Do You Have to Wear a Drain After Contour Surgery?

Hello, this is Dr. Jo Hyun-woo of 3D Plastic Surgery.

Today, I’d like to talk about whether the drain, also known as a blood drain, that is worn after facial contouring surgery is absolutely necessary.

Do you have to wear a drain?

A drain must be worn if there has been a lot of bleeding after contour surgery.

It is usually not used for cheekbone surgery or chin surgery, but it is worn after square jaw surgery.

In particular, when cortical osteotomy is performed together, minor bleeding can occur from the area where the cortex was cut.

Cortical osteotomy is a surgical method that removes the outer cortical layer, which is the outermost of the three layers of bone surrounding the jawbone.

Simply wrapping the area with a bandage and applying pressure can sometimes stop the bleeding within a few hours, but if a large amount of bleeding occurs, it can cause problems if it collects under the skin, so removing it can be very helpful for reducing swelling and supporting overall recovery.

Is it sometimes not necessary to wear a drain?

In cases where only square jaw surgery and chin surgery are performed without cortical osteotomy, the surgery may be completed without wearing a drain. However, since cortical osteotomy is often performed together to improve the frontal effect of facial contouring, it is better to wear one in order to prepare for any emergency situation.

What is the role of a drain?

It is used to prevent hematoma by making sure blood does not collect at the surgical site.

After surgery, if bleeding occurs and collects in that area, the human body naturally tries to absorb the blood.

However, if the amount exceeds what can be absorbed, it remains at the bleeding site and can harden, like blood sausage, which is commonly known, and can become a major cause of delayed recovery after surgery.

Therefore, the collected blood is removed through the drain to encourage faster recovery.

It is also used for safety even if the bleeding during surgery is not severe, and it is removed the next day.

Recovery process after cheekbone reduction surgery, square jaw surgery, cortical osteotomy, and chin surgery

At 3D Plastic Surgery, patients are hospitalized for one day after square jaw surgery, and the drain is worn for about 12 hours before being removed.

In the case of cheekbone or chin surgery, hospitalization is not required.

Before removing the drain, we check the amount and condition of the drainage before removing it, and the pain is only a slight sting.

So you do not need to worry about the discomfort of wearing a drain for a long time.

6 weeks after cheekbone reduction surgery, square jaw surgery, cortical osteotomy, and chin surgery

In the past, it was recommended that a drain be used for about two days after contour surgery. There may be clinics that do not use a drain.

However, I use a drain for safer and faster recovery rather than avoiding the discomfort it may cause.

If you are considering facial contouring surgery, I think it would be good to also consider that wearing a drain can help with faster recovery and minimize the occurrence of other side effects.

Thank you.