I'm getting my braces off in February and have some questions?

The procedure depends on what kind you have. If you have the brackets cemented to your teeth it doesn't hurt too bad, it's more annoying than anything (speaking from experience here). You will defiantly get a retainer, if you're under 18 they will likely tell you that you have to wear it 24/7 for a while and then you only have to wear it at night until you're 18. Definitely do this, if you don't your teeth may not stay strait. Unfortunately you will have a lisp for the first little while you have the retainer, but I think that feeling nice smooth teeth rather than metal brackets is a bigger plus.