Pre and Post Surgical Applications of Lymphatic Drainage Therapy: Pre & Post-Surgical Massage Benefits
Specific massage techniques blended with lymphatic drainage based on the time frame of the surgical procedure and healing process, can be indicated for some medical patients. Special attention is taken to insure that the massage techniques used are appropriate and are specific to the surgery.
Regeneration of Lymphatic Vessels:
- Begins after 24 hours with Physician's approval
- Maximum regeneration attained on day 14 by comparison, maximum venous regeneration occurs by day 12
Pre-Surgery:
Prepares tissue for the surgery, clarifies and segregates body fluids into their respective areas.
Alleviates edema:
- Detoxifies tissue
- Stimulates the immune system; accelerates production of lymphocytes
- Induces a state of relaxation; promotes prasympathetic response
Post Surgery:
As soon as 24 hours after surgery, with Physican's approval.Benefits:
- Alleviates post-surgical edema
- Helps stimulate lymphatic "reroutes"; Manual Lymphatic Mapping allows the therapist to discover blockages and alternative lymphatic pathways
- Reduces Pain, Bruising, and Swelling
- Alleviates Spasms (promotes parasympathetic response)
- Detoxification helps reverse build up of toxins secondary to effects of medication, immobilization
- Stimulates immune system and helps prevent post-surgical infections
- Improves skin regeneration and wound healing and optimizes the scarring process
- Can help to prevent the formation of hypertrophic or keloid scar tissue
Indications for Lymphatic Drainage Therapy in Surgery Recovery
Surgery & MassageLymphatic Drainage can effectively alleviate the edemas, chronic inflammation and pain of many musculoskeletal and conncective tissue disorders. Some studies have shown that substances injected into joints are removed, at least partially, by the lymphatic system.
Many benefits can result from lymphatic drainage before and after surgery. Use in this setting can decrease edema, pain and inflammation. Lymphatic drainage also can promote tissue regeneration, reducing formation and severity of scars which can be unsightly and sometimes painful. One can see this tissue-regenerating effect in treatment of burns, accelerated wound healing with fewer complications, bone fractures and even positively affecting stretchmarks, especially in their early stages.
Pre and post surgical patients can benefit from lymphatic drainage in a variety of ways. We encourage you and your physicians to incorporate these techniques into your recovery plan as it is a very valuable serivice in your healing process.
Those facing surgery will find that LDT offers a myriad of benefits. For optimal results it is recommended that lymphatic drainage be applied for one or two sessions prior to surgery. This process promotes drainage of toxins and stimulates the immune system, and the the autonomic nervous system (the parasympathetic tone). It is important to drain and stimulate the lymphatic system before is is inhibited, and possibly decrease spasming, as a result of surgical trauma and medications. Surgeons also find it easier to make an incision through clean, well drained tissue, particularly in any sort of esthetic surgery. This creates a higher chance for a nicer approximation of the scar .
Lymphatic drainage therapy can begin with the approval of the physician-- as long as there are no contraindications (especially infection).
Pre and Post-Surgical Care Indications for Lymphatic Drainage Therapy in Surgery Recovery
Applications of Lymphatic Drainage Therapy for Surgical conditions:
Pre-surgery:
Prepares the tissue for the intervention, drains the tissue, clears the lymph passages to help prevent psot-surgery edemaPost-Surgery
Reduction or prevention of scars and fibrosis; has antalgic and infection preventing effects, an dalso is somewaht effective in reducin or preventing the formation of hypertropic scars or "keloids". For any surgery involving the removal of major lymph nodes (post-mastectomy, post-prostratectomy, post hysterectomy, post-ovariectomy, post-nephrectomy, ORL surgery, tumor removal)),Post-trauma surgery, Limb amputation,
Prosthetic surgery, Skin transplantation, For burns and their surgical treatment,Oral surgery, face surgery, face lifting, ear lifting ,Vein stripping, surgery after phelbitis or thrombosis.Abdominal Massage /Psoas Work
Specific treatment working the areas of the abdomen: Psoas, Diaphragm, and Core muscles with various massage techniques. Massage is excellent for chronic back pain issues, releasing hypertonic muscles, and reducing discomfort in the trunk causing over stressed back muscles.
Special attention is paid to clients/patients who are recovering from abdominal surgery (post-op to 5 months out). Scar tissue and incision reduction techniques can be employed with with breath work, to help clients/patients recover more smoothly, with less trauma.