Benefit of Lymphatic Massage After Tummy Tuck?

Lymphatic massage is usually not useful after this type of surgery. Check with your surgeon of course but I do not do this. Best of luck.

While it is not commonplace for me to recommend this post op I have quite a large Brazilian population who swears by it and feels they recover faster.  They employ a media, to lateral type massage at weeks 3-6

Thank you for your question.  Lymphatic massage can be beneficial following any procedure involving liposuction.  Tummy tuck is often performed in conjunction with lipo, and results in a predictable degree of soft tissue swelling in the areas suctioned, as well as some swelling from the actual tummy tuck itself.  Lymphatic massage is often helpful in reducing post-op swelling, and is especially effective if surgical drains are also in place.  Care must, obviously, be taken around fresh incision lines, and you should consult your surgeon regarding his or her exact recommendations.

It’s not unusual for patients to experience significant
swelling following abdominoplasty.This
swelling occurs for a variety of reasons including fluid retention and
disruption of the normal lymphatic channels.In some cases, swelling persists for prolonged periods of time and is
associated with post-operative discomfort.Under these circumstances, it’s appropriate to consider lymphatic
massage.In the
early post-operative period, compression garments are utilized to minimize
swelling.Compression garments are
typically worn for three to six weeks following surgery.At six weeks, it’s reasonable to consider
lymphatic massage if residual swelling is still present.Before
proceeding with this technique, it’s important that the wound edges be sealed
and surgical drains be removed.It’s
also important that lymphatic massage be performed by an experienced
therapist.This minimizes the potential
for complications such as wound separation.Patients
who have prolonged post-operative swelling should discuss this treatment with
their plastic surgeon.Their surgeon
should be able to tell them if lymphatic massage is appropriate for them.

    Lymphatic massage may be of benefit, but the massage at 4 weeks should be carefully orchestrated.  The incision should have healed, and healing must have been uneventful. 

Hi,

 

Since you are 4 weeks post op, lymphatic drainage massage may be beneficial in reducing the swelling. However if you are still experiencing pain or discomfort, this may limit how aggressive the lymphatic drainage massage can be performed. I would definitely recommend a discussion with your plastic surgeon before doing it.

 

Sincerely,

 

Stewart Wang, MD FACS

I generally recommend lymphatic massage to my patients after liposuction.  After a tummy tuck, I would be more wary on any aggressive massage.  Since you are now 4 weeks out after surgery, you may be able to tolerate a slightly more aggressive massage but I would be careful.  Please get advice from your surgeon.

I have found lymphatic massage to be helpful in reducing swelling after liposuction.  The swelling in the abdominal wall after a tummy tuck is due to inflammation from the surgery complicated by interruption of the lymphatic vessels at the incision site.  Hence, the tissue fluid can not drain normally away from the area until the lymphatics heal up.Some type of ultrasound might stimulate healing and decrease inflammation.  If you wanted to try lymphatic massage, I would have only a relatively gentle physical pressure applied.  Over time, your swelling will resolve and the contour of your abdominal wall will return to normal.

As long as you are healed well enough to tolerate it, it may help. However, always check with your plastic surgeon to see if he/she has any specific post operative protocols.

It is best to check with your surgeon, as you are planning to do. That said, at four weeks it would probably be ok to go for lymphatic massage - if you have residual swelling you may benefit from this.