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Lymphatic Massage After Tummy Tuck: Boosting Healing

Published by Dr. Brandon Richland, MD

The tummy tuck procedure can help improve the waist and lower abdomen back area for patients who are self conscious about their extra body fat or loose skin.

Lymphatic massage is an effective technique that is specifically designed to aid the recovery process after a tummy tuck operation, it also aids in healing the process of your scars by reducing swelling and helping prevent and remove excess skin from scar.

Key Takeaways of Lymphatic Massage After Tummy Tuck

  • Lymphatic massage after a tummy tuck promotes fluid drainage and reduces swelling, speeding up the healing process and diminishing the risk of complications.
  • It improves skin tone and texture, strengthens tissue around treated areas for improved aesthetic results, and stimulates lymph flow to reduce fluid buildup and flush toxins from the body.
  • Starting within days after surgery with three to five sessions over several weeks or until all signs of swelling have subsided, provide optimal benefits post operatively.
  • Find a qualified therapist who specializes in postoperative care with proper practice techniques for best results and closely adhere to instructions provided by your surgeon or operating physician beforehand as part of a detailed recovery plan to minimize any risks involved.

What Is Lymphatic Massage?

Lymphatic massage is a manual technique to effectively stimulate the lymphatic system with gentle, rhythmic movements for improved health and well being.

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Benefits of Lymphatic Massage after Tummy Tuck

Lymphatic drainage massage after a tummy tuck is an essential component of post operative care that helps to reduce swelling and promote fluid drainage. This manual manipulation stimulates the lymphatic system by improving circulation and enhancing movement of fluids, toxins, and waste back into lymphatic passages where they can be easily eliminated.

Speeds up the Healing Process

This specialized massage is designed to increase lymph circulation which helps move fluid back into the lymphatic passages, aiding in the flushing of excess waste and fluid.

Targeted hand techniques aim at stimulating both large and small areas of the lymph system while reducing swelling and congestion, resulting in improved aesthetic results.

This technique increases blood flow to the treated area, leading to faster healing as well as reduced inflammation, bruising or other post surgical discomfort.

Reduces the Risk of Complications

This specialized type of treatment can be especially beneficial for those who have undergone extensive plastic surgery procedures such as liposuction or facelifts. It plays an important role in reducing risks associated with certain surgeries like tummy tucks to ensure successful outcomes from these types of operations while offering improved comfort during your recovery process.

Improves Skin Tone and Texture

Lymphatic massage helps to improve skin tone and texture after a tummy tuck procedure. It is an effective, manual technique that uses gentle, rhythmic movements to stimulate the lymphatic system and enhance its flow of fluid.

This allows greater removal of toxins and waste build up in targeted areas of excess skin such as the stomach region, ultimately improving skin texture. It helps promote better drainage which speeds up the healing process while reducing swelling associated with surgery like liposuction and abdominoplasty. All these factors combined lead to improved overall skin appearance post surgery recovery period.

How Lymphatic Massage Works

Lymphatic massage is a manual technique used to stimulate the lymphatic system in order to reduce fluid build up and promote healing. This massage technique consists of gentle and rhythmic movements that target specific areas of the body.

It plays an indispensable role in post tummy tuck recovery that many may overlook. A specialized type of massage, manual lymphatic massage for drainage helps to move and remove excess fluid, toxins, and waste products from the body with gentle yet rhythmic movements over specific areas.

Enhances Immune System Function

Lymphatic massage can increase the efficiency of the body’s natural immunity by stimulating lymph flow to reduce fluid build up and flush toxins out of the system.

Its gentle and repetitive strokes target specific areas of the body to help clear congested tissues and promote better functioning overall. The masseuse uses manual techniques that stimulate circulation, encouraging discharge of waste material like proteins and cellular debris while simultaneously replenishing fluids in a push and pull mechanism, eliminating remnants from surgeries or other forms of trauma.

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When to Schedule a Lymphatic Massage

Lymphatic massage is an important part of post operative care after a tummy tuck surgery. When started within the first week, lymphatic massage can help kickstart the healing process by promoting fluid drainage and reducing swelling.

Starting with fewer sessions and then increasing the frequency of lymphatic massages over time after a tummy tuck can optimize recovery and reduce swelling. This approach allows the body to adjust to the post surgery changes while promoting new lymphatic channels in order to promote fluid drainage from areas where it may be trapped due to reduced mobility or when blood flow has been affected due surgery.

Often, plastic surgeons recommend that patients start manual lymphatic drainage therapy and massage at least a few days after surgery, but not more than two weeks post op unless instructed otherwise.

What to Expect During a Lymphatic System Massage

A lymphatic massage after a tummy tuck is a relaxing and gentle experience. It consists of manual techniques that are used to stimulate the lymphatic system, resulting in improved circulation and fluid drainage from swollen areas while promoting healing and reducing swelling throughout the body.

The technique used involves slow, rhythmic movements which provide deep relaxation for the nerves, muscles and tissues affected by surgery as well as relief from post surgical swelling accompanied by reduced inflammation.

No Pain or Discomfort Involved

Lymphatic massage involves gentle and rhythmic movements with no pain or discomfort involved. Patients report feeling relaxed during the therapy as there are no oils or other products used in this type of massage.

This makes it extremely pleasant for those recovering from surgery, helping them feel less tired or disoriented through their recovery process since they don’t have to worry about any additional pain coming from the technique itself.

Customized Approach Based on Individual Needs

The technique used may vary depending on the areas that need focused attention or targeted treatment, such as fluid accumulation or scar tissue.

The timing of the lymphatic massage therapists may change based on how far along in the healing process each patient is. For this reason, it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional about when and how often lymphatic massages should take place following surgery in order to ensure optimal results and minimize risks.

Finding a Qualified Lymphatic Massage Therapist

When looking for a qualified lymphatic massage therapist, it is important to consider the credentials and certification of the individual. With this kind of skilled medical treatment, knowledge and experience of a licensed massage therapist are essential aspects in providing safe and effective services that enhance recovery after surgery.

Getting the right kind of post surgery treatment can make a world of difference in the healing process and long term outcome of a tummy tuck or liposuction procedure. It is important to find experienced, qualified healthcare professionals for massage therapy that focuses on lymphatic drainage after surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lymphatic Massage After Tummy Tuck

1. What is a Lymphatic Massage?

Lymphatic massage is a type of massage therapy that works to stimulate and move the lymphatic system, aiding in detoxification and reducing swelling.

2. When to Get a Lymphatic Massage After a Tummy Tuck?

It’s best to start receiving lymphatic massages at least 2 weeks after your tummy tuck procedure to give the incision time to heal completely.

3. How Often is It Recommended to Get a Lymphatic Massage?

It’s recommended to have regular sessions for 4 to 8 weeks following the surgery, with each session roughly 1 to 2 weeks apart depending on your individual situation and progress.

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Conclusion and Summary of Lymphatic Massage After Tummy Tuck: Boosting Healing

Having a lymphatic massage after undergoing a tummy tuck procedure is essential to ensure the best outcome for your treatment. Not only does it help reduce swelling and speed up healing, but there are numerous other benefits such as improved skin tone and texture, detoxification of the body, enhanced immune system function, and an overall more comfortable recovery.

For optimal results, it’s recommended to receive three to five sessions over several weeks postoperatively or until all signs of swelling have subsided. When selecting a qualified therapist to provide these massages, it’s important to find someone with expertise in postoperative care that utilizes proper technique.

To further minimize potential risks or side effects, always adhere closely to instructions provided by your surgeon or operating physician before and after surgery as part of the detailed plan for optimum recovery.

Please note that this article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Before making any changes to your treatments, please consult with your healthcare provider to discuss the appropriateness and safety of such changes.

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About the Author

Dr. Brandon Richland, MD is a respected Board Certified Licensed Plastic Surgeon in Orange County / Southern California specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries.

Driven by his passion for medicine, Dr. Richland obtained his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the prestigious program at Saint Louis University (SLU) School of Medicine in 2013. His exceptional skills were recognized when he received the McGraw Hill / Lange Medical Student Academic Achievement Award, and graduated top of his class with Honors. For his undergraduate degree, he attended University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and graduated with Honors in 2009.

To further enhance his surgical expertise, Dr. Richland completed his Residency in Plastic Surgery at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) from 2013 to 2019 earning the Academic Achievement Award twice during this period. A total of 14 years in dedicated schooling and medical residency.

Dr. Richland is actively involved with healthcare and medical societies, as a Diplomate of the American Board of Plastic Surgery, a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, and the California Society of Plastic Surgeons.

Contact Dr. Richland today by visiting RichlandMD.com, scheduling a cosmetic consultation, or by calling 949-867-4496 directly.