long will I have drains?
After a full tummy tuck, usually 7 to 10 days, sometimes longer depending on your output. After a mini tummy tuck, usually about a week.
Does drain removal hurt?
Most patients feel a quick pulling or pressure sensation that's over in seconds.
What if I forget to write down my output?
Just record the next time you empty the drains and note that one was missed. Consistent records help, but one missed entry isn't a problem.
Plan your tummy tuck with Wright Surgical Arts
Wright Surgical Arts in Pasco sees patients from the Tri-Cities, across the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. Before surgery, our team walks you and your caregiver through surgical drain care so you feel confident taking care of yourself at home.
Learn more about tummy tuck surgery at Wright Surgical Arts, or contact us to schedule your consultation.
This article is for general educational purposes and does not replace individualized medical advice. Recovery, risks, restrictions, and results vary by patient.
Related reading: Liposuction vs. tummy tuck: which is right for you?
For an additional demonstration, see Memorial Sloan Kettering’s Jackson-Pratt drain care guide. Follow the individualized surgical drain care instructions provided by Dr. Wright and your care team.
