Functioning independently of your plastic surgeon in the early post operative period is a chancy game. Each plastic surgeon has his or her own paradigm for drain removal. The best advice any online RealSelf plastic surgery expert can give is to contact your own personal plastic surgeon, explain your situation, and ask for a referral. In the past, I have gone on record stating that the three keys elements to being a good plastic surgeon are the hand (technical skill), the eye (artistic and aesthetic understanding of the area being operated on), and the heart (concern and empathy for what your patients are going through pre and post operatively). However, I must add a new category necessary to good patient care, and that is to be an outstanding plastic surgeon, one must have friends. Plastic surgery patients often are out of town when needs arrive or complications develop. Involvement and participation in national and regional plastic surgery organizations allow Board Certified plastic surgeons to know their colleagues and be able, at times, to ask for colleagial support. Another advantage of going to a Board Certified plastic surgeon is that we are networked. In general, we will help each other by helping each other's patients. I strongly urge you to call your personal plastic surgeon.