Scottsdale/Phoenix Arizona
No-Drain Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck

Since May, 2008, I have been using a no-drain method for abdominoplasty. This is a technique that has been developed over the past few years. I personally did not want to start using it on my patients until I believed that it had been thoroughly tested. However, it has been a significant advance and has led to both improved results and significantly greater comfort.

The drain or drains had been probably the greatest source of discomfort, and being able to eliminate the need for a drain reduces the discomfort.

Doing abdominoplasty without a drain is somewhat more difficult, and probably adds about 30 - 45 minutes to the procedure, but is very much worth it. It involves placement of a number of additional sutures to support the flap of tissue in its new location, hold the umbilical (belly-button) scar inside the umbilicus for a better-looking belly button, and eliminate the space for fluid collection under the flap.

When I do a circumferential abdominoplasty, I still use a drain for the back, but I remove that drain on the day after surgery. Since all of my abdominoplasty patients stay in the surgical facility overnight, that means I remove the only drain before they go home the next morning after surgery.

Most of these pictures show patients who had their surgery before May, 2008, and thus they did have a drain placed in their surgery.

Link Here
Abdominoplasty/Tummy Tuck Yes, this is really what she looked like before and one year after her abdominoplasty. Obviously, this is the result of weight control and exercise in addition to surgery, but without surgery, she could never have obtained this result. Over time, the scar will fade even more. If she can do it, you can too!
Before	1 Year After