Safeguarding Recovery: The Role of Lymphatic Drainage Therapy After Plastic Surgery

PAPER: Beyond Swelling: A Review of Postoperative Lymphedema in Aesthetic Surgery (2025)

“Postoperative edema is an expected and typically self-limited consequence of aesthetic surgery, but in select cases, it may signal underlying lymphatic disruption with the potential to evolve into chronic lymphedema. This review highlights that while the overall incidence of secondary lymphedema after aesthetic procedures remains low, it is not negligible, particularly in body contouring procedures performed on patients with risk factors such as massive weight loss or prior surgeries. Facial procedures, though less likely to cause overt lymphedema, can still compromise both superficial and deep lymphatic channels, influencing recovery and aesthetic outcomes

Diagnostic tools like ICG lymphography and lymphoscintigraphy, along with early postoperative interventions such as manual lymphatic drainage, may help identify and manage subclinical dysfunction.  Future research should focus on refining surgical techniques to preserve lymphatic pathways, better characterizing patient-specific risk factors, and validating the role of imaging in risk stratification and postoperative monitoring. By integrating lymphatic considerations into the broader framework of aesthetic surgical planning and care, surgeons may reduce complications, improve outcomes, and better support long-term patient satisfaction.”

Source:  Lymphatics