Manual Lymphatic Drainage for cosmetic, reconstructive and other surgical procedures
Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapy is a highly effective treatment both prior to any cosmetic, reconstructive or other surgical procedures, and after.
MLD can greatly lessen common post-operative side effects, reducing downtime. It's important to schedule your sessions at least one week before your surgery, allowing for multiple sessions, but avoid scheduling any the day prior. Pre-surgery MLD helps prepare your immune system for recovery. After surgery, MLD accelerates healing, decreases bruising and swelling, alleviates pain, and effectively enhances recovery from surgical effects.
​
​Many plastic and cosmetic surgeons now offer Manual Lymphatic Drainage therapy inside their clinics. Others are referring their patients to Certified therapists who have experience with post-cosmetic surgery. Because our MLD Certified therapist is also Licensed Massage Therapist, we can use other gentle techniques along with Manual Lymphatic Drainage to speed recovery.
Here is a brief list of types of procedures that have benefited from MLD:
-Liposuction: MLD effectively addresses swelling and lumpiness following liposuction, promoting faster recovery. Many patients find relief from pain and notice quicker results as swelling decreases. It's typical for liposuction clients to encounter hardness or lumpiness in specific areas, but MLD and other manual therapies can help alleviate these concerns.
-Tummy tuck: By moving the lymphatic fluid away from the tummy tuck area with lymphatic drainage massage, both swelling & bruising are reduced. This helps to make the tummy tuck results more immediately apparent. In addition to helping you to have an attractive abdomen, drainage massage will also make it clear more quickly whether further surgery is necessary or if your tummy tuck has allowed you to achieve your desired goals.
-Fat transference.
-Face Lift: While many cosmetic procedures can benefit from MLD very soon after completion, facial procedures may require more time before beginning any manual therapy. As with any surgery or procedure, we ask all clients to get permission from their doctor before beginning any post-treatment.
-Breast Augmentation, Breast Reduction, Mastectomy: Please refer to our Breast massage page for more information.
-Brachioplasty (Arm lift).
-Joint repair/replacement.
Benefits of post surgical Manual Lymphatic Therapy:
​
-
Bruising reduction. Cells transported by the lymph system are moved away 10 times faster with MLD. Bruises heal in a fraction of the time, allowing clients the ability to resume activities of daily living, without having to wear sunglasses for months to hide bruises.
-
Edema reduction. MLD reroutes lymph fluid to collateral and viable pathways untouched by surgery to allow for accelerated drainage, as opposed to the slow trickle of tissue fluids in the operative site.
-
Pain management. As pressure of lymph fluid decreases around nerves, pain and discomfort are relieved and require less pain medication.
-
Scar-tissue prevention and fibrosis reduction. Lymph fluid left to build up below incisions or sitting in interstitial space can solidify, causing the formation of scar tissue and fibrotic tissue. These tissues are often felt as ball-like substances below the skin surface. MLD prevents lymph fluid build up and solidification, for a seamless scar.
-
Infection prevention. Post surgical MLD is important when considering that stagnating lymph fluid can become infectious material and warrant artificial drain insertion—which is painful, costly and time consuming.