Drains!?

Just found out the ps im going to to for my BA uses drains. I am scared, what is the reason for using these? Has anyone else had them? Please help!

You've absolutey NOTHING to fear Mssaprl

I had drains sweetie and the only pain I had was the pain in the bum I felt from having to carry the drains with me to the loo LOL.

Surgeons often have very differing opinions about the use of drains for an initial BA hun, some feel they're beneficial to a patients recovery, others not. It's simply a case of a surgeons preference, nothing more.

You'll be OK, don't worry, I was still doing the deep breaths in and out waiting for the drains to be removed, not realising they'd already been taken out! LOL. xx

Oh hun dont be scared. I had them with my 2nd b a and honestly they were not a problem at all. I asked why I had them as I didnt on my 1st op and my surgeon says he put them in to drain excess fluid away because he didnt want it to build up in my boobs .They did not hurt ,not even when they came out. Like everything else with b a all surgeons have their own preferences, some use them some dont. I am sure some one more in the know will come along soon and explain more. xx

Ok thank you that helps! It just seems like it's gonna be a pain to have them, like when going to the bathroom etc. Does anyone one know when they usually come out? My PS office said I have post appointments for two days in a row after my BA so maybe they come out then.

Mine came out the next morning,they were nt a pain to carry as one of the nurses had made like a kind of bag that the drains went in and you carried it like a shoulder bag, very clever .Made going to the loo easy. x

Here in the UK Mssaprl, they generally come out the morning after surgery all being well, but I know across the pond, surgeons often send patients home with them still attatched, so I'd presume, yes, you'd have yours removed at one of those post-op appointments after your BA.

The drains are a pain in the backside to have to carry with you to the bathroom, but nothing you can't soon get around. You may need a little help though, but hopefully you'll have someone at home with you to help anyway should you require it. xx

Are they heavy? Do they hang or do you have to hold them? I'm staying in a hotel near the office where I'm having my surgery and worried someone will see them...heheheh How embarrassing....LOL

Oh and do they make the post op recovery more uncomfortable?

Hi, ile be having drains aswell as my surgeon does them with pretty much every ba he does as a preventative measure. i was worried about them but not so much after reading what the other girls have put, so hopefully it will be pain free for us too :) xx

Hi honey, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. They are pretty easy to manage, You carry them to the bathroom with you like a handbag and keep one either side of the bed when you're resting.

I had mine take out the following morning and I was more scared about that then the BA! I couldn't even feel it babe. I was worrying about nothing. You will be fine, promise xx

I've also had drains and they are NOTHING to worry about ... I feel sick at most things like this but it was absolutely fine, no pain just an odd sensation when they're pulled out. Blinking annoying having to carry them to the loo and not get them tangled but absolutely couldn't feel them. X

Hi Mssaprl9, welcome to the forum. To answer your question, some surgeons use drains to get rid of the excess blood/liquid that might result from the BA. It is optional to have drains because without them this liquid would be naturally absorbed by the body anyway. Some surgeons believe that drains minimize swelling.
I had very particular drains, mine were nipple drains. I will be very honest with you because before my BA I always wanted people to tell me the truth so I'll be prepared. They do not hurt at all when they are inside, in fact I did not even notice them until I actually saw them beside me on the bed. You will have one on each side and the drain pipe will be long enough that you can even put them on the floor beside the bed. They are not heavy and you can easily carry them with you when you walk (unless you will have one of those belts where you can hang the drains).
The only thing which I didn't like is when they pulled them out. In my case they were pulled out right from the nipple and it was painful (but this is understandable because the nipple is the most sensitive part of the breast). The benefits of nipple drains are that they require no stitches and no scarring (although even with normal drains the scar is microscopic).

Mssaprl9 wrote:Are they heavy? Do they hang or do you have to hold them? I'm staying in a hotel near the office where I'm having my surgery and worried someone will see them...heheheh How embarrassing....LOL

They're not heavy at all lovely. Will you have someone staying with you at the hotel?

The tubes that come from the breast to the drain bottle are very long, so you'll be able to just sit them on the floor or on your bed. Going to the bathroom if your alone in your room will be fun lol. You'll have to carry both drain bottles with you. It's very possible if you're alone, just a lot easier if you have someone to help. I'm unsure how you'd conceal the drains going into/out of your hotel room?? Maybe the drains are different over there but here the bottles weren't small lol. I have a picture of my drain bottle, I'll post it for you later.

Mssaprl9 wrote:Oh and do they make the post op recovery more uncomfortable?

No lovely, I've had a surgery without drains and a surgery with them, I found the recovery just the same :thumbs: xx

Found it. LOL.

Here's a pic of the drain bottle lovely -

I didnt have drains I totally forgot that I might have those when I woke up!
I dont have a breast band either that Mr Russo was going to have me wear. Think I shall make a phone call about the band!x

Laura just to let you know Mr T doesn't recommend breast bands (because I asked him) he says sports bra is ok. It's amazing how surgeons have such different ideas about things isnt it.

Hope you're doing ok ? x

oh cool :) thats a relief to be honest I did not fancy wearing one of those!!
Im doing fine thanks! extremely tired but gonna wait to sleep later so itll make me sleep through the night better hopefully. last nights sleep was horrible.
keeping up with the meds as well!x