Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is an important technique that can help alleviate swelling.

Administered by a skilled practitioner, this light skin-stretching massage targets the lymph vessels, promoting the flow of lymphatic fluid out of the affected area. MLD is not a massage but a specific medical treatment that requires a highly trained practitioner with many years of experience to be effective.
It works by opening up the functioning lymph collectors and moving protein and fluid into them, as well as accelerating lymph fluid flow through the lymphatics. Deep diaphragmatic breathing techniques are commonly used during and after therapy sessions to stimulate fluid movement and relaxation.

A skilled and experienced massage therapist can perform this therapy using a range of techniques, helping to stimulate the flow of lymphatic fluid and alleviate swelling. The therapy is safe, non-invasive and often a good complement to other treatments. It’s important to remember that this is a medical treatment requiring skilled practitioners with many years of experience to obtain the best results.[1][2]If you’re undergoing plastic surgery, especially body procedures like liposuction or tummy tucks, you want to recover as quickly as possible. But did you know that lymphatic drainage massage can speed up your healing process? You may be wondering – what is lymphatic massage and how can it help you?

The lymphatic system is a complex network of tissues, vessels, and organs that help drain excess fluid, waste, and fat cells from the body. Manual lymphatic massage is a gentle and targeted massage technique that stimulates this system to help reduce swelling and inflammation.

After plastic surgery, swelling is a common side effect. This can create channels where fluid and swelling can occur post-surgery. Post surgery lymphatic fluid can “pool” within the body. If unchecked it can potentially lead to lymphedema. This is where manual lymphatic drainage massage comes into play.

A skilled massage therapist can use methods to gently pump fluid back to the lymph vessels for the body to break down naturally. This type of massage does not require deep pressure and should not cause too much discomfort. By doing so, fibrosis and hardening of the areas can be prevented, reducing pain, bruising, and inflammation during the recovery period.

Lymphatic drainage massage can provide a wide range of benefits beyond reducing swelling and inflammation. It can speed up healing after surgery, reduce scar formation, remove excess water and metabolic waste from the tissues, and improve your skin quality.

If you’re considering plastic surgery, be sure to speak with your doctor about the benefits of lymphatic drainage massage. Many good plastic surgeons are now recommending a course of manual lymphatic drainage massage in their patients’ post-operative care plan. The sooner the massage is started post-surgery, the quicker you will see results. At Be Balanced Bodywork, we recommend that following surgery, MLD should be done every day or every other day and than re-evaluated after 12 sessions. 

In summary, manual lymphatic drainage massage is a powerful tool for post-surgical recovery. With the help of a skilled massage therapist, you can reduce swelling, promote healing, and achieve your desired results more quickly.