How long after liposuction do you have to start massaging?

There is no evidence that massage has any positive benefits for the liposuction patient. As a matter of fact, it might even do harm if too agressive. The area that has been treated by liposuction is a surgical wound. A repairative process must ensue that takes many months. The healing mechanisms in the body (that have evolved over thousands of years) are very efficient at repairing what the procedure has created. Let your body do the job it knows how to do.

It may not be necessary for you to perform message after liposuction.  It is fairly painful, and should only be performed if there are areas of lumpiness which you can improve by messaging.  Otherwise, you are just pushing on areas which are trying to heal!

Opinions on when or if to start massage after liposuction will vary by surgeon. Your surgeon will determine what is best for you based on your surgical plan and how you've been progressing through recovery. Lymphatic massage is helpful for patients to better control swelling and scar tissue formation. We often recommend this for our patients.

Thank you for your question. Every surgeon has their own post op protocol. I would advise you to refer to your surgeon with any post op questions.

I have every patient who has undergone a surgical procedure return the next day for a lymphatic massage and continue to massage at home or with our therapist for the next few weeks, depending on your rate of recovery. This is very effective in aiding the body during the initial recovery period. After surgery, your body goes into a state of trauma and will swell. This massage addresses swelling and leads to a faster recovery as well as smooths out and wrinkles and irregularities in the skin. I find that it is most valuable.In this video, I sit down with our massage therapist and discuss the important role that lymphatic massage plays in recovery. Best,

Massaging is very effective to help get the swelling out, and even out the results after liposuction.  I recommend my patients start massaging generally about 2-3 weeks after liposuction.  That is when it can start to become tolerable, and some of the swelling has diminished.  One option is going to a lymphatic massage therapist to help with the massage.  Also, other options include getting a foam roller and using that to “knead” out the lumps and bumps and swelling.  For the back and other hard to reach areas, the roller can be placed down and you can roll the body on top of it.  All the best,