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​Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage for Post-Surgical Healing

 

Surgery places significant demands on the body. Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a gentle, restorative therapy that supports your body’s innate healing ability, helping you recover with greater ease, comfort, and balance.

 

Widely recommended by surgeons, MLD works with the lymphatic system to encourage the natural movement of fluid, reduce congestion, and create the optimal conditions for healing. It can enhance your surgical results while supporting both physical recovery and emotional wellbeing.

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How Manual Lymphatic Drainage Supports Recovery

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Post-surgical MLD can help to:

  • Gently reduce swelling and fluid retention

  • Ease bruising and inflammation

  • Encourage faster, more comfortable healing

  • Support pain relief and relaxation

  • Minimise scar tissue formation

  • Help prevent fibrosis (hardening of tissue)

  • Support immune function and reduce infection risk

  • Assist the body in eliminating waste and toxins

  • Encourage healthy circulation of lymph and white blood cells

  • Promote a sense of calm, balance, and wellbeing

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Supporting the Body After Cosmetic Surgery

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If you are preparing for or recovering from cosmetic surgery such as:

  • Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)

  • Brachioplasty (arm reduction)

  • Thigh lift

  • Breast augmentation or reduction

  • Liposuction or body contouring

  • Mummy makeover

…your surgeon is very likely to recommend lymphatic drainage massage as part of your recovery.

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During surgery, the lymphatic vessels are disrupted. It can take up to three months for new pathways to form. Procedures such as liposuction can also create channels within the tissues that may fill with fluid and blood cells, leading to swelling, tenderness, and congestion.

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MLD gently encourages this excess fluid to move through the lymphatic system, helping the body to re-establish balance and preventing long-term issues such as fibrosis or fluid pockets.

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Facial Surgery & Gentle Lymphatic Support

 

Manual lymphatic drainage is also frequently recommended following facial procedures, including:

  • Facelifts (rhytidectomy)

  • Neck lifts

  • Eyelid surgery

  • Procedures for sagging jowls or facial contouring

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By calming inflammation and supporting lymph flow, MLD can help reduce swelling, ease tension, and support a smoother, more comfortable recovery for the delicate facial tissues.

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Preparing for Surgery

 

MLD can be deeply beneficial before surgery, helping to prepare both body and nervous system for the healing journey ahead.

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Pre-operative lymphatic drainage can:

  • Encourage healthy circulation

  • Support detoxification and immune health

  • Reduce fluid congestion

  • Prepare tissues for optimal healing

 

I offer a 90-minute full-body manual lymphatic drainage treatment for £80, designed to support your body holistically in the lead-up to surgery.

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Preparing for surgery through gentle self-care — nourishing food, rest, stress reduction, and supportive therapies — can positively influence your recovery. Combining MLD with LED Phototherapy is a beautiful way to support the skin and deeper tissues, helping the body feel more resilient and prepared.

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Ongoing Support After Surgery

 

Booking a series of lymphatic drainage treatments after surgery can provide consistent support throughout your healing process. Lymphatic congestion can place pressure on incision lines and slow recovery; gentle MLD helps relieve this pressure and encourages healthy tissue repair.

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How Many Sessions Will I Need?

 

Your surgeon’s guidance should always be followed.

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Most surgeons recommend between 5–12 sessions, depending on:

  • The type of surgery

  • Whether multiple procedures were performed

  • Your individual healing response

 

More extensive procedures, such as a mummy makeover, may benefit from additional sessions to support the body fully.

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A Therapy for the Whole Body

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MLD is not limited to cosmetic procedures. Research has shown that lymphatic drainage can improve mobility and reduce pain following orthopaedic surgery, highlighting its ability to support healing throughout the body.

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When Can I Begin MLD After Surgery?

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Always be guided by your surgeon.

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  • Many recommend starting within 24 hours

  • Others advise waiting up to two weeks, depending on the procedure

 

Treatments can be carried out regularly, often starting twice weekly and gradually reducing as healing progresses. Your treatment plan will be tailored to your needs, recovery stage, and availability.

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Enhancing Healing with LED Light Therapy

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There is growing evidence supporting the use of LED Light Therapy alongside MLD. Dermalux LED Light Therapy is medically certified to reduce pain and promote faster tissue repair, supporting a gentler and more efficient recovery.

This can be a valuable addition to both pre- and post-surgical care.

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Post-Surgery Treatment Packages

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Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) / MLD with LED Therapy

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  • 6 × 60-minute MLD sessions – £340

  • With additional 6 x 20-minute LED therapy sessions – £430

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  • 10 × 60-minute MLD sessions – £550

  • With additional 10 x 20-minute LED therapy sessions – £720

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Clients who have undergone multiple procedures may benefit from longer or more frequent sessions.

 

How to book

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Appointments can be booked online, or you’re very welcome to call me on 07507 548814 if you’d like to ask any questions or discuss whether MLD massage is right for you.

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