Liposuction pads and drainage: open incisions, drains and what studies report

After tumescent liposuction, one published approach to aftercare combines open drainage with bimodal compression[1]. If your surgeon recommends absorbent pads for this drainage, ask how to use them and for how long. One article on post-tumescent liposuction care states that the goals of post-liposuction care must be to minimize edema, bruising and patient discomfort[1]. A separate article on tumescent liposuction describes leaving the incisions open without sutures and wearing a specially designed garment for compression[2].

If you are about to buy liposuction pads, ask your surgeon first which aftercare plan they will use for you. The sections below cover the studies and the questions worth taking to your appointment.

By the Liposuction.com Editorial Team · Last updated

This article was researched and written with AI assistance from peer-reviewed sources, and automatically fact-checked against those sources. It has not been reviewed by a physician. It is educational, not medical advice. Please consult a board-certified surgeon about your situation. How we write.

What are liposuction pads for?

Open drainage is the style of aftercare that one article on post-tumescent liposuction care describes together with bimodal compression[1]. In that style of care, as another article describes it, the incisions used for cannula access are left open without sutures and the patient wears a specially designed compression garment[2].

The open-drainage article sets out the aims of care after liposuction as minimizing edema, bruising and patient discomfort[1]. Ask your surgeon how the pads fit into those aims in your own recovery plan.

Ask your surgeon which type of pad, dressing or garment they want you to use, and whether they supply it or expect you to buy it.

Why does fluid drain from incisions after liposuction?

The open-drainage article concerns care after tumescent liposuction[1]. The tumescent technique uses large volumes of dilute lidocaine and epinephrine infiltrated into subcutaneous fat[2].

In the tumescent approach described in one article, surgeons use microcannulas and multiple incisions for cannula access, and leave the incisions open without sutures[2]. One report on large-volume liposuction described the tumescent technique for local anesthesia as virtually eliminating surgical blood loss[3].

Ask your surgeon what the drainage from your incisions is likely to look like, how long it usually continues, and what amount they would want you to report.

Open incisions or stitched incisions after liposuction?

One older article on tumescent liposuction describes leaving the incisions open without sutures, combined with a specially designed compression garment[2]. With that approach, the article reports that patients return to work in 1 to 2 days and that the first postoperative follow-up office visit is 5 to 6 weeks after surgery[2].

The open-drainage article goes further and argues that the postoperative pain and edema resulting from sutured incisions and prolonged post-liposuction compression is an irrational remnant from the days before the tumescent technique[1].

Ask your surgeon whether your incisions will be closed with stitches or left open, and why they prefer that approach for your procedure.

Do drains reduce seroma after liposuction?

In one prospective study of mega-liposuction, fewer patients developed seroma in the group with drainage procedures than in the group without them[4]. The study describes seroma after liposuction, especially after mega-sessions, as a common complication that causes much distress to the surgeon and the patient[4].

The study included 50 male patients who had mega-liposuction sessions of more than 5 L with tumescent infiltration in a private practice[4]. Group A consisted of 25 patients with no adjunctive draining procedures, and group B consisted of 25 patients with drainage procedures[4].

Patients were followed up every other day for 3 weeks to detect seroma[4]. Seventeen patients had postoperative seroma, 13 in group A and 4 in group B[4].

The authors concluded that drainage procedures and drain placement are truly effective methods for minimizing seroma formation, enhancing the recovery and improving the results[4]. Their patients were all men having mega-liposuction sessions, with a mean age of 35 years and a mean body mass index of 29[4].

Glove drains after lipedema liposuction

A prospective observational study of 50 consecutive patients with stage II or III lipedema who had lower leg liposuction used passive glove drains[5]. The glove drains were fashioned from sterile, powder-free nitrile gloves and inserted through the existing liposuction incisions[5].

In that lipedema study, the glove drains remained in place for an average of 2.4 ± 0.5 days[5]. Only 2 patients (4%) developed seromas requiring a single aspiration, and no infections, hematomas or lymphatic complications were recorded[5].

Patients in the lipedema study reported reduced swelling and discomfort compared with historical cases without drains[5]. The authors note that the role of surgical drains in lipedema liposuction remains unclear, and that further controlled studies are needed to validate their findings[5].

For more on fluid collections, read our guide to swelling and seroma after liposuction.

Can surgeons avoid drains after liposuction combined with a tummy tuck?

Two series of lipoabdominoplasty, in which liposuction is performed together with abdominoplasty, report seroma rates after abdominal closure with progressive tension or traction sutures[6][7]. These figures come from the combined operation, not from liposuction alone[6][7].

In a UK series, 286 consecutive patients at a single center had drainless lipoabdominoplasty with abdominal closure using progressive tension sutures between 2017 and 2023[6]. In that series, the seroma rate was 3.1% and localized infection occurred in 4.2%[6].

The UK series found no significant relationship between lipoaspirate volume and all complications, delayed healing, seroma or need for revision[6].

In another series, 276 patients had lipoabdominoplasty with ultrasound-assisted liposuction and a modified progressive traction suture technique, and 1.8% developed postoperative seromas[7]. The authors write that proactively preserving Scarpa’s fascia, with its intrinsic lymphatic drainage and tensile strength for suture placement, can eliminate the need for drains after lipoabdominoplasty[7].

Do compression garments matter after liposuction?

Compression is part of the aftercare in both older articles on tumescent liposuction: one describes a specially designed compression garment, and the other pairs open drainage with bimodal compression[2][1].

In a description of a dry liposuction technique from 1984, in which no local anesthetic solutions were injected, postoperative care was called a significant factor in reducing the rate of seroma formation to less than 1%[8].

Ask your surgeon which garment they recommend, how long to wear it day and night, and whether the plan changes once drainage stops. For background, see our page on compression garments.

How common is infection after liposuction and other plastic procedures?

A literature review of 85 articles on infections after plastic surgery procedures found that incidences differ greatly among procedures[9]. The review found that the causes are primarily bacteria, although mycobacteria, viruses and fungi have also been described[9].

The same review reported no agreement on the use of antibiotic prophylaxis, except for abdominoplasties, because few specific prospective trials are present in the literature[9].

In a retrospective review of 1400 surgeries for lipohyperplasia dolorosa in 2020, infections occurred in 1.79% and seromas in 0.79%[10]. That paper also cites a report in which liposuction, including fat removal for esthetic reasons, had a complication rate of 9.5%, with wound infections at 4.5% and erysipelas at 4%[10].

Ask your surgeon how to keep the incisions and pads clean, how often to change the pads, and when you may shower.

Does the anesthesia method affect safety?

A systematic review of 24 safety studies concluded that liposuction using tumescent local anesthesia has been shown to be the safest method of fat removal, especially if no or only minimal systemic anesthesia is used[11].

For more on this topic, see our article on liposuction safety studies.

Which lipo pads should I buy, and how long should I wear them?

Your surgeon is the right person to answer which pads to buy and how long to wear them. Bring these practical questions to your pre-operative appointment:

  • Which type of absorbent pad or dressing do you want me to use, and do you supply it?
  • How often should I change the pads, and how will I know when I can stop using them?
  • Should the pads sit under or over my compression garment?
  • How should I protect my bedding, car seat and furniture in the first days?
  • What should I do if the pads are soaked faster than you expected?

You can also read our FAQ on post-op recovery before that appointment.

When should I call my surgeon about drainage?

If you notice a rapidly growing swelling, a fever, chest pain or shortness of breath, contact your surgeon or emergency services right away. If anything about your drainage or your incisions worries you, call your surgeon’s office rather than waiting for your next visit.

Talking to a surgeon

A board-certified surgeon can explain the aftercare plan that fits your procedure. Useful questions include:

  • Will my incisions be left open to drain, closed with stitches, or managed with drains?
  • If you use drains, how long do they usually stay in, and who removes them?
  • What compression garment do you recommend, and for how long?
  • What does your practice do to lower the risk of infection and seroma?
  • Which signs should make me call you, and how do I reach you after hours?

Frequently asked questions

What are lipo pads used for?

One article on care after tumescent liposuction describes open drainage together with bimodal compression[1]. Another article describes leaving the incisions open without sutures and wearing a specially designed compression garment[2].

Do drains lower the risk of seroma after liposuction?

In one study of 50 men having mega-liposuction sessions, 13 of the 25 patients without drainage procedures and 4 of the 25 patients with drainage procedures had seroma[4]. Ask your surgeon whether drains are part of their plan for you.

How long should I wear liposuction pads?

Ask your surgeon how long to use pads, how often to change them and when to stop. In one article describing open incisions without sutures, the first postoperative follow-up office visit was 5 to 6 weeks after surgery[2].

Can liposuction incisions get infected?

One paper cites a report in which liposuction, including fat removal for esthetic reasons, had wound infections at 4.5%[10]. A review of 85 articles found that infection incidences differ greatly among plastic surgery procedures[9].

References

  1. Post-tumescent liposuction care. Open drainage and bimodal compression. Dermatologic clinics. 1999. PubMed 10526718
  2. Tumescent liposuction and improved postoperative care using Tumescent Liposuction Garments. Dermatologic clinics. 1995. PubMed 7600709
  3. Tumescent technique for local anesthesia improves safety in large-volume liposuction. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. 1993. PubMed 8234507
  4. Liposuction: Drains, Are They Adequate? Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open. 2020. PubMed 32537341
  5. The use of glove drains in lipedema liposuction: A technical note and preliminary observations. Phlebology. 2026. PubMed 41489931
  6. High-Volume Drainless Lipoabdominoplasty with Progressive Tension Sutures: UK Experience. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. 2024. PubMed 38376206
  7. Lipoabdominoplasty with Progressive Traction Sutures. Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open. 2017. PubMed 28740765
  8. Body sculpturing by lipo-suction extraction. Aesthetic plastic surgery. 1984. PubMed 6464840
  9. Infections after plastic procedures: incidences, etiologies, risk factors, and antibiotic prophylaxis. Aesthetic plastic surgery. 2008. PubMed 18080159
  10. [Complications and their management in the surgical treatment of lipohyperplasia dolorosa]. Dermatologie (Heidelberg, Germany). 2023. PubMed 36350372
  11. Safety Studies in the Field of Liposuction: A Systematic Review. Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.]. 2019. PubMed 30702445

Liposuction.com Editorial Team.