More and more plastic surgeons and doctors have recognized the importance of lymphatic drainage therapy both before and after surgery, particularly plastic surgery. Below are some tips to consider before scheduling your surgery.
Tips for faster recovery and healing from surgery:
1. Find a massage therapist who can do lymphatic drainage before scheduling surgery.
- It can be quite hard to find a massage therapist who specializes in lymphatic drainage and many are booked out for months in advance.
- I have had some clients schedule their plastic surgery based on the availability of lymphatic drainage sessions so they can receive the best post-operative care possible. Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
- Some doctors forget to tell their patients to find a therapist who can help them with lymphatic drainage until the surgery has been completed or is only a day or two away. In these cases, the patients often cannot find the help they need post-op and experience more pain and slower healing than those who have planned ahead.
2. Schedule your lymphatic drainage massage therapy sessions before surgery.
- These pre-op sessions can help prepare the tissues in the area for surgery and can help to ensure that the nearby lymph systems are primed and ready to function properly, which will make pain management, recovery, and healing take place more quickly and efficiently.
- Pre-surgery sessions can also help you to know what to expect from your post-op lymphatic drainage and can lower your anxiety before pain and swelling of your body factors in.
- Sessions with your massage therapist prior to your surgery will also help you to get to know them! You will feel more comfortable attending your post-surgery sessions when you trust and are comfortable around your therapist. This is also important because you want to feel comfortable expressing your levels of pain and discomfort so that your therapist can help to address those concerns.
3. Attend your lymphatic drainage therapy sessions as soon as you can post surgery.
- The sooner you can attend your lymphatic drainage session the better!
- Massage therapy is not the same as lymphatic drainage. Keep in mind that you can attend a lymphatic drainage session as early as the day after surgery because lymphatic drainage is gentle and focused on draining the fluids of your tissues. Most doctors prefer you do not get general massage therapy for 2 weeks post surgery because it is more heavy handed which can cause damage to tissue.
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Surgeries dehydrate tissues and generally involve chemicals and medications
that can further dehydrate the affected tissues. These tissues will greatly benefit from the hydrating effect. Getting water/fluids back into these areas can help speed up healing, movement of the tissue, and reduce recovery time and pain.
Further tips!
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Whether or not you choose Posture Massage to help with your recovery from surgery, keep in mind that lymphatic draining should NEVER hurt! Having your tissues massaged near your surgery site is a delicate process, yet it should NEVER be painful. Your massage therapist should go at a pace and pressure that helps your body and does not hurt it.
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Julie uses her hands to drain the lymphatic system. This ensures that the process remains painless and also that your tissues are not just being shoved or vibrated into oblivion after already going through trauma.
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Surgeries are not cheap, so protect your investment by caring for yourself post operatively in the best way possible, which includes scheduling and attending lymphatic drainage therapy.
Do yourself and your body a favor and prepare for your surgery recovery long beforehand! If you would like to learn more about lymphatic drainage therapy itself or the services that Posture Massage offers, we encourage you to peruse Julie’s webpages!
