Healing from an incision and drainage procedure takes only a week or two. Your gauze dressing needs to be replaced once every few days to allow for proper healing. Usually, your doctor gives you a guide or pamphlet for proper incision and drainage recovery. Small amounts of pus may drain into the open abscess a few days after the procedure which is completely normal. A week after your incision and drainage procedure, your primary care physician can follow up and ensure you’re recovering well. Once a few days have passed, gently cleanse the wound with warm soap and water before each dressing change. New skin will grow to start from the bottom of the abscess and continue growing for a couple of weeks until the wound is completely healed.