How To Do Lymphatic Massage After Liposuction
Lymphatic massage is a type of massage that helps the body’s lymphatic vessels move excess fluid out of the tissues, which reduces swelling. This can be done in a professional office setting or at home. Self-massage can be done after liposuction to relieve pain and reduce swelling. This guide covers How To Do Lymphatic Massage After Liposuction, how to self massage after lipo, vibration massage after liposuction, and how often should i get lymphatic massage after liposuction.
In this guide, we review How To Do Lymphatic Massage After Liposuction, how to self massage after lipo, vibration massage after liposuction, and how often should i get lymphatic massage after liposuction.
How To Do Lymphatic Massage After Liposuction
Whether you’ve just undergone liposuction, or you’re interested in getting the procedure done, it’s important to know how to properly care for your body after the procedure. Lymphatic massage is an excellent way to keep your body healthy post-surgery. But what exactly is lymphatic massage? And how do you perform one after liposuction? In this article, we’ll go over everything that you need to know about lymphatic massage after liposuction!
What is lymphatic massage?
Lymphatic massage is a type of bodywork that focuses on treating and preventing swelling, which can occur after liposuction. The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and organs that transport fluids and remove waste products, such as extra water or toxins. It also plays an important role in immunity by fighting off infections and disease.
After liposuction, fat cells need to be broken down so they can be safely excreted by the body through sweat or urine. When there is too much fat removed at once, it may not process properly, causing it to build up rather than being eliminated via the lymphatic system (this condition is known as lymphedema). As more fat builds up over time without proper treatment—for example by undergoing regular lymphatic massages—a patient may develop cellulite or even sebaceous cysts (skin growths caused by blocked glands).
For these reasons it’s highly recommended that patients undergo regular lymphatic massages after surgery in order to prevent swelling and other complications from occurring in the future.
What is liposuction?
Liposuction is a surgical procedure to remove fat from specific areas of the body. It’s not a weight loss procedure, but rather one that helps contour and sculpt your body. When performed by a skilled plastic surgeon with experience using advanced techniques, liposuction can help improve the appearance of your skin, reduce cellulite and treat other conditions like severe varicose veins.
As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved—and for those who want to know more about those risks before undergoing liposuction in Toronto or elsewhere in Canada or abroad, we encourage you to consult with an experienced board-certified plastic surgeon first so they can answer any questions you have and allay any fears you may have about this type of surgery before making a final decision as to whether or not it’s right for your particular needs or desires.
Post-operative care after liposuction
- Do not lift heavy objects for the first week after liposuction.
- Avoid tight clothing, especially around the waist area.
- Don’t drink alcohol or smoke for at least a month after your surgery — they slow down your body’s ability to heal itself and can increase swelling in some patients by as much as 50 percent! This is crucial information you’ll want to remember if you’re planning on getting back into the pool anytime soon, because even though you can go swimming three weeks after liposuction (and we recommend it), avoid hot tubs and saunas until one month out from surgery and sun exposure until two months post-op (in case there’s still some residual swelling).
Lymphatic Massage After Liposuction
After liposuction, the body will try to get rid of any excess fluid that is left behind. The lymphatic system will do its job by removing this excess fluid through the lymph nodes. When a patient has been liposuctioned, it is important that they perform some type of lymphatic massage on themselves within 48 hours after surgery in order to help speed up this process and reduce swelling and bruising. Lymphatic massage also helps reduce the amount of fluid that becomes trapped under their skin after liposuction and can even help prevent infection at the incision site.
The first step to performing lymphatic massage after liposuction is by using warm compresses for about five minutes before beginning your session. This will help loosen up any tightness around your incisions so that you don’t hurt yourself while performing these exercises! Next, gently rub (or “knead”) all over where you had surgery done until all areas feel warm—this usually takes about 10 minutes total depending on how tender each area might have gotten during surgery day itself (if at all). Finally: repeat steps one through four as often as necessary throughout each day following your procedure until all swelling goes down completely!
Lymphatic massage techniques to use after liposuction
When you’re massaging the skin after liposuction, you should be sure to use a massage oil that is light and not at all greasy. You should also make sure to massage in circular motions, gentle movements, firm movements and slow or quick movements. This can help to stimulate the lymphatic system and encourage it to move fluid out of your body more quickly. It’s important that you do this for several days after getting liposuction so that your body continues purging itself of unwanted fluids for several weeks after surgery
If you are interested in having a lymphatic massage, make sure that you speak with your surgeon first.
If you are interested in having a lymphatic massage, make sure that you speak with your surgeon first. Make sure that he or she understands what is involved and what the risks are. Also, it is important to understand how much recovery time will be needed after getting this procedure done and also make sure it does not interfere with any other medical conditions that may be going on at the time of receiving this procedure.
how to self massage after lipo
Massage techniques after liposuction
In our practice, we like to see patients for follow up in the first two weeks after the procedure. Once they demonstrate that the healing is started, we often instruct patients to start massaging the area. There are two goals and two techniques for massaging after smartlipo that we recommend:
The factors that affect your degree of swelling are:
Lymphatic drainage massage and other professional massages
Lympahtic drainage massage is the sequential massage of fluid away from an area towards the lymphatic drainage system. It is useful in the treatment of lymphedema, but can also be used after liposuction. It is my opinion that lymphatic drainage massage can help after surgery, but that it is not superior to self administered massage techniques. It is my opinion that five to ten minutes of massage DAILY is superior to an extended massage session that is performed less frequently. Therefore I tell my patients that they may seek professional massages and lymphatic drainage massages if they wish, but not to neglect the basic daily self massage techniques.
Do I need lymphatic drainage massage after lipo?
First, what is lymphatic drainage massage? It’s a technique that originated in Europe for treatment of lymphedema, an abnormal accumulation of fluid that can occur after lymph nodes are removed during cancer operation surgery.Characteristics of lymphatic drainage massage is that it is gentle (this is not a deep tissue sports massage targeting muscles, rather a soft massage), and seeks to push the fluid towards the lymph nodes.
The timeframe to getting back to soft skin and getting rid of the swelling after surgery is compression related, time related, and daily massage related. The key thing to remember is that your swelling is going to get better. On the internet, and in my own patient populations, those patients that got lymphatic drainage massage attribute this improvement to that, but they of course do not see the patients that did not get professional massages. In my experience, there is no difference, and daily massages self administered are certainly superior to weekly professional massages.
vibration massage after liposuction
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) massage is frequently recommended by plastic surgeons during the recovery phase following cosmetic liposuction. This specialized form of massage is generally believed to decrease recovery time and improve results, by reducing post-surgical swelling and fibrosis (scar tissue formation). But is manual lymphatic drainage after liposuction really warranted? If so, for which patients?
Liposuction causes swelling and tissue damage that needs to be managed for best results
During the early period following liposuction surgery patients will experience swelling, bruising and discomfort. This is to be expected since liposuction is a relatively invasive procedure (see Figure 1). Common forms of liposuction involve either injecting a significant amount of medicated fluid into the area (‘tumescent’ or ‘super wet’ techniques) or using ultrasonic vibration or laser to liquefy the fat, before suctioning it out using a sharp-ended vacuum tube (a ‘cannula’). These procedures can create significant tissue damage.
Figure 1: Abdominal liposuction being performed using a cannula connected to vacuum pump. Photo adapted from ref 1.
Some side-effects of liposuction are experienced by every patient – and should be managed for every patient
The popular opinion of fat is that it’s simply an undesirable lumpy white mass of stored calories, but this is far from the truth. Fat is an important and active living tissue. Comprised primarily of adipocyte cells (which store lipids) and connective tissue (the glue that holds tissues together), fat is heavily vascularized (lots of blood vessels and lymphatic vessels) and plays key roles in energy storage and hormonal regulation. Removing fat by liposuction causes damage to blood and lymphatic vessels as well as the destruction of cells and connective tissue. This has the double effect of causing blood and lymph fluids to accumulate, while also creating more space for it to pool.
[Interesting side note: The circulatory system (arteries and veins) and the lymphatic system (lymph vessels and nodes) work together to maintain the fluid balance in tissues. Arteries deliver blood to the tissue, a nutrient rich fluid bathes the cells, and then this fluid returns to the circulatory system via the veins, AND via the lymphatics (where it is known as ‘lymph’). Both venous and lymphatic systems need to be functional to maintain an appropriate fluid balance in tissues, and when either fail, swelling results (chronic venous insufficiency or lymphedema, respectively).]
Post-surgical pooling of blood and lymph fluid should be monitored for every liposuction patient, and when necessary, treated, as should tissue separation caused by the sweeping action of the suction tube. Without proper management of these side effects poor aesthetic outcomes can result, along with the possibility of longer recovery times, greater pain, and health complications. The abdominal compression garment put on in the operating room and worn thereafter (as per surgeon instructions) accomplishes the dual tasks of decreasing the pooling of blood and lymph (much like applying pressure to a wound stops the bleeding) and bringing the separated tissue in close proximity to encourage healing. Insertion of small drainage tubes into the spaces where fat was removed can further prevent pooling over the first few days following surgery.
Other side-effects of liposuction can vary person-to-person and so individual post-operative needs vary
For some patients, standard interventions will suffice, recovery will be fast, and aesthetic outcomes optimal. Unfortunately, not every patient will have this experience. The post-surgical recovery process varies person-to-person according to a variety of factors including the type and extent of liposuction, age, health and physical activity levels, skin characteristics, smoking, complications such as infection, and so on.
Variable side effects include:
Scarring
Inflammation and repair processes bring immune cells to the area to help clean out dead tissue and waste, and new connective tissue is laid down to help knit the tissue back together. When the accumulation of connective tissue is significant (known as ‘fibrosis’ or scarring) this process thickens the tissue and decreases its pliability. Excessive fibrosis may be felt by hand, may restrict motion or produce feelings of tightness, and may even be visually noticeable. Scarring will naturally diminish with time as the tissue gradually remodels itself, but this process can be long and some scarring is likely to be permanent.
Prolonged swelling or swelling pockets
In general, swelling may be greater than necessary if compression garments are removed too early, not applied properly or consistently, or not sized appropriately. Excessive fluid presence or localized pockets of fluid may slow recovery and/or make the results less aesthetically optimal by encouraging uneven healing and fibrosis. Uncontrolled swelling could potentially create other complications such as small pockets of fluid becoming trapped (called a ‘seroma’), inflammation, and infection.
How should these variable side effects be managed?
Judicious adherence to your surgeon’s recommendations, including follow-up, is the best way for you to minimize your recovery time, optimize your results, and avoid potential complications. Surgeons often recommend that their patients supplement their recovery with manual lymphatic drainage as early as possible, ideally within the first few days post-surgery. The idea behind this recommendation is that manual lymphatic drainage could potentially help prevent and alleviate the build-up of fluid and formation of scar tissue. But where does this recommendation come from? Some of the surgeons who recommend manual lymphatic drainage also benefit financially from offering it to their patients as an add-on service. So how do we know this is a worthwhile recommendation?
Should we expect manual lymphatic drainage after liposuction to be beneficial?
Plastic surgeons frequently recommend manual lymphatic drainage after liposuction, or after abdominoplasty with liposuction (a ‘tummy-tuck’). It’s also recommended as a post-liposuction treatment by the Dr. Vodder School, the largest manual lymphatic drainage massage training and certification body. Nevertheless, why should we expect it to help?
What is manual lymphatic drainage, and what does it do?
Manual lymphatic drainage massage is offered by registered physiotherapists and massage therapists (and other health professionals) who have received additional training and certification. Using sequences of gentle massage strokes, manual lymphatic drainage helps to stimulate the flow of fluid through the lymphatic system, thus relieving swelling. This technique is routinely offered along with compression garments and education as part of Combined Decongestive Therapy (CDT), the standard treatment for patients with chronic lymphatic insufficiency (lymphedema). But should we expect it to help patients recovering from liposuction?
Should it benefit liposuction patients?
While many plastic surgeons recommend it, some don’t. I noticed one plastic surgeon commented online that they didn’t believe it was ‘possible’ to manually push fluid through the lymphatic system. They went on to say that many patients describe lymphatic massage to be ‘excruciatingly painful’. Perhaps this could be the case if the technique was performed incorrectly, or by someone who is not certified, but otherwise it is easy to demonstrate that both of these comments are incorrect. Here’s why:
Manual lymphatic drainage is a central component of CDT, which is the treatment recommended by the International Society of Lymphology for managing chronic swelling in patients with lymphatic insufficiency (lymphedema). Imaging studies confirm that manual lymphatic drainage massage significantly increases the flow of fluid in lymphatic vessels in normal individuals (ref 2). This finding explains the large number of clinical studies and anecdotal observations collected over decades of use that demonstrate its clinical effectiveness (for a recent systematic review see ref 3). It’s also important to note that pain is not described as a side-effect of manual lymphatic drainage massage in these studies, nor is it mentioned by any knowledgeable publication or web article. To the contrary, manual lymphatic drainage is more gentle than conventional massage and is frequently described as enjoyable. This also coincides with our own experience.
But this same surgeon is correct in suggesting that there is likely little to no scientific evidence supporting massage of any type after liposuction. The question isn’t whether manual lymphatic drainage can reduce swelling – it can. The question is whether manual lymphatic drainage after liposuction can offer patients a quantifiable clinical benefit over standard care. Unfortunately, we can’t answer this question with clinical study data; I can find only primarily anecdotal support in the clinical literature rather than proper clinical studies (for example, see ref 4).
The jury is still out. There is insufficient evidence to suggest that manual lymphatic drainage should be recommended to all liposuction patients, and I would suspect that it would have little benefit in some patients. But is there a group of liposuction patients we would expect it to benefit? Yes. The available information suggests that manual lymphatic drainage would help relieve swelling in liposuction patients who are having difficulty controlling swelling otherwise, and furthermore, that eliminating excessive swelling would be expected to speed recovery and improve results (such as less fibrosis and improved skin texture).
What is it like to receive manual lymphatic drainage after liposuction?
Manual lymphatic drainage is usually delivered in one-hour sessions, and should include some education on self-care practices. It is not painful, much more gentle than regular massage, and is usually described as being pleasant. No oils or other products are used on the skin during these sessions.
Surgeons typically recommend for best results that care be initiated in the first few days following surgery (within the first 5 days), and some recommend that patients come for a standard number of treatment sessions. However, the number of sessions should ideally be determined by the therapist in conversation with the patient and based on: the amount of swelling; patient responsiveness to treatment; patient commitment to self-care practices; and of course, on the patient’s perception of benefit and financial considerations. Patients should experience some benefit from the very first treatment, and may find that this benefit increases upon subsequent visits, but typically no more than a handful of sessions are required to achieve maximal benefit.
*Possible* benefits of manual lymphatic drainage after liposuction
Why do I say *possible*? Even though manual lymphatic drainage has been shown in clinical studies to offer these benefits in other contexts (such as for lymphedema, lipedema, ligamentous sprains, etc.). Clinical evidence for its use in liposuction patients is inadequate to draw strong conclusions. With that said, it is likely that at least some liposuction patients would see benefit from adding manual lymphatic drainage to their post-operative care.
Possible negative side effects of manual lymphatic drainage after liposuction
Manual lymphatic drainage has been shown to be a safe technique with very few complications or contraindications. This includes for patients who have recently undergo breast cancer surgery (a common risk factor for lymphedema). The same holds true for liposuction patients, with the caveat that liposuction patients seen shortly after their procedure have wounds that are actively healing and appropriate care should be taken.
Which liposuction patients might benefit most from manual lymphatic drainage?
The patients who stand to benefit most from manual lymphatic drainage would be those with a lot of swelling, and/or with swelling that is difficult to reduce. Typically, these are patients where compression garments couldn’t be used, weren’t used effectively, or weren’t used at all. Liposuction patients that experience fluid build-up away from the surgical site, such as in the legs, could also benefit. With respect to fibrosis, patients with more extensive procedures are more likely to benefit from the fibrosis-reducing effects of manual lymphatic drainage.
Other patients may benefit psychologically. Since it is a safe and enjoyable massage technique, it may be beneficial to consider it for patients who might otherwise wonder or worry that their recovery could have been easier, or their results better, or for patients who exhibit fear-based touch-avoidance after this sort of procedure, and who can afford the additional expense.
how often should i get lymphatic massage after liposuction
The surgical effect of liposuction on the lymphatics is unique. Liposuction disrupts or destroys most lymphatic capillaries within the targeted adipose tissue. Fortunately, lymphatic damage from liposuction is not usually permanent; lymphatic capillaries regenerate within a few weeks to several months after being damaged by a liposuction cannula.
Lymphedema is edema caused by inadequate lymphatic function resulting from the lack of development, destruction, or obstruction of lymph vessels or lymph nodes. These causes include primary lymphedema from impaired development of the lymphatics, and secondary lymphedema from acquired physical destruction (surgery, radiation, infection) or obstruction (malignancy, parasitic infection).
The secondary post-liposuction lymphedema is unique in that it usually resolves spontaneously with time, typically within 2 to 9 months.
Lymphedema is the result of a failure of the lymphatics to remove large-molecular-weight proteins from the interstitial space. Although both blood and lymphatic capillaries reabsorb interstitial water, the lymphatic capillaries are the only route for absorbing proteins from interstitial tissue. No other route is available for the removal of excessive interstitial fluid proteins. The excess proteins simply accumulate indefinitely, along with a proportionate increase in osmotically attracted interstitial water.
The lymphatic capillaries throughout the adipose tissue undergo damage from cannulas. Lymph capillary injury is an inevitable consequence of liposuction, but the extent and the duration of liposuction lymphedema can be significantly reduced by postoperative care. Early and continued efforts to clear out as much blood-tinged anesthetic fluid as possible are immediately beneficial. Once the drainage fluid is allowed to become trapped within interstitial micro-loculations, the edema becomes persistent, resolving only when the injured lymphatic capillaries regenerate.
How does Lymphatic Drainage Therapy Help after Liposuction?
Since the Lymphatic System is the area of surgery is not working properly, when we are working with this type of surgery, we must help recreate the pathways and manually move the lymph to healthy areas. Lymphatic Drainage Therapy help you clear out lymphatic fluid and help re-educate your system for optimal function.
Most physician recommend that you receive Lymphatic Drainage after Liposuction to help you to get back to your daily life more quickly.
Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage after Liposuction:
FAQ:
Should I get Lymphatic Drainage before my surgery?
Yes, the best way to prepare for a successful surgery is to get the “ground” ready with a minimum of 1-2 Lymphatic Drainage Sessions. This will help to clear out any toxins and debris. As well as enhance the proper function of the lymphatic system, as if you were unclogging a drain. Nice clean pipes can handle more flow.
Will you re-open my sutures to drain fluid? Will it be painful?
A new style of ” Lymphatic Massage” has surged in the last few years where fluid is pushed downwards instead of working with the flow of the lymphatic. Some“Lymphatic Massages” reopen the surgical holes and push plasma and blood out of those holes. They are not moving Lymph. And yet, they still call this Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). It is NOT. They are doing DEEP TISSUE not Manual Lymph Drainage. DEEP TISSUE crushes the lymphatic system and after surgery will cause more damage, bruising and swelling. This is also another way Seromas are created. Deep Tissue is CONTRAINDICATED after surgery. Lymphatic Drainage is meant to be light work because the lymph system is right underneath the skin. When it is done correctly it is gentle, not painful, and soothing.
When your tissue is ready, then we can begin to incorporate myofascial and scar tissue work in the areas that the scar tissue is starting to bind.
How soon after surgery should I start my Lymphatic Drainage sessions?
Surgeons often recommend that their patients supplement their recovery with lymphatic drainage as early as possible, ideally within the first few day’s post-surgery. The idea behind this recommendation is that lymphatic drainage can help prevent and alleviate the build-up of fluid and formation of scar tissue. We recommend you get your drainage tubes taken out before you come to us for your sessions.
How many Lymphatic Massages will I need after Liposuction?
The answer depends on the extent of your liposuction, and the location. Most physicians will recommend a series of 2-3 sessions. Most people will start with 10-12 sessions and then re-evaluate. After those initial sessions, it is recommended that you continue with your Lymphatic Drainage sessions to help re-educate and regenerate your lymphatic system for several weeks after surgery.
When can I do Wood Therapy?
Wood Therapy is a newer technique that uses tools to manipulate and restructure fatty tissues, loosen tight and tired muscles and smooth out cellulite. It is advertised as a method to help break down fat, cellulite and stimulate lymphatic drainage. If you are going to do this treatment, it is NOT advisable that you do it during your liposuction recovery.
Wood Therapy is a Deep Tissue Technique that is designed to work on deeper myofascial tissue that is Old Scar Tissue. As mentioned up above Deep Tissue Massage is Contraindicated after surgery. So that would mean Wood Therapy is also CONTRAINDICATED after surgery. If you are following a proper regimen of Lymphatic Drainage and Myofascial Release Techniques during the first 3-6 months of healing, there should be little to no scar tissue binding or fibrotic tissue.
If you are looking for a therapy to decrease fat and cellulite, we would suggest you consider ULTRASONIC FAT CAVITATION. It is a much more effective treatment to reduce fat. Physicians recommend you incorporate it as a treatment to reduce the lumpiness that may be experienced from liposuction.