Caring for surgical drains after breast surgery
What drains do and how to manage them at home
The short version
Surgical drains remove fluid that can collect after breast surgery. They're usually removed within one to two weeks, once drainage slows enough, and your surgical team will show you how to care for them at home.
Surgical drains are thin tubes placed during surgery to remove fluid that can otherwise collect under the skin. They're common after mastectomy and some lumpectomy or lymph node procedures.
Typical care routine
- Empty the drain bulb on the schedule your team recommends, usually once or twice a day
- Measure and record the fluid amount and color each time
- Keep the insertion site clean and dry, following your team's instructions
- Secure the drain so it doesn't pull, such as pinning it inside clothing
When to call your care team
Contact your surgical team if you notice a fever, increasing redness or warmth around the site, a foul odor, or if drainage suddenly increases or changes color significantly.
When drains typically come out
Drains are usually removed once output drops below a threshold your surgeon sets — often around 30 mL per day for one to two consecutive days — which commonly happens one to two weeks after surgery, though this varies.
Questions you may want to ask
How many drains will I have, and where?
What drainage amount or symptoms should prompt a call?
What can I do or wear to make the drains more comfortable?