Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage Massage After Cosmetic Surgery
After you have plastic surgery, particularly a body procedure like a tummy tuck, liposuction, or a mommy makeover, you want to heal as quickly as possible. You want to feel better so you can get back to your daily routine, but you also are excited to see the results of your procedure more quickly. While rest, gentle activity, and following your post-op instructions are key, lymphatic drainage massages can accelerate your recovery period.
What Is Lymphatic Massage?
This is when a trained massage therapist manually massages the body in a way to push lymph through the body, breaking up areas of swelling and reducing excess fluid in the body. Waste is removed from the body as clean lymph circulates back through. The lymphatic system is the system of tissues, vessels, and organs that work in conjunction to maintain fluid levels in our body, support immune function, and keep blood circulating. When the lymphatic system isn’t moving lymph through the body properly, excess fluid in the body builds up, causing edema and creating a puffy, uncomfortable look and feel.
Benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Your lymphatic system is key to healing, regenerating tissues, and removing toxins from the body. When the body has experienced stress, such as fighting off illness, healing from an infection, or experiencing emotional stress, the lymphatic system can slow down. Manual lymphatic massage helps “re-start” the system of moving lymph through the body and can provide a variety of benefits, including:
More efficient healing from illness, injury, or surgery
Supports relaxation and relieves stress
Reduces scar formation by boosting healing responses
Removes excess water and metabolic waste from the tissues in the body
Reduces swelling and fluid retention
Improves skin quality and provides a more vibrant appearance
Why Is Lymphatic Massage Important After Cosmetic Surgery?
One of the side effects of cosmetic surgery is swelling. This is a normal inflammatory response and a part of the healing process as fluid rushes to the area to nourish it with white blood cells. Body procedures, particularly tummy tucks and liposuction, often cause additional swelling as excess fluid and fat cells will harden within a few weeks of surgery.
Lymphatic massages help to move the fluid that builds up and allows it to move back into the lymphatic passages where excess waste and fluid can be flushed from the body. This prevents fibrosis, which is the development of thick, fibrous scar tissue under the skin as well as reduces swelling and bruising. Many doctors highly recommend lymphatic drainage after surgery for both their patients’ comfort as well as to help them get the best possible results after their procedure.
