How Many Days After a Tummy Tuck Can a Person Start on Lymphatic Massages?

If you are talking massage to other areas than your tummy, then as soon as you feel like it. But…remember, the skin on your abdomen was lifted up (undermined) and then pulled tight. It needs time to “stick” back down to the tissue underneath and any stretch, pulling or pushing on that skin can only delay that process and possible lead to seroma. So I would wait until that skin has been given time to adhere, probably close to 6 weeks.

Major lymphatic drainage channels from lower abdominal skin to inguinal lymph nodes are completely disrupted during abdominoplasty.  This contributes to significant lower abdominal edema (swelling) after abdominoplasty.    Whether or not complex decongestive physiotherapy (lymphatic massage) accelerates resolution of this swelling and/or speeds up restoration of normal lymphatic drainage is unknown.  There is no scientific proof (prospective randomized double blinded controlled trial) of the benefits of lymphatic drainage in this setting.  However, there is no proof that lymphatic drainage does NOT help either, so as long as your surgeon agrees, no harm in trying.

there is no single good answer.  

i have had some problems with endemologie massage done less than 6 weeks .  it seemed to increase seroma.  but my experience is limited.   i think it works well after liposuction.  

i would probably wait 3 weeks minimim and 6 weeks preferred to allow for early healing. and use lymphatic massage benefit for the later healing.

Hi there-

While it would be impossible to generalize across all practioners of my specialty, I can tell you that the reason I do not recommend this treatment after tummy tucks in my practice is quite simple...

They do nothing to improve my patient's tummy tuck recovery or outcome, and they are quite painful.

This is in contradistinction to other procedures (liposuction, Brazilian Butt Lift), where I do believe the massage is helpful and shortens recovery time. 

In other words, I do not agree with the idea that these massages help the healing process after tummy tuck.

 

Hello,

One of the most important components of recovery following a tummy tuck is wearing your abdominal binder.  Taking it off for long periods of time for any type of lymphatic massage within the first week is not wise.  Gentle lymphatic massage for brief periods can be performed by you, while showering for example.  More aggresive lymphatic massage especially endermologie should be deffered until 4-6 weeks after your surgery.

All the best,

Dr Repta