Lymphatic Massage Aids Cosmetic Surgery Recovery
The therapeutic massage treatment of lymphatic drainage is prescribed by many doctors after cosmetic surgery and other surgical procedures to ensure that you get the best possible results from surgery with positive future health outcomes.
Lymphatic massage can greatly increase recovery time for any type of surgery. In the process of the massage, the lymph and surrounding interstitial fluid is moved to the excretory system and eliminated. Moving this fluid out will expedite healing. Post-surgery treatment reduces inflammation, rids the body of waste from the surgery, and keeps swelling and discomfort to a minimum.
Why It’s Important
After cosmetic surgery a patient may notice a hardness or lumpiness to the areas treated. This post-surgical swelling is caused by inflammation. Areas treated usually fill up with fluid and the tissue becomes swollen. A deep tissue massage may seem to be the answer, but that would increase the circulation to the treated areas making it harder to evacuate the lymph fluid. Lymphatic massage will move the congested lymph, interstitial fluids, and post-surgical waste to more successfully reduce swelling and bruising.
Lymphatic massage is an essential part of post-surgical treatment, beginning the process of healing to achieve maximum results from a procedure. Normally the pressure from your blood vessels and muscle movements push the lymphatic fluid around. After an intensive and invasive surgical procedure, this fluid needs manual manipulation to get it moving. With very light pressure and gentle, rhythmic strokes to increase the flow of lymph, lymphatic massage will rid the body of excess fluid and eliminate toxins while aiding in weight loss and overall rejuvenation of your body.
Due to the increased market for body sculpting, contouring, and lifting enhancement surgeries, lymphatic drainage is in high demand. The Brazilian Butt Lift (buttock enhancement) is becoming a routine procedure. Post-operative lymphatic massage will manage swelling and pain while keeping the transferred fatty tissue from clumping and threatening drainage.
Lymphatic drainage also greatly improves recovery from surgeries such as tummy tucks, breast augmentation/lifts/reductions, and the “Mommy Makeover” which consists of the previous surgeries listed plus Circumferential Abdominoplasty. A reduction in pain and swelling will occur with a lymphatic drainage massage following these procedures, and recovery time is rapidly increased with fluid removal, allowing for an enhanced ability to heal while fighting excess inflammation.
Facial cosmetic procedures such as facelifts, blepharoplasty, rhinoplasty, and neck lifts and reshaping can also benefit from lymph drainage post-surgery. There is often excessive bruising with these procedures and most patients would prefer the swelling and discoloration to diminish as soon as possible. The light touch of the lymphatic massage after the pain of surgery and the release from the tightness of the swollen tissue makes the patient feel great. The massage will also help rid the body of the surgical wastes while increasing circulation to move out the remaining anesthesia in the body.
What Happens During a Lymphatic Massage?
A lymphatic massage involves a very relaxing and gentle touch. The patient starts lying on their back, usually unclothed and under a sheet. Much like a traditional massage, the massage starts at the top of the body and moves toward the feet and then back up again as the treatment progresses. Between 6-12 strokes will cover each collection of lymph nodes from head to toe, with 2-4 strokes from feet to head. The treatment will last 30 to 60 minutes dependent on the area worked and the needs of the patient. The total number of treatments needed also varies by patient, with most receiving 3-6 treatments after cosmetic surgery and 12-20 treatments after tumor removal or other major surgery.
The massage begins at the clavicular chain around the neck. This is the most important part of a lymphatic massage, as this opens up the rest of the lymphatic system in the body and begins the flow of lymph.
Unlike a traditional massage where strong pressure equals a satisfactory outcome, the weight of the fingers on the body during the lymph massage is said to be the equivalent to that of a nickel placed on your skin. This feather-like touch is necessary because most lymph nodes are delicate, sitting just under the surface of our skin. Firm pressure is used for the areas where the nodes are deeper—the armpit and groin area and the abdomen where the lymph nodes are in the recessed folds of the intestines.
After the neck and throat, the massage continues on to the armpits, the arms, the rib cage, and finally to the abdominal area where the therapist will focus at length. The lymph nodes are deeper here in the intestines and the work is more rigorous. For some patients there may be slight discomfort in this area with the first few strokes due to the fullness of the intestines. However, most people find this passes quickly.
The lymphatic massage continues into the lower abdomen and pelvic area, then the legs and the feet. When the entire body has been treated, we move back up the body, repeating the steps in reverse order and with just a few strokes to each area.
Pre-operative Lymphatic Massage
Receiving a lymphatic massage is also beneficial prior to your surgery. The surgical process will go faster and smoother if you have received a lymphatic massage as it rids the body of the waste already present from normal living that enables inflammation.
Pre-operative lymphatic massage helps to prepare the body by optimizing your current health. If the body is cleared of stagnation and inflammation before the procedure, healing will occur faster and more thoroughly as the body can focus its energy toward recovery instead of first fighting inflammation, infection, and poor health. Moving the lymph fluid before surgery boosts the immune system and increases a patient’s chances for an early recovery. The total number of pre-operative treatments needed varies by patient, with most receiving 1-3 pre-op massages.
Post-Cancer Surgery Recovery with Lymphatic Massage
Lymphatic massage is also successfully used in post-operative cancer recovery. This can include any type of cancer where incisions were made and tissue was removed. Because of the way lymph flows and is distributed throughout the body, it is difficult to have a surgical procedure that doesn’t cut across the flow of the lymph. When cancerous tissue is removed, the surgeon includes margins to ensure that the entire area is clear of the cancerous tissue growth.
Often the area where cancerous tissue has been removed includes lymph nodes and areas of lymph collection like the armpit and groin. When cancers such as breast, ovarian and testicular, occur, the lymph nodes in these areas are removed as they may contain cancerous tissue, or due to their proximity to the affected region. This creates problems in the the lymphatic flow as the removal of a node or cutting through the line of flow will cause the lymphatic system to back up. If this is not addressed, the lymph nodes will eventually stop working. This will take several years to happen, but once these cut-off vessels reach a maximum capacity and no longer function properly, the limb or area may remain permanently swollen.
Successful Treatment With Qualified Practitioners
Lymphatic massage is very gentle and relaxing, and it is available to anyone seeking overall better health or wanting to rid the body of retained water weight. Cosmetic surgery patients will find that lymphatic massage can greatly increase recovery time with a reduction in swelling and visible bruising. For patients with post-cancer surgery complications, it is critical to receive treatment from a practitioner who has experience working with these types of conditions.
Dr. Danti has been performing lymphatic massage for almost 20 years in the greater Jacksonville and St Augustine, Florida area. She has treated patients after a variety of types of cosmetic surgery procedures, and she has successfully helped women with post-operative breast cancer swelling in their arms and upper torso. Dr. Danti has also performed pre-and post-operative lymphatic drainage for a number of patients undergoing knee and hip surgery.
There are a significant number of massage therapists in the North Florida region and a large number of hospitals, plastic surgery centers, and medispas in the greater Jacksonville area, but there are only a handful of qualified lymphatic drainage therapists, with an even smaller number performing cosmetic lymphatic drainage and secondary post-operative cancer massage. Dr Danti has treated hundreds of pre-and post-op surgery patients, and she has continued her education in lymphatic drainage techniques, studying under nationally renowned and highly skilled teachers of this technique.
If you want to reduce complications from your surgery and look and feel your best, contact Acupuncture by Andrea before your scheduled operation date to discuss your treatment options.