Posted October 23, 2025 in Tummy Tuck
Because abdominoplasty, more commonly known as a tummy tuck, is a highly popular cosmetic procedure, most people know what it is and what to expect from surgery and recovery. Dr. Todd Pollock offers another abdominoplasty option in the form of a drainless tummy tuck, an advanced technique that eliminates the need for drains after your procedure. However, many prospective patients wonder about the cost of a drainless tummy tuck and how it compares to a traditional tummy tuck. In this blog, we’ll go over the differences between traditional and drainless tummy tucks, including benefits and cost, so you can more easily determine if a drainless tummy tuck is the right option for you.
What Is a Drainless Tummy Tuck?
Designed to eliminate excess skin and flab from your abdomen, a traditional tummy tuck improves the appearance of your stomach and gives you a slimmer and trimmer body contour. After the excess skin and fat are removed during your tummy tuck, the remaining skin is pulled downward and sutured at an incision above your pubic area. This creates a large open space between your skin and the underlying muscle layer, which can lead to fluid accumulation (called seromas) and tension on the incision. To avoid this, surgeons typically place surgical drains to remove excess fluid during the first week or so of the healing process.
Drainless tummy tucks use progressive tension sutures (PTS) to minimize fluid buildup after surgery. The PTS technique was developed to eliminate “dead space” and reduce the use of drains by instead using sutures to gradually anchor your skin down in layers. By securing the abdominal tissues using PTS, the tension on the sutures is distributed more evenly, and the incision heals faster.
Benefits of a Drainless Tummy Tuck
Reduced Risk of Complications
The purpose of drain placement after tummy tuck surgery is to collect excess fluid, preventing complications like infection, swelling, and poor healing. Using PTS ensures there is no empty space where fluid can collect, so there is no need for drains. By attaching the skin and fat layer to the underlying muscle at multiple points along your abdomen, the PTS technique prevents movement and reduces fluid pockets.
Faster and More Comfortable Recovery
Surgical drains can be uncomfortable and are a hassle to deal with. Emptying them regularly and making sure the tubes are clear for proper drainage is something many patients hate to deal with as they are beginning their tummy tuck recovery. Drainless tummy tucks allow for easier movement and less discomfort as you heal.
Better Healing
A common concern among tummy tuck patients is scarring. While a tummy tuck does leave a significant scar, a drainless tummy tuck can minimize the severity of that scar. The PTS technique distributes tension across your entire abdomen instead of concentrating it along the incision line. As a result, instead of letting tension stretch the incision apart, a drainless tummy tuck allows the incision to stay thin, leaving you with a less noticeable scar. Additionally, PTS helps your skin adhere more naturally to the underlying tissues, giving you a smoother, more sculpted abdomen.
Dr. Pollock prefers drainless tummy tucks because they provide safer, more effective results with fewer complications and a smoother recovery process.
How Much Does a Drainless Tummy Tuck Cost?
Several factors affect the total cost of a drainless tummy tuck, including:
- Your surgeon’s experience and expertise in drainless tummy tucks will affect the overall cost, as a board-certified plastic surgeon with a strong reputation for excellence will likely command a higher fee. However, the promise of a safe procedure and excellent results is worth the extra cost.
- Your surgeon’s geographic location matters, as drainless tummy tucks in major metropolitan areas typically cost more than those in smaller cities.
- Surgical fees, including facilities fees, anesthesia fees, and medical support staff costs, will affect the price of your drainless tummy tuck, as well as your surgeon’s fee.
- The complexity of your drainless tummy tuck affects the cost, as someone with significant excess skin who needs abdominal muscle repair will require a more time-consuming surgery than those with minimal correction needed.
- The cost of your drainless tummy tuck will be affected if you choose to combine it with other cosmetic procedures like liposuction or breast augmentation.
Are There Financing Options Available for a Drainless Tummy Tuck?
A drainless tummy tuck can be a significant investment, though it is well worth the cost in the long run. Dr. Pollock is committed to ensuring that each of his patients can achieve their aesthetic goals and regain their confidence in their body, which is why he offers financing through CareCredit®, a medical financing company.
Learn More About the Cost of Drainless Tummy Tucks in Dallas and Allen
If you’ve been considering the benefits of a tummy tuck but are concerned about recovery and cost, a drainless tummy tuck at North Dallas Plastic Surgery is the answer. Dr. Todd Pollock uses the PTS technique in his tummy tuck procedures to ensure the gorgeous results you desire and the most comfortable recovery process possible. To learn more and discover if a drainless tummy tuck is right for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Pollock today by calling our Dallas office at (214) 363-2575, our Allen office at (214) 509-0270, or filling out the online contact form.
