A: The first week it is suggested that sessions be daily or every other day, if possible. The second week, every other day, reducing in frequency after that. It is not possible to get too much MLD and the sessions can be scheduled at your convenience.
For the best effects, a professional may recommend lymphatic drainage from once per month to once per week. For home use, they may also advise the person massage one to two body parts per day. Brief, regular home treatment can provide a short, daily relaxation experience and may benefit the lymphatic system.
Massage is ideally performed under the direction of a massage therapist (preferably one trained in lymphatic massage). This can be started immediately and a typical protocol would be 2-3 x per week for 2 – 3 weeks.
Doctors who know of PS-MLD and the benefits of such treatments will often suggest treatment by a well-trained PS-MLD therapist as soon as 3-days after surgery. However, some doctors suggest or even mandate patients wait from 2-6 weeks after surgery before receiving treatment.
Post-operative massage improves the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid throughout the body allowing for increased oxygenation of the body's tissues and organs and reduction of swelling and stiffness. It allows patients to heal faster and feel supported throughout their recovery.
Slower healing times
The body's healing response may slow down if the patient were to skip post surgical lymphatic massage. This is due to the fact that the lymphatic system may not work as fast.
Patients who opt out of lymphatic drainage massages may experience a significantly larger amount of swelling in the treated liposuction area(s). This post-surgical swelling will also take longer to dissipate without massage, causing delays in a patient's recovery timeline.
A lymphatic drainage massage is a two-step process: Clearing: This step releases lymphatic fluid in your tissues. Reabsorption: This step moves your lymphatic fluid to your lymph nodes.
Absolute Contraindications:
Acute inflammation – caused by bacteria, viruses and poisons are contraindicated. Tissues will be red, hot, and painful with congestion accompanied by fever. Lymphatic drainage will push these substances into the lymph channels before the body has a chance to eliminate them.
Loosen tight clothing – this inhibits lymph flow. Increase the amount of water you drink over the next few days – the body will be in a state of high toxicity for a few days after the treatment. Reduce your caffeine intake (coffee, tea, colas) Avoid alcohol for 24 hours.
A normal inflammatory response after cosmetic surgery is swelling. This is part of the healing process. However, procedures such as liposuction and BBL can cause excess fluid to accumulate. And, left unattended, this can cause fibrosis – the development of fibrous scar tissue under the skin.
Q: How often is lymphatic massage applied? A: The first week after surgery, the lymphatic massage can be done as frequently as daily. The second week, as frequent as every other day. It is not possible to get too much manual lymphatic massage and the sessions can be scheduled at your convenience.
Gentle massage using a cream or body butter can help reduce swelling, tightness, and discomfort after liposuction. Keep your hand soft so you can make as much skin-to-skin contact as possible with each massage stroke. Make your strokes as firm as is comfortable, but don't make yourself miserable!
The frequency of lymphatic drainage massages depends on the patient. A gentle and non-invasive treatment, you can't necessarily overdo it. But, you should try and follow a specific schedule to get the most out of your massages.
After your lymphatic session, it is typical to notice positive changes within 24 hours of your session, however, the frequency of treatments to see a lasting change in your condition is different for each body.
Drink plenty of water
Drink 2-4 glasses of water after your massage to help properly flush out your lymphatic system. Drinking water helps flush your kidneys which are responsible for getting rid of toxins.
The benefits of manual lymphatic drainage typically last up to six hours, Hammad says. How often you may need to get a lymphatic drainage massage depends on the severity of your swelling and what stage of recovery you're in.
1) Soreness/Stiffness – If you frequently feel sore or stiff, you may have sluggish or congested lymph fluid. You may also have lingering pain or tightness that cannot be explained. 2) Headaches – Inadequate lymphatic and sinus drainage creates inflammation and pressure which causes headaches.
Heat Release and Increased Blood Flow
The primary way that manual massage therapy helps 'release toxins' is by improving circulation which in turn helps your organs perform their natural detoxifying functions. As your massage therapist applies pressure to your skin blood flow increases and heat is released.
The pumping action of deep breathing will help the lymphatic system transport the toxins into the blood before they are detoxified by the liver.
Having a massage has a similar effect on our body akin to light to moderate exercise. And just like after exercise, you can become dehydrated after a massage. Dehydration can cause you to feel light headed, dizzy, nauseated, and even cause a headache. Drinking water will re-hydrate you and help reduce these symptoms.
Lymphatic massage improves the efficiency of your lymphatic system. It can also boost circulation. It helps redirect fluid into parts of the body where there is a high concentration of lymph nodes. Typically these are areas such as the armpits or groin.
The main lymph nodes are in the neck, armpits, and groin. Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) can go where Deep Tissue massage and Swedish cannot - into swollen areas. Lymphatic drainage can leave you feeling exhausted.
After Care:
Be gentle with yourself after lymphatic drainage. Drink lots of water to help your body flush out the toxins and to prevent dehydration. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours afterwards and avoid hot baths, showers, or sauna's immediately after treatment.