WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE MASSAGE?

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE MASSAGE?

What is manual lymphatic drainage massage (MLD)?

Manual lymphatic drainage massage is a specialized massage that assists the lymphatic system in maintaining the body’s fluid balance, immune mechanisms, and blood circulation. The system’s network of nodes and vessels contains lymph, a mixture of proteins, immune system components, water, waster product, and cell metabolism. Lymph nodes, which filter out the debris, are found through the body, with especially large groups in the groin, armpit, and neck. These major collections of lymph nodes ensure that the lymph passes through as many nodes as possible before it returns to the circulatory system.

During a lymph drainage massage, a specially-trained massage therapist uses a series of compressing, gliding, stretching, and cupping motions over the client’s body. The light rhythmic movements, applied without massage oil, stimulate the lymphatic system without compressing the vessels – allowing lymph to move through the tissues and lymph nodes. MLD follows a specific sequence over the body so lymph isn’t trapped anywhere, making sure every area is treated with care.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A MLD?

A lymphatic drainage massage is commonly used for its ability to:

• Fight off infection
• Speed up healing and recovery from the cold and flu
• Reduce water retention
• Boost weight loss
• Improve cellulite, skin swelling, scar tissue, acne, and stretch marks
• Help with post-exercise recovery
• Removes metabolic waste, excess water, toxins, bacteria, large protein molecules and foreign substances from the tissues.
• MLD, through its gentle rhythmical precise hand movements, alleviates pain by greatly reducing the pain signals sent to the brain.
• MLD relaxes the sympathetic nervous system, thus helping to relieve stress.
• MLD supports and enhances the action of the immune system.
• MLD helps the body to heal more quickly from surgical trauma.
• MLD helps to minimize scar formation.

It can also be used to help individuals suffering from more serious health concerns such as:

• Insomnia
• Digestive problems
• Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Orthopedic injuries or surgeries

Tips before and after therapy:

• Drink plenty of water before and after your massage, as it can cause you to become dehydrated.
• It’ll leave you feeling pretty exhausted, so you’ll want to take it easy for the rest of the day.
• You can continue to keep your lymphatic system working properly by drinking lots of water every day.

Lymphatic Drainage Massage After Cosmetic Surgery

Cosmetic surgeries all produce swelling to some extent because it is part of the body’s normal healing process. Some cosmetic surgeries, such as liposuction and tummy tucks, disrupt the natural pathways taken by the lymphatic system because of the location of the surgery. Other regions of the body, such as the nose after rhinoplasty, produce swelling that can last for a long time—even up to one year. Other cosmetic procedures that impact the face can also produce months of swelling. However, because of the extensive areas of disruption, tummy tucks and liposuction procedures are usually cosmetic surgeries with the greatest amount of lymphatic swelling.

When the lymph drifts out into surrounding tissue after a surgical procedure disrupts the normal lymphatic pathways, swelling is the result, but there are ways to combat this problem.

Post-Surgery Garments to Assist Lymphatic Drainage Massage

Compression garments help the entire process. They prevent the buildup of too many toxin-carrying fluids in any one area of the body and help the body keep excess fluids from sticking around where they don’t belong. They also make lymphatic drainage massage more effective, keeping the body more receptive and ready for the process. It’s easy to find the right kinds of compression garments for after your procedure, and your cosmetic surgeon will be able to recommend the right garments for you.

If you have questions about lymphatic drainage massage after cosmetic surgery or what to expect after a cosmetic procedure you’re considering, the best thing you can do is have a conversation with your surgeon. Clearly, lymphatic drainage massage is helpful in the prevention of excessive swelling and pain which will make your overall healing from cosmetic surgery much faster and more comfortable.

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