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. 2020 Mar 20;8(3):e2677.
doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000002677. eCollection 2020 Mar.

Liposuction: Drains, Are They Adequate?

Ahmed A Taha  1 , Mohamed M Wahba  2 , Hossam Tahseen  1
Affiliations

Liposuction: Drains, Are They Adequate?

Ahmed A Taha et al. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. .

Abstract

Seroma following liposuction (especially mega-sessions; more than 5 L) is a common complication that causes much distress to the surgeon and the patient. This will eventually affect the overall satisfaction and patient's experience regarding liposuction. If not detected promptly, seromas can impair the results.

Methods: This is a prospective analysis performed by the authors in a private practice. All our patients had mega-liposuction sessions (more than 5 L, range 8-12 L) using Power-assisted Liposuction with Lipomatic by Euromai and VASER. Tumescent infiltration was used. Fifty male patients participated after providing their informed consent. Their mean age was 35 years (range, 21-50) and mean body mass index was 29 (range, 28-33). Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group A consisted of 25 patients with no adjunctive draining procedures done, and group B consisted of 25 patients with drainage procedures done. Patients were followed up every other day for 3 weeks for detection of seroma.

Results: Seventeen patients had post-operative seroma: 13 in group A and 4 in group B. The volume of seromas was further subdivided into mild (<50 cc), moderate (50-100 cc), and severe (>100 cc).

Conclusions: High definition liposuction is a demanding procedure by both the surgeon and the patient to achieve the best results and contour. Drainage procedures and drains placement are truly effective methods for minimizing seroma formation, enhancing the recovery, and eventually improving the results.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors have no financial interest and conflict of interest to declare in relation to the content of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Preoperative photographing of a 27-year-old male patient with a BMI of 28. Areas to be treated are waist, lower back, upper back, chest, and abdomen.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Silicone drains placed in the inguinal and iliac regions on both sides, making a total of 4 drains. These are the same openings used for liposuction.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
(Above) Seroma collection on the right side of the back. (Below) After aspiration of nearly 30 cc. No drains were used in this patient (group A).
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Postoperative results for the same patient as in Figure 1, day 5, high-definition liposculpture. Note the drains in the inguinal region.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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