WHY GET LYMPHATIC MASSAGE AFTER COSMETIC SURGERY
You may be hearing about lymphatic massage after your tummy tuck ,liposuction or facelift. Or any of the other procedures that you may have chosen to do. Why would you get post op lymphatic massage?
Many surgeons are recommending getting lymphatic massage after your cosmetic or plastic surgery. They are recognizing the benefits; helping their patients to heal better, faster and with less discomfort. Post surgical lymphatic massage helps to support your body’s natural healing process. These massages help with swelling, bruising, and shorten the recovery time.
The Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is a vast network throughout the body, composed of lymphatic vessels, lymphatic fluid (lymph) and lymph nodes. The lymphatic system is responsible for a few critical tasks including getting rid of waste, toxins and other unwanted substances in the body along with transporting white blood cells that help heal damaged tissues and fight off infection and moving the fluid from the tissues. These processes are critical to good healing. You can see why working on lymphatic system would be helpful after surgery.
Lymphatic Massage vs Traditional Massage
An authentic traditional lymphatic massage is a light touch, stretching of the skin. There is no oil, lotion or firm touch or rubbing. Absolutely no fluid draining from incisions. It will be similar and different to a regular massage. You will disrobe, lie on a massage table where there will be special bolsters and pillows to accommodate your body after surgery. Hands will be used in a soft, tender rhythmic motion in a particular order, all the while working in accordance with your lymphatic system. The actual movement of the hands is a stretching of the skin, which opens the lymphatic vessels and assists the fluid to move where it needs to go inside of that vessel. We can really only access the lymphatic system under the surface of the skin, so that is why we just use the light touch on the surface of the skin. This form of massage is very relaxing, never painful and actually stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, leading to relaxation and pain reduction. A traditional massage focuses on muscles and fascia, not the lymphatic system.
Benefits of Lymphatic Massage
Plastic surgery or any surgery for that matter disrupts lymphatic channels which can take up to three months for new channels to form. Adding lymphatic massage will help to speed up the development of the new channels. These lymphatic channels are responsible for fluid in the tissues, so you will notice a reduction in swelling. Other benefits are:
Reduce pain and increase well being
Speed healing
Reduce bruising
Purge the body of anesthesia and medications used in surgery
Improves the ability of the Immune System to increase the body’s defenses against infection
Prevent scar tissue and fibrosis formation
When to start the massages and for how long
Post surgery lymphatic massage typically starts two weeks after surgery, depending on what you have had done. After that, about three to five massages a week for a couple of weeks, tapering down each week after that. Ongoing frequency will be decided between you and your massage therapist.