Lymphatic drainage
Manual lymphatic drainage is a gentle massage used during recovery from some surgeries. Here is what it is, what it is for, and what to know before starting. Your medical team defines when to begin and how many sessions you need.
What is worth knowing
What it is and what it is for
Manual lymphatic drainage is a gentle massage technique. Using light pressure, the skin is moved along the pathways of the lymphatic system to help fluid held in the tissues drain away.
After body contouring surgery, many surgeons recommend it to help with swelling and with the firmness that can develop in the treated areas. There is no single protocol: each surgeon has their own instructions.
When it starts
There is no single start date. Many surgeons recommend it from the first days after surgery, but each one follows their own protocol. Your medical team defines when to begin, based on your surgery and your progress. It is best not to start on your own or before you are cleared.
How many sessions
There is no standard number. A series of sessions spread over the first weeks is usual, and the plan varies from one surgeon to another. How many sessions and how often is defined by your medical team, based on your surgery, your swelling, and how you progress.
Who performs it
In general, it is performed by people trained in the technique, such as physical therapists or massage therapists with training in lymphatic drainage, and always on the surgeon's recommendation. Before you start, the person treating you should know what surgery you had, when it was, and what instructions you were given.
What a session is like
It is a gentle, light-pressure massage, unlike a deep muscle massage. The hands move the skin in the direction the lymphatic system drains, without using force.
It is usually combined with the compression garment you were told to wear; it does not replace it. If a session causes severe pain, say so and check with your surgeon.
When it is not advisable
It is not advisable in every situation. In general it is discouraged over an area with an infection and when a blood clot in a vein is present or suspected, and you should ask first if you take blood thinners. That is why it is done only with your surgeon's clearance.
If you develop fever, redness, increasing pain, or swelling in one leg, stop the sessions and seek care.
This information is general and does not replace a medical assessment. What applies to your case is defined by the medical team.
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