Drains!

Hi Girls,

OK so I did what I knew I shouldn't... I Google'd a picture of 'breast augmentation + drains' and I freaked myself out.
They are disgusting. Vile. If I have to have them, I will puke.

I know some of you never had to have them, so I'm wondering what determines whether I'll need them or not? Could I ask not to have them? If I did HAVE to have them, how long would they be there for?

Thanks Tan xxx

tanyajade wrote:Hi Girls,

OK so I did what I knew I shouldn't... I Google'd a picture of 'breast augmentation + drains' and I freaked myself out.
They are disgusting. Vile. If I have to have them, I will puke.

LOL. They aren't as bad as they look hun. It's simply a tube running from the breast to a plastic bottle, with fliud running into it, the worst part of having drains is the difficulty in carrying them around when you need the loo LOL other than that they aren't a problem at all and you don't have to bother with them whilst you're in bed and just keep 'em out of sight.

I know some of you never had to have them, so I'm wondering what determines whether I'll need them or not?

The surgeon.

It's purley down to a surgeons preference for a straight forward BA whether or not they choose to use them. Some think it's beneficial to their patients recovery... some don't.

Could I ask not to have them?

If you're dead set you would rather not have drains, it would probably be best to find a surgeon who prefers not to use them.

If I did HAVE to have them, how long would they be there for?

If you chose to use a surgeon who prefers using drains then they would be in for the duration of your hospital stay, they're normally removed an hour or two to your discharge hun. xx

Hi Cookie,

Thank you for your response that was really helpful.. Did you have them yourself? If so did it hurt when they were taken out? Do you believe that they are beneficial?

I imagined having them in for about a week!!

xxx

tanyajade wrote:Did you have them yourself? If so did it hurt when they were taken out?

Yes hunni, I had drains when I had my last surgery. I know 'some' ladies do experience some discomfort when the drains are removed, but this is just for seconds whilst the tube is taken out and then it's fine.

I personally didn't feel a thing! I was requested by the nurse to take deep breaths in and out and she'd remove the drain on the count of 3, she started at 1, I braced myself and she didn't even get to number 2 she was all done and the drain was out without me even realising it!, I was so shocked 'cos I didn't feel anything at all! The nurse had tricked me! LOL

Do you believe that they are beneficial?

From my own personal experience having had a surgery with drains and a surgery without, I'd say no... I didn't find any difference whatsoever from using the drains, the recovery was just the same, still had swelling, still had gurgling boobs... everything was just the same.

I imagined having them in for about a week!!

Nahhhhhhh, if you're in as a day case they'll be removed before you leave that day! If you're in overnight, the drains will be removed on the morning of your discharge, they aren't in long at all hun. xxx

Thanks a lot Cookie!
Seeing as you didn't think they were beneficial, I may ask not to have them. I don't want to be dragging them around when they're not necessary.
I'm an over-nighter, so I really just want to get up and go in the morning!
You're a real asset to this site Cookie :0)

xxx

The drains weren't in my opinion beneficial to 'me' hunni. If you choose to use a surgeon who prefers using drains, they will feel they're beneficial to 'you' It's your decision which surgeon you use, if you're not comfortable with drains, then choose a surgeon who's comfortable not using them hun.

There's some info [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] from James McDiarmid about his opinion on drains too if you're interested sweetie. xx

Hey tanya jade. I had drains in and as cookie says the only real inconvenience is going to the loo with them in!! Having them removed was no problem whatsoever. My nurse did give me a painkiller an hour before she removed them so not sure if the no pain was because of this?? Or it may have been because my boobs were so numb that I just didn't feel anything??

I was an over-nighter too so mine got removed at about 8am the morning I was discharged.

When I looked at my bottles I had quite a bit of fluid so I was quite pleased I had them in the end - better out than in!!

I know it's easy for me to say having gone through it and now know what to expect bit I wouldn't worry about drains. If your surgeon feels you need them than he's doing it for your best interests and just think of the end result !!

Thank you CJA X

Hi Hun,

I was really nervous about the drains and having them removed but it was fine. Didn't even notice them.

X

hey tanya, i had drains and they really werent as bad as they may look! like the others said, the only inconvenience was having to carry them to the loo and back, but a nurse put mine in a bag for me so i could just carry them like that! i kept them in the bag so that i couldnt see what was coming out lol but it really wasnt that bad and not much stuff came out! i was nervous about having them removed (i stayed in two nights and had them in until the lunchtime i went home) but there was no pain at all, just a slight feeling of something moving but it only lasts a second! personally i'd just go with what your surgeon thinks is best :) good luck! xox

Thank you Suz & Maria... I suppose if I have to have them there's not much I can do about it. Thanks girls xxx