Pre/Post Aesthetic Surgery Lymphatic Drainage
Why Dr Vodder Manual Lymphatic Drainage with Deep Oscillation® is Essential After Cosmetic Surgery
You invest in cosmetic surgery to look and feel your best. While your surgeon’s skill is paramount, the final outcome—the smoothness of body contours, the quality of scar, the speed of healing is profoundly influenced by what happens after you leave the surgery room.
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While transient swelling is a usual and expected consequence of cosmetic surgery, the management of early post-operative swelling, inflammation and the integrity of the lymphatic system are paramount to skin rehabilitation, scar minimisation, and preventing long-term complications.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (Dr. Vodder’s method) combined with Deep Oscillation® is a critical, non-negotiable and proven therapy for achieving optimal healing and the highest standard of aesthetic outcomes. As MLD has been used for post-surgery recovery for many years, Deep Oscillation® therapy is emerging as a cutting-edge, non-invasive modality that complements traditional recovery protocols. Utilizing electrostatic impulses delivered through a therapist’s hands or applicator, this technology creates a gentle, rhythmic vibration deep within the tissue, making it an increasingly necessary tool for enhancing recovery after cosmetic surgery. |
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Post-surgery Lymphatic drainage & Deep Oscillation® and is not as a luxury massage, it is essential, medical treatment for complete post-surgery healing. It directly addresses swellings, inflammation and discomfort, setting the stage for a more comfortable and efficient recovery.
Beyond the Bruise: Understanding Post-Surgical Swelling
After the surgery, your body’s natural response creates inflammation and fluid buildup (oedema). Swelling is not just superficial; it increases pressure on delicate healing tissues, stretches the skin, and disrupts lymph pathways and lymphatic system. When lymph pathways are overwhelmed or temporarily damaged by surgical trauma, fluid stagnate. This stagnation delays healing, contributes to firmness and fibrosis (unwanted lumps and bumps), and can even impact the final appearance of your body.
Post-surgery Lymphatic drainage & Deep Oscillation® and is not as a luxury massage, it is essential, medical treatment for complete post-surgery healing. It directly addresses swellings, inflammation and discomfort, setting the stage for a more comfortable and efficient recovery.
Beyond the Bruise: Understanding Post-Surgical Swelling
After the surgery, your body’s natural response creates inflammation and fluid buildup (oedema). Swelling is not just superficial; it increases pressure on delicate healing tissues, stretches the skin, and disrupts lymph pathways and lymphatic system. When lymph pathways are overwhelmed or temporarily damaged by surgical trauma, fluid stagnate. This stagnation delays healing, contributes to firmness and fibrosis (unwanted lumps and bumps), and can even impact the final appearance of your body.
Aesthetic Procedures with High Risk for Lymphatic Disruption
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Procedures that remove or resect large areas of skin and fat carry the highest risk for lymphatic disruption These include:
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Aesthet Surg J Open Forum, Volume 5, , 2023, ojad023, https://doi.org/10.1093/asjof/ojad023
Physiological Effects of MLD & Deep Oscillation®
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (Dr. Vodder method) treatments always begin by clearing the proximal lymphatic pathways, which decreases distal lymphatic pressure. Simultaneously, MLD slightly increases the interstitial pressure while gently moving the connective tissue and opening the gaps in the initial lymph vessels to initiate drainage. Additionally, the gentle electrostatic vibrations produced by Deep Oscillation® reach deep tissue layers and, by disrupting cross-links in newly forming collagen fibers, soften fascia and prevent the formation of hard scar tissue (fibrosis).
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (Dr. Vodder method) treatments always begin by clearing the proximal lymphatic pathways, which decreases distal lymphatic pressure. Simultaneously, MLD slightly increases the interstitial pressure while gently moving the connective tissue and opening the gaps in the initial lymph vessels to initiate drainage. Additionally, the gentle electrostatic vibrations produced by Deep Oscillation® reach deep tissue layers and, by disrupting cross-links in newly forming collagen fibers, soften fascia and prevent the formation of hard scar tissue (fibrosis).
- Accelerated Drainage: MLD directly stimulates lymph motility (lymphatic pumping), increasing the rate at which post-surgical oedema is removed and directly reducing the diffusion distance between cells and capillaries. The goal is to initiate this lymphatic flow as early as post-operative day one to minimise fluid expansion.
- Reduced Fibrosis: If post-surgery inflammation is prolonged due to fluid accumulation, it can lead to excess collagen deposition, forming hardened lumps and bumps known as fibrosis. MLD combined with Deep Oscillation® is essential during this stage to help reduce inflammation and excess collagen deposition, minimising the risk of irreversible fibrosis. By increasing lymph flow, MLD helps clear the debris that fuels the fibrotic response, which is crucial for achieving the best surgical results.
- Improved Scar Outcomes: Once the tissue has healed, the quality of the remaining scar is determined by the degree of oedema and the extent of collagen deposition. By minimising these factors, MLD and Deep Oscillation® contribute to the formation of flat, mobile scar tissue.
- Supporting Your Nervous System: The calming, rhythmic nature of MLD helps downshift the body from a stressed "fight-or-flight" state into a relaxed "rest-and-digest" state, thereby providing an analgesic and non-stressed environment to optimise the body's natural healing processes.
Frequently Asked Questions About Post-Surgery Lymphatic Drainage
Why Lymphatic Drainage Massage is so important before and after 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.
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.
The post-operative care is one of the most criteria to achieve best surgery outcome
