After your surgery you may be discharged from the hospital with an external drainage device in place.
Drains after breast surgery.
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.
Surgical drains perform an important role in healing 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.
They are gross they smell they tug they hurt.
These raw surfaces can leak fluid like one gets with a burn.
Make sure to follow your surgeon s instructions regarding bathing.
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.
After you have had breast surgery surgical drains perform an important role in healing.
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.
Drains also reduce the chance that you will develop a seroma a collection of fluid that can be uncomfortable and sometimes cause scarring.
The drains will remove and collect fluid from the surgery site.
Showering after breast surgery is no easy feat especially with all the bandages and discomfort.
Drains will exit the body usually near incisions.
Mathisa s getty images.
The drain will pull this liquid out and assist in closing the space created by the surgery.
As many of you know drains suck.
A drain can also reduce pain after surgery.
A surgical drain is placed to keep fluid or infectious material from building up at the site of your surgery.
Drains also reduce the chance that you will develop a seroma a collection of fluid that can be uncomfortable and sometimes cause scarring.
It drains fluid away and out of the body just like a plumbing drain.
Fluid often builds up in the area where a breast is removed that can cause discomfort and delay healing if not drained.
The drain does exactly what it sounds like.
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.
