Do people always have drains after mastectomy? If so, for how long?

I was diagnosed with ILC in 7/23. I had a lumpectomy in 8/23. I wanted a dbl masectomy from the beginning but was having resistance from numerous people because it was caught early. I agreed because I wanted the C out of my body fast. The more I learned about ILC being the sneaky cancer, my family history and the fact that I have dense fibrous breasts led me to seek out a surgeon to remove both. This happened 6 months later. I'm so happy with my decision. My mother had a lumpectomy in 2007, one breast removed in 2010 and the other in 2014. I have less to worry about now. My pathology report showed numerous pre cancers and ILC insitu in the same breast as the lumpectomy. I'm followed up with yearly masectomies. I had a skinsparing goldilocks masectomy which left me with tiny breasts so I'm not concave. In most cases you can have implants. My heart is with you. It's not an easy decision.

Yes I had the drains for three weeks

I had TNBC in my right breast stage 2, dense breast tissue, and TNBC has been known to sneak back in so I decided to go with the bilateral. My drains were in for 2 weeks, I had the skin sparing mastectomy and expanders placed in June 2024, then the final implants in November 2024. My breast and plastic surgeons were just incredible to the point where I was in to see the plastic and the breast surgeon called him and they spoke with me in the room.

I had my bilateral mastectomy on 12/12/24. Had 2 of my drains removed at week 3 and the other 2 at week 4. I concur with comments here. More of an annoyance, than anything. No pain, per say. But, Mary, your comment regarding sandpaper on sunburn I can totally relate to. Started about week 3 and at week 5, still going. Cover my entire chest and under arms. I know it's from the nerve damage (neuropathy). I've asked for something to treat from both breast surgeon and oncologist and both said "it will go away over time." No meds offered. Praying it goes away soon, because it is miserable.
Best of luck to all going thru BC. Terri

YES! the "sandpaper-on-sunburn" feeling is the WORST! I also got it in a weird spot - mostly on my side/back rather than near my mastectomy scar/chest. The horrible feeling did go way . . can't remember how long it took, but felt really concerning at the time. I hadn't seen a description of that sensation anywhere in books or articles, but saw some online posts from patients with the description "sandpaper-on-sunburn" and it totally described it! That spot where I had it still hasn't gone fully back to normal. It's been 8 months and I only wear a very, very, very buttery soft bra (bralette?) with no seams (fortunately I'm very small chested so my remaining breast doesn't need a super supportive bra - just something to cover it up) and am still dying to take it off at the end of the day because my nerves on that side still feel wonky . . . not painful, just uncomfortable. Just a new reality. HANG IN THERE!!!!

One on each side. As I was told, always done when you have surgery on the upper half of your body. Move as little as possible, as the movement creates fluid. The more fluid, the longer the drain stays in.

I had 5 surgeries within 6 months. Drains for 4 of them, for about 2 weeks every time. I had to empty them 3 times a day and measure each time. When drainage got down to less 20 cc, they could come out.

I had 2 on each side. Ugh!