Routine use of a suction drain in facial rhytidoplasty.

The effectiveness of a suction drain in facial rhytidoplasty was evaluated in 46 women ranging in age from 41 to 78 years. The drain was placed on the left side of the face in 16 and on the right in 14, and no drain was used in 16 patients. The drain was removed in 24 hours regardless of the amount aspirated, which varied between 0 and 25 ml, with an average of 7.8 ml. Although none of these patients developed a hematoma while the drain was in place, a hematoma did occur in 1 patient on the drain side following its removal. Despite the variable quantities of fluid aspirated, there was no clinical difference in swelling noted around the face and neck area when the two sides were compared. Similarly, one could not distinguish this group of patients from those 16 who did not receive the drain. The routine use of continuous suction drains for patients undergoing rhytidoplasty is therefore probably unnecessary.