Lymphatic Drainage : Post Cosmetic Surgery

Benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapy Post Cosmetic Surgery

After receiving plastic surgery, whether it is a facial surgery or a body surgery such as liposuction or a tummy tuck you want to incorporate a modality that will help facilitate healing as quickly as possible. Everyone wants to get back to their daily routine with ease as well as see the positive results that are the impoteous for the procedure in the first place. While rest, gentle activity and closely following the recommendations of your doctor are the first considerations, lymphatic drainage therapy is being successfully utilized by many people recovering from cosmetic surgery.

What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapy?

To give you an overview of the system that is being targeted in your recovery we will dive into some anatomy and physiology of your innate and amazing built-in detox system. The lymphatic system is comprised of vessels, tissues and organs that work harmoniously together to maintain fluid levels in the head, face and body (they have even been discovered in the brain tissue recently, more detail in a subsequent post to follow!) and support the immune system by removing stagnation and freeing up the waters that are central to maintaining vibrancy and wellness on a cellular level. The system carries lymph, the clear fluid that contains proteins, waste, fat cells and metabolized cells through the body to be filtered by the lymph nodes.  Ideally, as the waste is removed from the body, fresh clean lymph moves through the tissues. However, when the lymphatic system is not operating optimally, excess fluid builds up in the tissues causing edema and creating a puffy and uncomfortable look and feel. I have seen this be the result of everything from Botox injections causing a paralysis of muscles and therefore significantly impeded lymph movement in the eye/forehead area, resulting in puffy eyelids, to the more invasive incisions and/or suction assisted procedures required for contouring, reconstructive or medically necessary treatments such as liposuction. Coolscupting and the subsequent detox process that accompanies the treatment suggests that lymphatic drainage therapy would be very supportive for a timely and consistent recovery. 

Manual Lymphatic Drainage was originally developed to treat lymphedema, a condition of edema (accumulated fluid) within the body that often develops after removing lymph nodes. This type of Lymphatic Drainage often includes the use of daily/constant compression garments as a permanent solution and is different and more involved, requiring alternative training and treatment plans from what we are discussing in this article. A properly trained massage therapist (look for a therapist with the CLT designation; Certified Lymphedema Therapist) can manually address the body in a way that pushes lymph through the body, breaking up areas of swelling and de-congesting excess fluid build-up and treat your lymphedema in the absence of lymph nodes. Be sure you understand what type of treatment you need when you look for a Manual Lymphatic Drainage therapist as these are two very different areas of expertise- cosmetic/detox vs treatment of lymphedema. Your therapist may be trained in one or the other or both.

I have found an additional protocol effective for post cosmetic surgery, and that is massage cupping. You may be familiar with cupping and understanding the key differences between TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) cupping and Massage Cupping is helpful, but for the application in cosmetic recovery situations I utilize an alternative technique. This is achieved in part through applying far less suction and will not create the healing marks associated with cupping, but still follows the detox pathways of the lymphatic system and results in expedited removal of stagnation as well as staving off the accumulation of the fibrotic tissue we want to avoid post surgery. The cupping can also lessen any incision scars you may have as a result of surgery. This therapy is integrated into later stages of treatment vs the acute phase.

Benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapy

 Because the lymphatic system is the key to your healing and regenerating of crucial tissues in your body when you experience trauma, stress (such as fighting off and illness or healing from infection) or even emotional stress, the lymphatic system can downshift and become stagnant. Manual treatment of the system can jump-start the system and provide a variety of advantages including:

•  Removal of excess fluid and metabolic waste from tissues
•  Reduce swelling and fluid retention
•  Improve skin quality and provide a vibrant glowing appearance
•  Support relaxation and stress reduction
•  Efficient healing from illness, surgery or injury

 Why is Manual Lymphatic Massage/Drainage important after Cosmetic Surgery?

One of the ineveitablies of cosmetic surgery is swelling. This is a completely normal inflammatory response and is a pertinent part of the healing process as lymph rushes to the effected area to nourish it with white blood cells. Body procedures such as liposuction with often cause additional swelling in turn creating excess fluid and fat cells that will harden within a few weeks from surgery and is commonly known as fibrosis.

 Lymphatic drainage helps remove the fluid that accumulates and allows it to be directed back into the lymphatic passages where excess waste can be flushed from the body. This is essentially how the prevention of fibrosis (the development of thick, fibrous scar tissue under the skin) and excess bruising is achieved. More and more cosmetic surgeons are recommending lymphatic drainage/ massage to address both their patients’ comfort and optimal results post surgery.

Feel free to contact me if you have additional questions or would like to inquire about your specific scenario. I look forward to connecting with you!

Lara Henderson, LMT, MLD-C, CLT