I am BRCA2+ and had a double mastectomy in December 2025. About three weeks beforehand, my plastic surgeon introduced me to a newer drain device by SOMAVAC. I was told it might allow my drains to be removed sooner and could help reduce the risk of infection compared to traditional drains. After doing some research, seeing what standard drain systems look like, and reading negative comments about them, I decided to go with this device.
Within just a few hours after surgery, I was able to change the collection bag on my own without needing any help. From what I’ve heard from others who had traditional bulb drains, emptying them can be difficult and messy, but this system was very simple and straightforward to use. I developed a routine of changing the bag in the morning after waking up and again before going to bed, but I always watched the lights in case I needed to change them sooner. The bags click easily into the device, and they’re clearly marked with measurement amounts, which makes it easy to track output accurately on the chart provided.
The customer service was amazing, and I looked forward to my daily phone calls where they asked if I had any questions or concerns. Their customer service was available to me 24/7, which provided a lot of comfort. Overall, I found the device very user-friendly and convenient during my recovery. I was so lucky that my plastic surgeon told me about it, because I didn’t have some of the hassles that others have with the traditional bulb drains.