Recovering from any type of surgical procedure can be tough on the body. Whether you have a cosmetic procedure like a tummy tuck or you have a skin cancer lesion removed, your body will need time to heal. Many people don’t think about massage therapy being the natural post-operative procedure when it comes to recovery but here are five reasons post-operative massage can benefit you on your journey to healing.
Particularly after a cosmetic or plastic surgery procedure, the body experiences pain in the underlying tissue, muscles and even joints. There are several types of post-surgical massage therapy depending on the type of surgery performed but here we’re going to focus on post-operative lymphatic massage.
Post-operative lymphatic massage is a method of massage therapy that activates the lymph nodes and improves the flow of lymphatic fluid throughout the body. The benefits to this type of massage include improved healing time, a reduction in inflammation, prevention of subcutaneous fibrosis, prevention of capsular contracture after breast augmentation surgery and the minimization of bruising.
You can typically begin post-operative lymphatic massage one week following surgery but check with your physician for all recommendations and make sure you share any concerns with your massage therapist as well. They will do a full health history before beginning the massage. There are actually more than five benefits here but you just might find that your bruising disappears after just a few days; your healing time is cut in half; your pain is diminished; your inflammation is reduced; your skin becomes more flexibly; your immune system is supported by the stimulation of the central nervous system; and just like other massage techniques, endorphins are released that promote pain relief and relaxation.
As mentioned, you should always talk to your physician and your massage therapist to make sure you are a great candidate for this type of massage. While it is helpful to many, not everyone is suitable, especially if you have an acute infection, low blood pressure, thrombosis, or hyperthyroidism, just to name a few issues that could cause further complications. So don’t write off massage therapy post-surgery. It just might be the healing technique you need for your journey to better health.
