“General postoperative manual lymphatic massage recommendations consist of manual lymphatic massage 2 to 3 times per week during the initial 3 to 4 weeks of recovery to be performed by a certified lymphedema therapist or a licensed massage therapist who have undergone some degree of lymphedema training and are often certified to perform postoperative lymphatic drainage techniques. It is through postoperative care that the expected results are achieved.
Rapidly reducing lymphostasis postoperatively may help improve early results and prevent late sequelae. In addition to fighting this accumulation of fluid, doing lymphatic drainage after plastic surgery may help in recovery, improving blood circulation, reducing pain, and facilitating healing.
Fibrosis, an inflammatory process that causes hardening of the skin, is a common concern for those recovering from plastic surgery. Aesthetic procedures, especially liposuction, results in postoperative swelling that can take between 3 and 6 months for the body's lymphatic system to resolve. Similar to skin pathophysiology of chronic lymphedema, fluid accumulation after liposuction can create hardened lumps and bumps of the skin. However, unlike lymphedema, these lumps and bumps can be fully resolved with MLD and compression garments; patients undergoing elective cosmetic procedures have healthy intact lymphatic systems, while lymphedema patients do not.
Since the recovery process from plastic surgery can be a lengthy one, between 3 and 6 months, utilizing MLD therapy during the postoperative recovery phase, can be beneficial in supporting the lymphatic system in its role in reabsorption of fluid.”
To read more, please see the full paper linked below.
Source: Aesthetic Surgery Journal
