Atlanta APC Plastic Surgery Blog

Written By: Anaya Bennett-DuBrois, Elements Therapeutic Massage Therapist, LMP, NCTM, Reiki Practitioner

As with any cosmetic surgery, there are potential risk of side effects such as poor scaring, bruises, and swelling. To minimize these possible results there is a massage technique used at Elements Therapeutic Massage for our clients recovering from cosmetic surgery called Lymphatic Drainage Massage (LDM.) The benefits of LDM are sure to enable clients to make a smoother transition to a full recovery.

What is the Lymphatic System?

One of the eleven systems that make up our human anatomy consists of the Lymphatic System. This system is responsible for carrying excess fluid, proteins, bacteria, and waste materials from the tissues, thus cleansing the tissues of debris. Once fluid and particles enter the lymphatic system they are called lymph. The lymph is transported to lymph nodes where it is cleansed and filtered and then it is returned to the blood stream. The lymphatic system plays an important role in the body’s defense against infection.

In the healing phase following surgery, waste products can build up in the local tissues. These waste products can increase and prolong inflammation, swelling, and pain during the healing phase. LDM improves lymph flow and accelerates the removal of these waste products, and thus can speed up healing.

What is Lymphatic Drainage Massage (LDM) Therapy?

Lymphatic Drainage Massage is a technique used to provide relief from edema, an accumulation of fluids in the tissues that causes swelling. It is a gently, rhythmic style of massage that stimulates the immune system and improves the appearance of the skin. LDM is used before and after surgery, to help speed up healing and reduce edema/swelling. It increases blood flow and can reduce scar tissue. During LDM, muscles relax, heart and breathe rate decrease, and clients move into a state of relaxation that promotes healing and balance. Symptoms like fatigue, mild depression, and chronic soft-tissue pain call for the gentleness of lymph massage. It will stimulate the immune system and has an energizing effect on the body’s vital energy. Scar tissue becomes smaller, smoother, more flexible and stronger with LDM.

How is LDM applied?

• Usually, the first session of lymphatic drainage massage will consist of a consultation with the therapist, at which time the therapist can determine how many treatments you will need as well as how those treatments will be implemented.

• LDM is a series of very gentle, rhythmic massage strokes that increases the transport of lymph flow through the tissues. Every stroke is very light, not as heavy as the strokes of a Swedish massage. The goal of LDM is to reroute the lymph fluid around areas that are blocked and gently move it into areas with healthy lymph vessels where the lymph fluid can drain normally.

• Excessive pressure is undesirable. Each stroke consists of an active phase and a resting phase. During the active phase, pressure is gradually increased, stimulating the skin in a particular direction.

• This is followed by a slow, controlled decrease in pressure into the resting phase. Each stroke is directed towards the regional lymph nodes to stimulate appropriate lymphatic flow. Strokes last a few seconds and are repeated five to ten times in each area. LDM can be started several days after surgery and a patient can undergo several, to a few, treatment sessions.

Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage Massage (LDM):

• Decreases edema (swelling)
• Enhances the action of the immune system
• Reduces pain
• Improves skin health
• Promotes deep relaxation
• Speeds healing of injuries
• Decreases scar tissue
• Minimizes scar formation

When to have a Lymphatic Drainage Massage (LDM):

• Lymph edema
• Post-mastectomy edema
• Pre and Post Surgery
• Inflammatory conditions such as sprains, strains, and muscle tears

When it’s NOT safe to have Lymphatic Drainage Massage (LDM):

• Congestive Heart Failure
• Serious circulatory problems
• During acute infections and inflamed illnesses
• Untreated, malignant tumors

Best Candidates for this Massage:

• Patients who want to experience a speedy and smoother recovery from cosmetic surgery.
• Patients with postoperative swelling find LDM to be very soothing and effective in its resolution.

*If you are looking for additional assistance to make your transition from surgery a lot easier, an LDM trained therapist at Elements Therapeutic Massage would be happy to service your LDM road to recovery. Elements Therapeutic Massage is located in the Berkeley Heights Plaza, 1700 Northside Drive, Atlanta, GA 30326. The phone number to Elements is 404-389-0494. Call today and one of our client coordinators will make you an appointment.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 12th, 2008 at 10:02 am and is filed under Lymphatic Massage. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.