Post Surgical Recovery Lymphatic Drainage

The Importance of Lymphatic Drainage Post Operative 

A lymphatic drainage can be an essential form of treatment following surgery.  After surgery a person can often experience pain, inflammation, scarring and a condition called lymphedema.  After a person undergoes surgery, a lymphatic drainage can often help to reduce scarring, stress and acute pain.
A lymphatic drainage can help a person post-surgery by encouraging an increase in healing, stimulating the lymphatic system and breaking down scar tissue. We use effective techniques to help reduce negative symptoms post-surgery

During cosmetic surgery, pathways become temporarily congested causing excess cellular debris, metabolic waste dead cells, and fluid that accumulate in the tissue leading to swelling and discomfort. Not only the fatty tissue is removed during liposuction but also lymph vessels embedded in the fatty tissue are removed during this invasive procedure.  

Lymphatic Drainage After Surgery

All surgeries produce swelling to some extent because it is part of the body's normal healing process.  A one-hour Lymphatic drainage is recommended twice weekly during the first month of recovery. However, the postoperative Lymphatic Drainage care begins a week after the procedure specifically when the incisions are closed, or the drainage tubes are removed. 

Pre-Operative Lymphatic Drainage

Prepare the tissue for the surgery by removing excess water, bacteria, and metabolic wastes. 

• Facilitate the immune system by accelerating the production of lymphocytes. 

• Prepare patients better for the surgery-reduce oedema prior

• Provide education prior on swelling management

• Potential to get patients better faster with less side-effects, less pain meds.

• Induce a state of relaxation. 

MLD treatments are recommended one to two MLD treatments prior to surgery; ideally the week before surgery.

Post-Operative Lymphatic Drainage

Postoperative recovery Lymphatic Drainage is highly recommended to anyone undergoing a plastic surgery.  Manual Lymph Drainage - "Vodder Technique" 

• Alleviate post-surgical swelling or edema,

• Promotes wound healing, minimizes bruising 
  
• Reduce pain
  
• Prevents the formation of fibrosis or keloid scars  
  
• Stimulates fluid circulation and promote urination
  
• Stimulates lymphatic "rerouters" 
  
• Stimulate the immune system and help prevent post-surgical infections

BENEFITS OF POST-SURGICAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE - VODDER TECHNIQUE

The benefits of starting early your MLD Post plastic surgery are many, not only reduce pain, swelling, and minimizes bruising, but decrease the risk of developing fibrosis considerably when you receive a Manual Lymphatic Drainage.

• The inflammatory phase of recovery is sped up,

  therefore the patients heal substantially faster.  

• The Scar tissue is laid down evenly. 

• Smooth, even results are achieved and attained more quickly

• Patients can return to their daily lives much sooner

  Therapists provide much needed psychological support through recovery phase. 

WHY DO I NEED A QUALIFIED THERAPIST FOR THE MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE (MLD)- VODDER TECHNIQUE?

Finding a properly trained MLD "Vodder Technique" therapist is important since this technique requires an extensive level of study beyond what is covered in traditional massage therapy programs. MLD therapists are trained through a rigorous, exclusive education in the lymphatic system. For post-surgical care, we recommend a licensed Massage professional who is specially trained and certified in the Manual Lymph Drainage Vodder technique. 

HOW SOON SHOULD I GET MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE (MLD) AFTER SURGERY?

For tummy tuck depending on the extent of the surgery  you can start lymphatic drainage from the second week. 

Is recommended to have MLD treatment as soon as 36-48 hours after liposuction surgery 2 or 3 times a week  for 4 weeks, then once a week after the first month, and can be reviewed after that.

Note: "Lymphatic Drainage" is NOT a massage. We do not drain any fluids nor touch any incision site. We simply work our way through Lymphatic system anatomy to direct the excess fluid back towards the lymph nodes to reduce build-up and swelling. 

Post Liposuction Fibrosis/Scar Tissue Reduction 

WHAT TO DO WITH SCARRING, FIBROSIS OR LUMPS THAT FORM AFTER SURGERY?

Fibrosis post surgery is one of the most common complications of this procedure due to the aggressive liposuction, and may affects your end results. 

Fibrosis can develop in any area, with some common sites being the flanks, upper abdomen, and even in the legs. This happens when the liposuction is too aggressive in some areas and the fat is removed in an uneven fashion.  Fibrosis starts developing during the first month and has a distinct appearance at first, you may feel some lumps, then you will notice that they get thick and hard, and you may feel pain in the area. 

To avoid fibrosis development, it's very important to start your Postoperative Manual Lymphatic Drainage as soon as possible, wear your compression garment 24/7 and  to prevent the accumulation of fluid in order to heal properly and faster.

Fibrosis needs to be treated as soon as you notice the hard lumps under the skin, the longer you wait to see a professional the more difficult to treat it.

What is the best Treatment for Fibrosis?

After surgery your lymphatic system becomes suppressed. Therefore, the lymphatic system is not filtering properly, causing you pain and fluid retention. Manual Lymphatic drainage reduces swelling, bruising, and fibrosis; it helps in the scarring process and alleviates pain.  Daily drainage is important to relieve pain and drain excess of fluid and speed up recovery.   Fibrosis treatment is designed to help you recover fast and help reduce scar tissue and uneven skin. The treatment is tailored based on your needs.

Scar Release Therapy SRT

Mobilizing a new scar is very important specially around week 3-4 to avoid formation of adhesions. Scar mobilizarion of a new scar is very gentle.    
Scars can restrict normal range of motion.  Scars are formed afte injuries, surgery, sprain, and tears. it is a desorganized network of collagen that laid down to hold toguether tissues that have sustained damage to they can heal.  
Scar tissue reduction works to remodel the collagen fibres so that range of motion, strength, and mobility are restore. Superficially the scar aparecen improve significantly.

Seromas after Plastic surgery

There are many more complications after cosmetic surgery, and seromas is one of them. A seroma is a collection of serum (also known as lymph fluid) within a cavity inside the body.  In a few words, a seroma is a fluid-filled pocket that may appear after surgery. It can be prevented and treated with Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). 

Some cosmetic surgeries such as tummy tuck are more prominent to developing seromas due to the nature of the procedure where the groin lymph nodes are damaged.

Other common cosmetic surgery that results in seromas include:

• Liposuction or body contouring

• BBL or Buttocks lifts

• Breast enlargement

• Mastectomy

• Abdominoplasty

• Excessively aggressive liposuction

WHY I HAVE TO WEAR COMPRESSION GARMENTS OR "FAJA"?

Compression garments play an important role in proper healing after liposuction. After the procedure, a compression garment will most likely need to be worn immediately and for several weeks after as the initial recovery process takes place. Here some good reason why to wear a compression garment or faja:

1.) The compression garment controls postoperative swelling: Swelling, or tissue oedema, results from a complex balance of forces on the fluids in your body.

2.) It prevents collections of fluid: when fat is removed, space is left behind. The same forces that cause swelling will tend to cause fluid to collect in this space leading to pockets of clear fluid known as seromas.

3.) It helps to improve the contour and final appearance: The same space that allows fluid to collect allows the skin to slide back and forth over the underlying deep tissues and this can lead to a wrinkled skin appearance.

4.) Compression distributes scar tissue improves scarring, and it helps to organize the collagen fibres as these scars form causing it to be softer, earlier.

5.) Improves movement - Wearing a compression garment after surgery can make it easier to move around and maintain your posture.

To know more about the Lymphatic Drainage Therapist please see here About Greta or read the  Testimonials