Drains After Breast Surgery

Have you suffered through the pain of surgical drains.

Drains after breast surgery. In the instance of mastectomy there is a large surface area between the subcutaneous tissue the area beneath the skin and the breast tissue. Fluid often builds up in the area where a breast is removed and if this fluid is not removed it can result in painful pressure and delay healing. These raw surfaces can leak fluid like one gets with a burn. If your surgeon gives the ok to shower with your drains in you ll need to secure them with a belt or cloth so they don t tug at your incisions or pull out.

A surgical drain is placed to keep fluid or infectious material from building up at the site of your surgery. The drain will pull this liquid out and assist in closing the space created by the surgery. It drains fluid away and out of the body just like a plumbing drain. Showering after breast surgery is no easy feat especially with all the bandages and discomfort.

In this guest blog post ann marie shares the raw honest truth about what she experienced after she had her drains removed from chest pains to numbness and everything in between. Drains also reduce the chance that you will develop a seroma a collection of fluid that can be uncomfortable and sometimes cause scarring. After your surgery you may be discharged from the hospital with an external drainage device in place. Fluid often builds up in the area where a breast is removed that can cause discomfort and delay healing if 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. They are gross they smell they tug they hurt. Surgical drains perform an important role in healing after breast surgery. Following breast cancer surgery a woman may go home with one or more drains coming from the incision site on her chest or under her arm care instructions should be given prior to leaving the hospital on how often to observe and empty the drainage container.

Fluid often builds up in the area where a breast is removed and can cause discomfort and delay healing if it is not drained. The purpose of the drain is to keep fluid from collecting in the area of your incision. As many of you know drains suck. Make sure to follow your surgeon s instructions regarding bathing.

Mathisa s getty images. A drain can also reduce pain after surgery. Drains will exit the body usually near incisions. The drains will remove and collect fluid from the surgery site.