Short answer: If you have the money and time, and the provider is experienced with recent post-op patients and your surgeon approves, go for it. It won't hurt and might help. Your question, "is there a placebo effect?", shows good insight. To my knowledge there is no placebo controlled blinded randomized study to document the efficacy of lymphatic drainage after facelift. I have a good trusted friend who rented space from me to do massage therapy in my office. She offered lymphatic drainage for a fee. But while I recommended her for massages, I could not without evidence endorse the expense for my patients. But many of her friends did one or two sessions before and after and most felt there was some benefit. But there is no way to judge whether this was placebo. To this day, once or twice a year I still refer a patient who has frustrating protracted swelling to her at my expense if they are discouraged.Swelling after facial surgery is inevitable, variable, frustrating, normal, and temporary. Once surgery is complete, subject to your surgeons approval, you can take the following steps to speed up the process:*take Arnica Montana and Bromelain supplements*begin gentle aerobics such as walking, recumbent stationary bike, etc. at a very slow steady pace.*review unnecessary medications to see if edema is a side effect*be sparing with salty food, caffeine and alcohol*drink plenty of water so your kidneys are not tempted to retain salt and water*perform plenty of handwashing so you do not get a cold or the fluThere is no good evidence that diuretics or steroids are of much benefit for protracted postoperative edema.
