Thereโ€™s no sugarcoating it: surgical drains are a necessary evil. In fact, Dr. Nelson Castillo, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Atlanta, admits, โ€œTheyโ€™re probably one of the most annoying things for patients in recovery.โ€

But if youโ€™re considering any number of the most popular cosmetic procedures, youโ€™re likely looking at a post-op period spent dealing with a drain or two. Itโ€™s a detail that can freak a lot of patients out (and one that doctors might mention as an afterthought because itโ€™s so commonplace), but knowing what to expect ahead of time will make the recovery process that much more manageable.