After Surgery Massages 

Contrary to popular belief, MLD, or Manual Lymphatic Drainage, involves a trained person hands-on; even nowadays, people think that MLD stands for “Machine Lymphatic Drainage,” as often shown in social media. 

Manual lymphatic drainage requires a trained massage therapist who has taken steps to become specialized and certified in the lymphatic system. Furthermore, post-surgery lymphatic drainage requires even more skills and study, provided as additional training. It is a specialty because we all agree it is not the same to massage a ballerina or sports person to help alleviate the swelling as a cancer patient or someone who has just had major surgery.  They may all need lymphatic drainage, but the focus and targets differ entirely.  

The approach to each case is different.  Sadly, with the surge of cosmetic surgeries, the high demand for post-surgery lymphatic drainage has shown that many people are attempting to perform massages on post-op patients.  Estheticians, nurses, and nurse assistants, amongst others, are making “massages” to patients after their surgery without the proper training and, unfortunately, outside their scope of practice.  

They also provide other modalities, such as pressotherapy and lymphatic drainage machinery, with a wide variety of devices that claim effectiveness, and unfortunately, all they do is waste valuable recovery time. 

   A One of the main objectives of lymphatic drainage after cosmetic surgery is stimulating the release of tumescent fluid, residual anesthesia, and excess lymphatic fluid.  All of these elements produce significant inflammation with the consequent discomfort and pain.

It is then clear that after adequate lymphatic drainage, you should feel relieved and better. It should have the correct pressure and follow the pathway for your body to dispose of the fluids properly.  It is slow, rhythmic, and gentle. 

An incorrect manual lymphatic drainage can do more harm than good. 

The hands must also be moved with a unique stimulation technique that can only be learned if you have taken face-to-face courses. 

Find a lymphatic drainage certified therapist, not someone who performs regular massages or just watched some videos online. 

It is easy to find who can do massages. It is even easier to get who can do them for cheap. 

Are you willing to let the thousands of dollars spent in surgery go to waste for having an inadequate post-op? 

Unfortunately, an incorrect post-op treatment can lead to an extended recovery process and the development of fibrosis.  Furthermore, in some cases, infections. Some places do “Incisional Drainage,” a questionable and controversial way to force fluids through the surgical incision. It is prohibited in the State of Florida, and there are records of practitioners who have had their licenses revoked because of this practice. 

The recovery time is too precious to waste with an inadequate post-op treatment.  The body’s proper response is to start healing immediately after the surgery, so it is convenient to do the appropriate treatment immediately.  

Here is a compilation of our most frequently asked questions: 

Q – When can I start my massages?   
A – Twenty-four hours after your surgery, when your surgeon has cleared you to do so. 

Q – I will start doing my first few massages at the clinic where I had the surgery. Can I book the rest of them with you?
A – Sure! Due to liability, we will require an evaluation to take over someone’s post-op treatment. 

Q – I want to start with you, but the clinic makes me have the first few sessions with them!   
A – The surgeon or the clinic cannot force you to have your post-op done with them. You are free to select the therapist more qualified for your needs. 

Q – The first few massages are included in the package where I had my surgery.         
A – The post-op massages are not part of the surgery, so you can refuse to do them in the same place.   If you ask for a detailed invoice, you will notice that they’re billed separately.  

Q – How many massages do I need?       
A – It’s essential to have your surgeon’s recommendation; however, it depends if the correct technique is performed. When a patient comes firsthand to us (no other treatments have been received anywhere else, not even self-massage), we typically require ten sessions.  

Q –  I have had my surgery two weeks ago, and I had massages every day. I feel swollen, and I want to try someone else’s hands. Can you do a try-out session? 
A –  If the post-op was done correctly, no more massages should be needed after the second week. The swelling should have subsided significantly,