POST-SURGERY NEVER FELT SO GREAT!
DRAINAGE MASSAGE SPECIALIST, NOTTINGHAM.
WHAT IS MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE?
Liposuction is a surgical procedure that usually creates pooling of excess lymphatic fluids. This results in swelling and discomfort for the patient.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a specialized massage technique that is recommended by plastic surgeons, after liposuction, to accelerate the recuperation period.
The science behind why this massage works is fairly simple. Stroking the areas of the body that process the lymph fluid, and the lymph nodes, causes the fluid to drain.
This massage procedure works well and has been demonstrated to show positive results after only a couple of treatments! However, most patients need 10 treatments to remove most of the excess fluid. Patients can expect noticeable relief from swelling after the 6th treatment.
Some patients will experience lumpiness in the areas affected by liposuction. This is normal for most patients after surgery. The lumpiness is caused by inflammation and trauma from the surgical instrument used under the skin to extract the fatty tissue. The tunnels and channels created by the surgical instrument fill with fluid and become swollen with fluid and left-over fat. This fluid and left-over fat tends to begin to harden between one week and three weeks after surgery. MLD will help move the fluid by gently pushing it back into the lymph passages.
Doctors may advise their patients that, without MLD, there is a risk that the swelling and inflammation could turn into fibrosis, which is a permanent hardening of the area. MLD ensures you’ll achieve the best results possible from the surgery. A seroma is a common complication of any surgical procedure that creates dead space allowing for fluid collection. Fibrosis after liposuction refers to imperfections occurring as a result of the procedure. These can include lumps, scarring, and thickened areas of tissue. Over time these should improve naturally, but they can be helped with regular massaging of the area.
Every patient is different, however, most doctors advise their patients to begin their MLD treatment the 4th or 5th day after surgery to obtain the best, and fastest, results.
A professional MLD massage therapist will know exactly what to do. He/she will massage in the right place and with the right amount of pressure
Frequently asked questions
You many notice a hardness or lumpiness to the areas treated with liposuction Tummy tuck, or Cool Sculpting especially in the abdominal area and even more so if combined with other body contouring procedures. This is normal right after your procedure. This post-surgical lymphedema is caused by inflammation and trauma from the cannula (instrument that sucks out the fat) moving under the skin. Channels are formed by the cannula that can fill up with fluid and the tissue also becomes swollen. Manual Lymph Massage helps to move the fluid by gently pumping it back into the lymph vessels. Reducing the swelling can reduce discomfort. Without Lymph Massage (MLD) the inflammation can evolve into fibrosis (a permanent hardening of the tissue) or a seroma (pocket of serum) can form. Many doctors prescribe Lymph Drainage Therapy after liposuction or other plastic surgery procedures to make sure their patients get the best possible results from their procedure.
No, although it may seem that deep massage would assist in decreasing the hardness following liposuction, it would actually increase the circulation to the treated areas making it harder to evacuate the lymph fluid. Even though MLD is extremely light work, it is the most efficient way to reduce swelling and bruising. It is based on scientific knowledge of the anatomy and physiology of the Lymphatic System. It is a myth that deep massage and heat are beneficial in healing after liposuction. The Vodder Method and the Chikly Technique are widely accepted forms of Lymph Drainage Therapy performed in hospitals and clinics all over the world. So, even though it may seem to you that a deep massage or other forms of therapeutic or Swedish massage would be helpful, it is not.
Yes. That is one of the best applications of MLD. Bruises are an accumulation of cellular debris and old red blood cells in the tissue. Lymph Drainage Therapy greatly reduces healing time for bruises by cleansing the extracellular spaces where these substances are trapped.
It is ideal to receive 10 MLD treatments prior to a procedure. There are many different things that can influence healing. Some patients get at least 6 treatments post-operatively and that is enough, especially if the only area of liposuction was the legs, knees, or flanks. People getting liposuction to the abdomen often find they require up to 10 sessions.