Here’s your quick guide to getting post surgical massages.

First off: what is a lymphatic drainage massage?

This is a specialized type of massage which treats edema, or excess swelling under the skin. This type of massage is also used to detox the body’s systems in cases of toxicity. It can be used as a general health massage, but mostly it’s used for patients who have something called Lymphedema, which is when the lymphatic system is not strong enough to keep the lymph flowing. This can occur after cancer treatments which damage or remove lymph nodes (important hubs of activity within the lymphatic system). People sometimes have general edema because it runs in their family, or from digestive or hormonal problems. It can be a temporary or an ongoing issue.

Do I need lymphatic drainage massage after surgery?

Now this is a very important question! Lymphatic drainage massage can be useful after different types of surgery, but the type of massage you need after cosmetic surgery is very different from regular lymphatic drainage massage.

I think this needs a repeat: the type of massage you need after cosmetic surgery is very different from regular lymphatic drainage massage.

In fact, we can call it something different to ease the confusion. This guide will refer to Cosmetic Post-Surgical massage as CPS.

What is Cosmetic Post-Surgical (CPS) massage and do I need it?

CPS is a very specific treatment for patients who are recovering from Cosmetic surgery procedures. It might include lymphatic drainage massage, but it will also include a lot of other modalities (like cavitation, ultrasound, radiofrequency, myofascial release, acupuncture, cupping, etc) to meet the needs after a very specific medical procedure.

It is extremely important to understand that your treatments as you recover from a cosmetic surgery will change as your body changes. The treatment you get 1 week post surgical will be VERY different from the treatment your body needs 4 weeks post surgical, no matter what procedure you received. You need and deserve a therapist who has the training to understand this.

Do I need a Cosmetic Post-Surgical (CPS) massage?

You probably have a friend, or know a friend of a friend, or saw someone on boards talk about how they didn’t get any lymphatic drainage massages and they were fine. Sometimes there are no therapists near you and you have to go without. But if you’re lucky enough to have therapists nearby to choose from – how do you know if it’s something you actually need?

If you’re

• Swollen
• In pain
• Have hard areas

Then you would get a lot of relief from a Cosmetic Post-Surgical massage.

If you already received lymphatic drainage massage after your cosmetic surgery, you haven’t done anything wrong, and you won’t do any damage to your results. You received a treatment which helps your recovery no matter what, but you’ve probably noticed that the results are hard to notice and don’t give you any lasting relief. Your Cosmetic Post Surgical treatment should give you dramatic immediate and lasting relief.

How do I find a therapist who specializes in Cosmetic Post-Surgical massage?

Read their website and bio! At the very least, the practitioner should be a Certified Massage Therapist with extra training in lymphatic drainage AND Cosmetic procedures (two different trainings). Not every massage therapist receives this extra training as part of their schooling, it is a specialty.

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The Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system is your immune system. It is a slow-moving system of vessels and lymph nodes, a mirror image of the blood system. While the circulatory system brings nutrients and oxygen to the cells, the venous system only carries away 70% of the fluid returning to the heart, while your lymph system drains the remaining 30% fluid, as well as cellular waste, bacteria, viruses and toxins. Your lymph nodes house white blood cells whose job it is to attack and destroy pathogens, holding the ‘memory’ of them in case of future illness.

An out of balance lymphatic system will be sluggish, unable to dispose of fluids quickly. This creates the appearance of puffiness, swelling, a general heaviness in the joints. This may manifest as stuffed sinuses and frequent illnesses, because fluid trapped in the tissues creates a warm, welcome environment for any pathogens passing through.

A healthy lymphatic system will provide protection by regularly disposing cellular waste, balancing fluid levels and keeping proteins and fats circulating. A well functioning lymphatic system will show as firm, fresh skin and comfortably moving joints.

What Will It Feel Like?

Manual lymph drainage has a soothing, relaxing effect. The target lymph vessels are located directly beneath the skin, between the skin and muscle, so the therapist applies very light, rhythmic pumping movements to gently encourage decongestion and detoxification. The treatment can be added at the end of a deeper massage treatment to encourage fresh flow to tissues; as part of a facial to firm and brighten sagging skin; by itself as a deep system cleanse, after illness or for detox.

Lymph drainage is especially good after surgery, when residual and swelling can slow down recovery. A lymphatic drainage treatment may be applied as soon as one or two days after surgery, to be repeated 1-2 times a week until results are achieved. Treatment may also be used before surgery to cleanse the system and encourage a speedy recovery.

This is an example of reduced swelling after one 60 minute MLD treatment, three days after liposuction:

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