Surgical Drain & Suture Removal in Chicagoland

If you have had a BBL, lipo, tummy tuck or mommy makeover, or you are thinking about one, a news story out of Miami last week is worth your attention.

On October 30, 2026, Local 10 News and WSVN reported that a Miami woman was arrested after an investigation by the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Health. According to the arrest report, she advertised post-op massages and "body maintenance" on Instagram, and investigators said her own videos showed her forcing blood out of open wounds, removing surgical drains and applying medical bandages. A records check found she did not hold a medical license or a massage therapy license. She was charged with practicing a health care profession without a license and practicing massage without a license. These are allegations, and she has not been convicted.

What stood out to me is that this was not a one-time story. Miami-area outlets have reported several similar arrests this year alone, including unlicensed recovery homes and a woman accused of falsely telling post-op clients she was a nurse while advertising drain removal and incision care. NBC6 reported that the Sheriff's Office estimates dozens of unlicensed post-surgery recovery homes operated across Miami-Dade in 2025.

Why This Matters Here in Chicagoland

A lot of our neighbors travel for surgery. Miami, Atlanta, Houston, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Mexico, Turkey. The price and the surgeon's portfolio make the trip feel worth it, and for many people it goes well.

The hard part usually starts when you fly home. Your surgeon is hundreds or thousands of miles away, and you may still have drains in, stitches that need to come out, or fluid building up under the skin. Many patients are told to "find someone local," and that is exactly the moment people end up with whoever shows up first on social media.

What Post-Op Care Actually Involves

After body contouring surgery, three things come up again and again:

Surgical drains. Thin tubes placed during surgery to let fluid escape. They typically come out once the daily output drops to the level your surgeon set. Removing them correctly, at the right time, matters.
Sutures. Some dissolve on their own and some have to be removed. Timing and technique affect how your incision heals and how your scar looks.
Seromas. A seroma is a pocket of clear fluid that can collect under the skin, especially after tummy tucks and liposuction, and often after drains come out. Small ones may go away on their own. Larger or uncomfortable ones may need to be drained with a needle (called aspiration) using sterile technique.

Each of these is a medical procedure. They call for clean technique, a clinical assessment, proper disposal of medical waste, and someone who can recognize when something is not healing the way it should.

Lymphatic Massage Is Not the Same Thing

I want to be clear here because I am certified in manual lymphatic drainage (MLD-C) myself. Gentle lymphatic drainage performed by a properly trained and licensed professional can help with swelling after surgery. That is real, and it has a place in recovery.

Forcing fluid out through incisions, "opening" healing wounds, pulling drains or cutting stitches is something else entirely. That is not massage. When it is done outside a medical setting, it raises the risk of infection, delayed healing, wider scarring, and missed warning signs of problems like hematoma, abscess or blood clots.

How to Check a License

Before anyone touches an incision, ask for their full name and license type, then look it up yourself. In Illinois, you can verify nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians and massage therapists through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) license lookup. In Florida, use the Florida Department of Health license verification. Licensed clinicians also have an NPI number you can search on the national NPI registry. A legitimate provider will not be offended that you checked.

Safe Post-Surgical Care at Shaperz Elite in Chicagoland

At Shaperz Elite Wellness and Aesthetics, I see patients for:

I am Lynn St. Victor-Luckett, MSN, APRN-FPA, FNP-BC, MLD-C, a board-certified family nurse practitioner practicing under Illinois Full Practice Authority, with nearly 30 years of clinical experience. Your care happens in a medical clinic with sterile technique, proper medical waste handling, and a clinician who can evaluate how you are healing and act if something is off.

It does not matter where you had your surgery. Whether it was out of town, out of state or out of the country, bring your operative report, your discharge instructions and your surgeon's contact information. I review your surgeon's plan and work alongside it, so your care stays coordinated instead of scattered.

We see patients from across Chicagoland and the south suburbs, including Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Blue Island, Alsip, Palos Heights, Oak Forest, Crestwood, Matteson, South Holland and Chicago's South Side. Visits are by appointment only.

Planning Surgery Out of Town? Do This Before You Fly

Ask your surgeon for written instructions on when your drains and sutures should come out
Get a copy of your operative report and medication list before you leave
Keep a daily log of your drain output
Save your surgeon's after-hours number in your phone
Book your local follow-up before your surgery date, so you are not searching for help while you are sore and swollen

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my surgical drains removed in Chicago if I had surgery in another state or country?

Yes. At Shaperz Elite in Chicagoland, we see patients who had surgery elsewhere. Bring your operative report, discharge instructions and your surgeon's contact information so your care follows your surgeon's plan.

Who should remove surgical drains and stitches?

A licensed medical professional working within their scope of practice, in a clean clinical setting. Drain and suture removal are medical procedures, not spa or massage services.

What is a seroma, and does it need to be drained?

A seroma is a collection of clear fluid under the skin that can form after surgeries like tummy tucks and liposuction. Small seromas may resolve on their own. Larger or uncomfortable ones may need needle aspiration by a qualified clinician using sterile technique.

Is lymphatic massage the same as draining fluid from an incision?

No. Lymphatic drainage massage is gentle work that helps move fluid through the lymphatic system. Pushing fluid out through incisions or reopening wounds is not massage and should never be done outside a medical setting.

How do I verify a provider's license in Illinois?

Use the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) online license lookup. You can also search a clinician's NPI number on the national NPI registry.

You invested a lot in your surgery. Your recovery deserves the same level of care. If you are home in Chicagoland with drains, stitches or swelling that needs attention, book a post-surgical visit at Shaperz Elite and get it handled safely, by a medical professional.

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for advice from your surgeon or your own medical provider. Always follow your surgeon's instructions, and seek emergency care for urgent symptoms.

Post-Surgery Care Gone Wrong: Why Drain Removal, Suture Removal and Seroma Care Belong in a Medical Setting