Cosmetic surgery aftercare

Undergoing cosmetic or reconstructive surgery is one of the biggest life decisions a woman will make. Hours upon hours are spent researching plastic surgeons, gathering data on different procedures and analyzing costs. Women often travel thousands of miles - even outside the US - to have their surgery performed, making important sacrifices to their personal and professional lives in the process. Yet, once the surgery is finished, women realize that they did not dedicate nearly enough attention to the recovery stage of the process. They can find themselves in a lot of pain, struggling with support garments and having difficulty sleeping or performing basic tasks. Post-op support from the surgeon can sometimes be weak, and can leave women feeling abandoned, isolated, and overcome with second thoughts. Compounding the problem is the persistent swelling, tender bruises, and the appearance of scar tissue that threatens to cancel out the important benefits gained during their surgery! I work with women going through this delicate recovery phase, and help accelerate the healing process using Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD). Manual Lymphatic Drainage is the ideal post-operative treatment for those who have recently undergone cosmetic surgery or procedures, including: -laser - liposuction - breast augmentation or breast reduction - breast reconstruction - facelifts - forehead lift, brow lift - blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) - abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) - fat injections (e.g. Brazilian butt lift) How can Manual Lymphatic Drainage help me during my post-operative recovery phase? Manual Lymphatic Drainage greatly aids in reducing swelling and bruising, and limits the development of unsightly scars that these procedures can leave. Why is Post-Operative Manual Lymphatic Drainage important? As can be imagined, the lymphatic system is naturally compromised following the trauma of surgery, with fluids tending to accumulate, leading to swelling, mobility problems and general discomfort.Donna Lewallen, Certified Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Lymphedema therapist, is trained to use MLD to restore the natural working capacity of the lymphatic system, minimizing your swelling, bruising and soreness, and helping your wounds heal with minimal scarring. Lymph drainage around the areas of liposuction and other plastic-surgery treatments greatly facilitates healing, helps to smooth areas and eliminate lumps and indentations, contouring the skin so that your procedure is less noticeable over time. In Europe and South America, surgeons have been prescribing MLD on a pre- and post-operative basis for decades, and the treatment has been established as standard practice. In the US, the benefits of the treatments are only now being fully appreciated. How many Post-Op MLD sessions will I need? These are some photos around the web of what swelling and bruising looks like: Typically, plastic surgeons recommend that their patients receive anywhere from 2 to 5 MLD sessions per week for up to one month following their surgery (10-20 sessions). In South America, it’s not uncommon to receive MLD twice a day during recovery! Most of our MLD clients come to us via referral, because their plastic surgeons do not have MLD specialists on site, or because their surgery was performed outside of our area. If you are in need of treatment, you can contact us directly using the information on our contact page. Cosmetic Procedures Aftercare Absolutely! MLD can be extremely beneficial to an upcoming plastic surgery procedure. You should have your MLD treatment 24 to 48 hours before surgery. This treatment will help prepare your body’s immune system for the surgery, helping to fortify it against the upcoming trauma. Will the MLD treatment be painful? No. Not if it's done right!

While some of our post-op clients in extreme pain can’t bear the thought of someone applying even the slightest bit of pressure to their wounds, in most cases they are pleasantly surprised by Donna’s delicate touch, especially when considering the very noticeable results that are achieved. Many times clients end up sleeping through most of the treatment. Has your surgeon recommended Post-Operative Manual Lymphatic Drainage? If you have yet to have your surgery, be sure to inquire with your plastic surgeon about post-op Manual Lymphatic Drainage. Ask him or her how many treatments per week are recommended, and how soon following surgery would be the best time to begin. You may ask your cosmetic surgeon/doctor to contact Donna to plan a treatment regimen.