Lymphatic Drainage
Lymphatic Drainage
Lymphatic drainage is a huge topic of post-op surgical care as the body’s ability to do it on its own is affected during major surgery. What is lymphatic drainage and why is it important? How is it impacted during surgery and how can we assist the body with lymphatic drainage?
What is the Lymphatic System?
In order to really discuss lymphatic drainage in relation to post-operative care, it is first important to understand what the lymphatic system is in the body. The lymphatic system consists of lymph nodes and lymph vessels in your body that work together to remove fluid build up and waste from your body. The lymphatic system is important to help your body remove fluid and waste so your body is able to properly function and heal.
How does Surgery Affect this?
When major surgery is performed, lymphatic vessels get cut in the process. The body will repair these vessels over time so it is not a big concern long-term, but this does have serious implications immediately after surgery. As scar tissue builds after surgery and as lymphatic vessels are severed during surgery, this can cause swelling, pain, and reduced range of motion. The body is not able to heal from major trauma as it normally would because these lymphatic vessels are not functioning the same directly after surgery. Lymphedma, tissue swelling caused by a buildup of protein-rich fluid that usually drains through the body’s lymphatic system, can occur after surgery, especially if surgery is done in a place where lymph nodes are removed. Knowing this, it is necessary to think about how we can manually assist the lymphatic drainage process directly after surgery in order to have a recovery with as little of swelling, pain, and reduced range of motion as possible.
Lymphatic Massage
In order to help prevent lymphedema and help your body to continue to properly drain waste and prevent fluid buildup, it is important to assist the body in the lymphatic drainage process post-op. Manual lymph drainage can be done with the use of gentle massage. This helps remove fluid from swollen areas of the body into areas where the lymph nodes are working properly and can correctly remove the waste and fluid build up in your body.
How to Do Lymphatic Massage
Lymphatic massage can be a very important part of the healing process post-op. How does one do lymphatic massage, though? To perform lymphatic massage, use light pressure and keep your hands soft and relaxed. You do not want to press so hard that you feel pain or that you feel your muscles. Instead, the pressure should be hard enough to feel the skin slightly stretched and then released back to its normal position. Instead of your fingertips, you will want to use the palms of your hands. If possible, do self-massage to help with lymphatic drainage every day post-op.
Are you comfortable doing lymphatic drainage on yourself post-op to assist healing? If not, that is completely okay! VIP Concierge Care nurses are highly trained and have years of experience in helping assist patients with post-op recovery, including doing lymphatic massages. Take the added stress out of your healing journey and hire a private duty concierge nurse to take care of you post-op. Interested in learning more about our services? Book an appointment or a free consultation with VIP Concierge Care today! Plastic surgery can already be a stressful process, but you can minimize many of these stressors by booking a VIP Concierge Care nurse to stay with you in your hotel, home, or Airbnb to have qualified hands, knowledgeable minds, and kind hearts taking care of you after surgery.