How To Incise and Drain an Abscess By Matthew J Streitz, MD, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium Reviewed / Revised Apr 2023 View Patient Education Indications Contraindications Complications Equipment Additional Considerations Relevant Anatomy Positioning Step-by-Step Description of Procedure Aftercare Warnings and Common Errors Tips and Tricks More Information A soft-tissue abscess may need to be incised and drained.