Do you recommend Lymphatic Drainage Massage after a mommy makeover for swelling? How long PO until I can have a massage? (photo)

Question

I am 5 days PO from a Mommy Makeover...full tummy tuck, breast lift with implants, and lipo of the waist, hips and flanks. I have a lot of swelling and keep reading about women having Lymphatic Drainage Massages. Is this recommend? If Di, how long PO before you can have one? Thanks!

William T. Stoeckel, MD · Answer

Lymphatic massage certainly will not hurt you after a mommy makeover and there could be some benefits. But the scientific evidence of such benefits is limited. I do believe that massage can help to soften scars and scar tissue after surgery, but whether or not it dramatically improves swelling is less certain in my mind. Your swelling will dissipate with time regardless of whether or not you use a massage therapist. If you want to have the massage, you can do so whenever it is not painful for you. This is usually around 2 weeks after surgery.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

There is no evidence whatsoever that lymphatic drainage by way of massage has any effect on healing after a mommy makeover. Vigorous massage might actually create trauma.

Luis Macias, MD, FACS · Answer

Many do advocate massage, especially lymphatic drainage massage but there is little scientific evidence that it has any benefit. The best advise I can give you is to ask your plastic surgeon and follow the post operative regimen that works for them. Best of luck.

Remus Repta, MD · Answer

Dear persian_pixie,Congratulations on your mommy makeover procedure.  Its a big surgery so I am glad to hear that you are doing well.  Swelling is a natural part of the healing process and the body's natural response to injury (surgery)  lymphatic massage is advocated by some but the biggest component of your recovery at this time is....time, rest, and compression.   Your body will do the rest.All the best,Dr. Remus Repta

Do you recommend Lymphatic Drainage Massage after a mommy makeover for swelling? How long PO until I can have a massage? (photo)

Answers (4)

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