Lymphatic Massage for Pre- and Post-Surgery
Serving South Fayette, Canonsburg, Peters, Upper St. Clair, Mt. Lebanon, Bridgeville, Bethel Park, Washington
Lymphatic Massage for Surgery Recovery
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) massage helps move stagnant fluid after injury and surgery allowing you to heal and recover potentially faster. After injury or surgery, a person is usually unable to move/walk like they used to which further slows down the lymphatic system.
This types of massage uses gentle strokes without the use of oil or lotion in the direction of the lymph nodes and should not be painful.
The types of surgeries MLD massage can benefit are:
orthopedic (repairs, replacement, reconstructions, etc.)
plastic surgery (lipo, BBL, breast augmentation/reduction/mastectomy/reconstruction, facial procedures, etc.)
other surgeries which result in swelling
** If you have many removed or damaged lymph nodes, you may benefit from more specialized care with a lymphedema specialist to manage lymphedema. However, regular lymphatic drainage massage may help in a maintenance phase of lymphedema. Please schedule a discovery call.
Managing swelling before and after surgery may help reduce pain and assist recovery.
-
Customized Sessions
Most of the session will be manual lymphatic drainage massage, and other like-minded modalities may be included to address the full body/entire lymphatic system. Sessions will be customized to meet the unique needs of the person
You can continue with customized bodywork to promote health and wellness after your recovery.
-
When to Schedule
Consider MLD if you experience swelling before surgery. Also, it is beneficial to schedule 2 manual lymphatic drainage massages per week for 2-3 weeks starting 24-48 hours after your surgery or when your physician approves. One session is beneficial vs. no session as the first 2 weeks after surgery are the most important.
-
Education
Education about self-care pertaining to self-lymphatic massage, movement, and other support techniques will be given and modified as progress is made.
Preparation for Surgery:
If you are interested in lymphatic massage before and/or after your surgery, please talk to your surgeon. If your surgeon approves, please schedule your sessions for before and after your surgery PRIOR to your surgery.
Please wear or bring loose fitting, comfortable clothing to wear during the session. And please come to the appointments hydrated.
Discussion and education about swelling control and lymphatic self-care will be carried out as well as monitoring progress with assessments (ie. swelling measurements, skin healing, etc.).
During the session, your clothing may be adjusted to allow better contact with the area/skin.
And as always after bodywork sessions, please stay hydrated for several days after your session.
