Plastic surgery is nothing new, and everyone from your next-door neighbor to the biggest A-list celebs are being nipped, snipped, tucked, and sucked from head to toe. Two common procedures, breast augmentation and the "tummy tuck" are being performed from coast-to-coast and in countries all around the globe.
A drive to look better, more youthful, in better shape, or just an effort to "keep up with the Joneses" all play into the desire to go under the knife. New moms want their pre-baby bodies back, dieters want their loose skin pulled taut, and others want a body that's just different from what they weren't "blessed with."
To each their own, and if plastic surgery is the answer to the "new you," then have at it. You've surely imagined what the results will be… perkier or bigger breasts, a finally flat belly, and a newfound confidence gained from the thrill of showing off your reshaped figure. But there's one thing you may not have anticipated about your surgery. No, not the ogling stares from strangers admiring your looks, but the possibility that you'll need to use a urine catheter and drainage bag for a period of time during and/or post-surgery.
If you're unfamiliar, a standard catheter, as per WebMD is, "a thin, flexible, hollow tube that is inserted through the urethra into the bladder and allows the urine to drain out." Naturally, this urine needs to go somewhere, therefore the drainage bag is in order. MedlinePlus explains, "Urine drainage bags collect urine. Your bag will attach to a catheter that is inside your bladder." This bag will need to be attached to your leg for safe keeping, and while this surely won't feel like your most glamorous moment, it is a necessity.
Why the catheter and bag? There are 2 basic scenarios, as explained by Dr. Justin Mandel, DOM AP LAC. You may need a urinary catheter or drains near the area(s) of surgery. In the latter case, the catheter that gets implanted can also be "local" i.e. near the site of the surgery, not IN the bladder in the cases of breast augmentation or surgery and tummy tucks. The reason why a catheter is needed near the sites of where the surgery is performed is because fluids will build up and form locally as a reaction to the surgery. Draining can be required for one to two weeks.
Without a catheter, the fluids would just pool up in those areas and the body would not be able to heal. As the body heals, the fluids will continue to form until there are less and less fluids being generated. Then once no more fluids are created the catheter can be removed at that point.
As per RealSelf, J. Jason Wendel, MD. FACS, "In many instances a urinary catheter is used during the procedure to decompress the bladder and to monitor fluid status; however, it is commonly removed at the end of the procedure. Some patients experience urinary retention (unable to pee) after general anesthesia. If you were unable to void your bladder, then maybe a catheter would be left in place."
Young R. Cho, MD, PhD adds, "For patients who stay in the hospital after a tummy tuck and who are receiving IV fluids throughout the night, a catheter can also make it convenient to get a better rest."
Of course, any respectable doctor will alert you to the need for a catheter before you are prepped for your surgery, but if you're only in the planning stages at this point, it's something to take note of. And when the time for your procedure comes close, rely on a device that will keep that drainage bag in place, securely and comfortably. A slipping or drooping drainage bag is not going to make your recovery any easier.
Look to Freedom Belt™ for your post-surgery needs. It is the very first patented suspension-based strapping system devised for managing drainage bags that hold urine or other bodily fluids. Until now, the decades-old standard of care has forced patients to hold up their drainage bags using cheap rubber or Velcro. Those straps do not do a sufficient job holding the drainage bags in place because they fall down as soon as they fill up with fluid. Freedom Belt is different thanks to its top-quality materials and hassle-free design. Learn more about this innovative invention.