Manual Lymphatic Drainage after Liposuction or surgeries

Today, a little bit about manual lymphatic drainage in recovery after liposuction surgery.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is becoming increasingly popular.

It is useful not only after surgery, including liposuction, but for immune health, oedema, digestion, allergies, headaches and actually so many more conditions.

Post-liposuction lymphatic massage needs to be gentle because of how the lymphatic system is built and because of what the tissues have just been through during surgery.

The lymphatic capillaries carrying lymph fluid are shallow underneath the skin.

They are made up of endothelial cells that act like one way valves that open only with the light stretch of gentle skin movement.

Too much pressure collapses the vessels and prevents lymphatic flow.

Liposuction creates trauma to fat calls, blood vessels, and lymphatic vessels.

It creates swelling.

Deep pressure after surgery can increase the inflammation, re-injure the healing area, increase pain, increase bruising, and increase fibrosis.

Gentle lymphatic massage supports the healing.

Gentle lymphatic drainage massage encourages lymph uptake into the capillaries, directing it towards lymph nodes.

It reduces pressure and discomfort caused by the swelling, and helps prevent prolonged swelling.

Aggressive massage does not improve lymphatic drainage, it often slows it.

Deep, painful pressure triggers a sympathetic response which constricts vessels, reduces lymph flow, increases muscle guarding, and slows healing. 

Gentle massage encourages a parasympathetic response, an environment for tissue repair. 

Early deep work after surgery is one of the main reasons people develop excessive fibrosis after liposuction surgery.