​Pre/Post Aesthetic Surgery Lymphatic Drainage
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a specialised massage technique recommended by plastic surgeons after aesthetic surgeries such as:
  • liposuctions, all types
  • breast augmentation/reduction/reconstruction, 
  • mastectomy and lumpectomy
  • abdominoplasty, tummy-tuck and BBL
  • post-cancer surgeries, radiotherapy
  • facelifts, and facial reconstructions, brow and eye lid surgeries
  • nose reshaping surgeries
  • arm reduction/lift
Frequently Asked Questions About Post-Surgery Lymphatic Drainage


When Can I Start having treatments?
Patients who had liposuction alone can start the day after surgery. For patients after tummy-tuck surgery it is recommended to start lymphatic drainage on the 5-6th day after a surgery. 

Does It Hurt?
Lymphatic drainage is typically not painful, however, since the body is inflamed you may feel some discomfort. But, at the end of even first treatment the benefits of your drainage will outweigh any discomfort you may feel.

How Many Sessions Do I Need to Heal after surgery?
Most patients will need to have 6-10 lymphatic drainage sessions in total; 3 on the first week after the surgery, then 2 treatments per week.
Why Lymphatic Drainage Massage is so important before and after surgery 

Before the surgery 
It is recommended to have 2 treatments prior to surgery, ideally starting 1 week and then 1-2 days before surgery. The increase in lymphatic flow facilitates the healing process by priming the nodes and clearing out the body’s fluids and cellular debris, cleansing future incision sites making ready to operate and keeping free from infection. A firmer, drained skin is also preferable to a surgeon when making incisions, it helps keep them even and scars heal neater after. ​

After the surgery
  • It speeds up the healing process and recovery by reducing swelling, oedema and bruising, and increasing the removal of cellular debris and other waste from the area (including free fats)
  • it reduces local and systemic inflammation
  • It minimises scar formation and the build-up of fibrotic nodules (hard lumps). By mitigating inflammation and encouraging healthy tissue regeneration, lymphatic drainage plays a pivotal role in promoting more favourable outcomes in scar formation.
  • It decrease pain, sensitivity and touch-avoidance (from the very first treatment)
  • it minimises the risk of infection by removing cellular debris and  improving the immune response (the lymphatic system plays an active role in immune surveillance, immune cell transport, and clearance).
The post-operative care is one of the most criteria to achieve best surgery outcome
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