The muscles are then tightened, making the waist more narrow and restoring their pre-stretched out position. The excess skin and fat are excised and the new flap is sutured to the bikini line incision site. Drains are often used and removed within 3 - 7 days. The sutures are usually removed after one week. I'm not sure this helped the wound as much as it increased the risk of thrombosis.
Infection is a possible complication, yet fortunately quite rare.
The biggest risk of infection is probably from bacterial contamination up through the drain site. This can be minimized by keeping the drain sites clean and covered with antibiotic ointment. Poor healing of the scar is another risk. Such a problem requires conservative care and patience until it heals. Occasionally, but rarely today, insurance may pick up part of the expense, particularly the part related to functional improvement.