Drains remove fluid that would otherwise collect under the skin. They are usually in place from a few days to two weeks and are removed when output falls below a threshold your surgeon sets.
Your nurse will record output at each shift: volume, color and consistency. Fluid typically shifts from red to pink to a straw color over several days. A sudden increase in bright red output, a foul odor, or a stop in output while swelling grows should be reported to your surgeon.
Keep drain tubing secured so it does not pull. Pinning bulbs to a garment or lanyard prevents the single most common accident in the first week.
Compression garments and binders reduce swelling and help skin settle to its new contour. Wear them exactly as instructed — usually continuously, removed only for showering once permitted. Wrinkles and folds in a garment can leave lasting marks, so smoothing is part of every re-application.
Call your surgeon for temperature over 101.5°F, spreading redness or warmth, incision separation, or drainage that changes character. Call 911 for chest pain or breathing difficulty.
Medical Disclaimer
The information on this page is general education about recovery support and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Boca Post Operative Care does not perform surgery and does not replace your surgeon. Always follow the written discharge instructions provided by your operating surgeon, and call your surgeon or 911 for any urgent or emergency concern.
Keep reading
- Preparing for Surgery: The Two Weeks Before
A calm, well-prepared start makes the first 72 hours dramatically easier. Here is what we ask every client to have handled before the day arrives.
- Preparing Your Recovery Space
Where you recover matters as much as who cares for you. A room-by-room guide to setting up a healing space.
- Nutrition, Hydration and Healing
What you eat and drink in the first two weeks affects swelling, energy and wound healing more than most people expect.