This week’s ACA Question of the Week comes from one of our followers on Facebook, who is interested in lymph massages before and after cosmetic procedures. She asks, “Do you have any tips for a speedy recovery [from cosmetic surgery?]” Dr. Pane thought this was a good question because it gives him an opportunity to discuss something that patients often don’t consider enough: post-surgical aftercare. While drains, dressings, bandages, painkillers and so forth are nigh-inevitable parts of surgery, it’s important for patients to realize that what’s under the skin needs aftercare as well.
Dr. Pane noted that the person asking didn’t specify exactly what procedure was being discussed, but based on the question considered it from the aspects of liposuction, tummy tuck and Brazilian butt lift procedures, some or all of which may be done separately or together depending upon the patient’s desired outcome and goals. He said in all of these cases, lymphatic massage can be very effective in helping to speed recovery and reduce or minimize swelling and soreness. Many professional massage places offer lymphatic massage, and Dr. Pane said that they are generally quite good at it.
However, he also observed that especially for the first couple of weeks to a month, patients can expect to notice swelling, tenderness and discomfort in any areas affected by the procedure. Because of this, some massage professionals may be rougher in their ministrations than the patient can tolerate for their stage of recovery. Some factors that may influence this are the patient’s natural pain tolerance, healing factors, other medical conditions the patient has and where on the body the procedure was done. Because of this, some patients may want to adopt a “see how it goes” approach to having lymphatic massage done as a part of their recovery from cosmetic surgery.
However, he also stressed that it is a good idea to give at least some stimulus to the surgical area through massage, and that patients can often administer their own massages at home, either by themselves or with the help of a partner, friend or loved one. This has the advantage of allowing the patient to directly monitor the amount of pressure and force applied to the area while still obtaining the overall benefit of lymphatic massage, helping to alleviate the swelling and thickening of the tissue beneath the surgical sites. Using skin creams and moisturizers that won’t irritate the skin can help keep the surgical area’s skin supple and allow the swelling to reduce itself more evenly.
Like any other form of surgery, cosmetic procedures do have certain side effects. These are normally well-tolerated and include discomfort, swelling and drainage at the site of the surgery and in the surrounding tissues. However, severe inflammation, infection, seroma and hematoma development at the surgical site may indicate a problem beneath the surface that should be investigated as soon as possible. No one knows your body better than you do, so it’s important to listen to it and have the surgeon who performed the procedure examine any potential points of concern as quickly as possible to help reduce the risk of other problems that could develop, some of which may be life-threatening or even fatal if not addressed.
In addition to lymphatic massage, following all aftercare instructions given by the surgeon and support staff at the time of the procedure diligently can help speed recovery and reduce the risk of complications. This includes taking painkillers, antibiotics and other prescribed medications exactly as instructed with as little deviation as possible, avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption and getting up and moving around as much as possible after the procedure, while adhering to any activity restrictions given. Depending on where the surgical site is, you may also want to avoid direct sunlight or other potential irritants on a case-by-case basis as directed by your physician.
To learn more about cosmetic surgery and aftercare, or if you have a question for Dr. Pane regarding any facet of plastic surgery, feel free to contact us on our website at https://acplasticsurg.com, through our Facebook page or call us at (514) 422-4116. Your question may help us inform others out there who want to know the same things but just aren’t sure who to ask. Also, it’s entirely possible that your question might be our next ACA Question of the Week, answered live and in person by Dr. Pane in an upcoming Hangouts session. Knowing how to properly care for your body before and after surgery is vital to getting the results and body you’ve always dreamed of!