Regularly clean the area where the drain makes contact with the skin. Wash the drainage site with gentle antibacterial soap to prevent infection.
You should empty the bulb attached to the drain several times a day. Use one hand to grab the drain near where it meets the skin and the other hand to pinch the bulb off. After recording how much fluid is inside, you can empty out the contents. Continue to track and empty your drain until you’re fully healed or your doctor determines that it’s safe to remove the drains entirely.
Drains are used after a variety of surgeries, not just tummy tucks. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center offers some helpful information and a video explaining how to empty the drain and check your drain sites for infection.