I had my drains in for about 2 weeks, but I had BMX and reconstruction, so maybe you'll get lucky and have it for less time. They are miserable!

For my surgery, it was no driving for 2-3 weeks post surgery, no lifting anything heavier than 5 lbs for 4-6 weeks, and slowly work on getting back range of mobility with things like "walking fingers up the wall" exercises.

Again, mine was a full mastectomy, so I'm not sure how an extensive lumpectomy and breast reduction would compare.

When you go back for your post-op appointment (usually 10-14 days after surgery), ask your doctor all those questions. Good luck!

Dorothy my heart goes out to you. Good luck with the radiation and let me know how you do. No one I have talked to has ever experienced the drains I had. So many nights of it tugging I was tempted to pull them out myself. When the balloon in the one broke at night I called the ER and got a resident. I asked how to take it out and glad I didn't. They were so long that the nurse said to take a big breath in and she was stil puling them out. I had no idea they would be that long of tubing.

They stay in until the drainage is down to 20cc within a 24-hour period. I had drains in for 26 days.

Mine were in 6 weeks but 2 weeks is average. Every woman is different. That was really the least of my recovery issues. Wear a fanny pack to hold the bulbs under your shirt - that helps.

I had to wear my drain for over a week after my lumpectomy, then had to go back couple times and have them drain, before i could start radiation, lifting, varies with each person heals at a different pace, good luck, to you