How Can a Lymphatic Drainage Massage Help After Facelift Surgery?

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It’s no secret that undergoing any cosmetic surgery procedure is a major decision. 

While plastic surgery offers men and women the opportunity to attain the physical appearance they desire, there are many complicated aspects to a procedure that must be considered. 

Not only do you need to be prepared for the actual procedure, including the anesthesia and the incisions, but you also have to be ready for what happens after your surgery: the recovery process. 

While recovery times vary for each patient and each procedure type, there are many aspects of recovery that are shared among the different surgical procedures, such as feeling tired and sore after your procedure as well as having some bruising and swelling. 

One of the most common responses to the body is fluid buildup after surgery, including after facelift surgery. And with over 234,000 facelift procedures performed in 2020, it is important to make sure that you are one of the patients who has a complication-free recovery. This fluid can prolong your recovery and possibly lead to complications (since the fluid carries toxins and other harmful substances). This is why it’s a smart idea to directly address the fluid buildup and swelling. 

One of the most effective and efficient ways of combating these issues is a lymphatic drainage massage. 

Why Do We Have Swelling?

Swelling is a positive sign that your body is healing; however, it can prolong the recovery time you experience. 

As the body begins to heal after surgery, thousands of blood cells are sent to the surgery site to begin the recovery process. This increase in active blood cells, along with the lymph vessels and tissue that were damaged during the surgery, produce a clear fluid (lymphatic fluid), which increases the amount of swelling we experience. 

And while this fluid buildup is simply a reaction from your body as it heals, it can cause complications during your recovery. 

A lymphatic drainage massage can directly address this swelling to speed up your recovery, making sure that you are healthy and safe as you recover.

What Is a Lymphatic Drainage Massage?

A manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) massage after a facelift helps to reduce the amount of swelling caused by lymphatic fluid buildup. It also reduces the risk of complications (including fibrosis and seroma) while speeding up your recovery. 

A MLD massage stimulates movement of the lymphatic fluid buildup in a surgical area. The massage actively pushes the fluid back into the lymphatic system, which causes the toxins to move away from the surgical site. A manual lymphatic drainage massage is not a deep-tissue massage; it is a light massage in which the affected area will have light pressure along with rotating motions applied to the surgical area. 

After this massage, you should notice reduced swelling and inflammation, which will place less pressure on your incisions. When this happens, you should have a quicker, more complete recovery with a lower risk of infection and other complications.

How Do I Know If I Need a Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage?

During your facelift follow-up appointment, Dr. Bonaldi will be able to tell whether a MLD massage will be helpful to you. 

It is important to note that not every patient requires a lymphatic drainage massage; however, if you are experiencing excessive swelling because of lymphatic fluid buildup, Dr. Bonaldi will recommend the treatment. It is also important to understand that a MLD massage is not a one and done treatment. Rather, multiple massage treatments will be required for optimal results. 

If recommended, Dr. Bonaldi will be able to tell you the number and frequency of massages you will need.

Have Any Questions About Lymphatic Drainage Massage?

If you live in the Reno, Nevada, area, have undergone a facelift or any other plastic surgery procedure, and are interested in whether a MLD massage can help your recovery, call the friendly reception team at Louis A. Bonaldi Bonaldi Aesthetics today at 775-238-3051 or fill out our contact form here.