The answer to this question is entirely dependent on your circumstances, in some cases, a drain will stay in place for between 1 and two weeks, after surgery. If you are going home with a drain in place, our staff will teach you and your family how to empty the drain safely. This sounds complicated but is a quick and easy procedure, which entails emptying any fluid that has accrued using the detachable drain bulb up to four or five times a day.