Clients may make a post operative appointment for whenever their surgeon clears them to receive a treatment.
Vodder Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) Surgery Aftercare suits all kinds of surgeries and plastic surgery. I frequently treat;
- breast implant removals (explant)
- breast augmentation (with own fat)
- post cancer breast recovery
- liposuction
- liposuction for Lipoedema
- Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL)
- face-lift
- eye brow lifts
- post dental procedures
- Note: we can safely work up to above the fat transfer area immediately post surgery
Absolute contra-indication:
Clients may not receive MLD over an area for two weeks that has been treated with any injectable treatment such as Botox or an area of fat transfer for six weeks and up to 3 months as advised by your surgeon.
🌿 Why Lymphatic Drainage Is Essential After Plastic Surgery
Plastic surgery is not just a cosmetic procedure — it is a major physiological event. Whether it’s liposuction, a tummy tuck, breast surgery, facelift, rhinoplasty, or body contouring, every surgery involves trauma to the tissues, lymphatic pathways, and vascular structures.
This is why post-operative lymph drainage is not a luxury.
It is a critical part of recovery, inflammation management, scar-formation control, and protecting long-term surgical results.
It is recommended to budget for one to two treatments each week over your recovery period
🩺 1. Surgery Disrupts the Lymphatic System
Every incision, cannula path, suture line, or area of liposuction causes:
• Damage to lymphatic vessels
• Temporary blockage of fluid pathways
• Increase in inflammatory proteins
• Swelling in the surrounding tissues
• Reduced natural lymph drainage
Research shows that aesthetic procedures re-route lymphatic pathways, and can even permanently alter drainage patterns (Phondge et al., 2025).
The lymphatic system can take weeks to months to regenerate.
Manual lymph drainage (MLD) accelerates this rerouting, reduces congestion, and prevents long-term lymphatic stagnation.
💧 2. Surgery Creates a High Load of Inflammatory Fluid
Plastic surgery triggers:
• Protein-rich swelling
• Cellular debris from trauma
• Blood plasma leakage
• Lymph accumulation
• Post-operative edema
If this fluid is not cleared, it can lead to:
• Hardened lumps
• Prolonged swelling
• Uneven contours
• Delayed healing
• Tissue fibrosis
Clinical studies confirm that MLD reduces edema, inflammation, and discomfort following cosmetic surgery (Marxen et al., 2023; Masson et al., 2014).
MLD moves this fluid into open lymphatic channels, reducing pressure and inflammation.
🔬 3. Lymph Drainage Helps Prevent Fibrosis and Scar Tissue Formation
Fibrosis is one of the most common — and most preventable — post-surgical complications.
When inflammatory proteins stay stagnant, they harden into:
• Lumps
• Nodules
• Rope-like bands
• Irregular textures
• Permanent contour defects
Lymph drainage:
• Clears stagnant proteins
• Breaks down early fibrosis
• Softens developing scar areas
• Helps tissues heal smoothly
• Protects the surgical result
Studies show MLD significantly reduces fibrosis after liposuction and abdominoplasty (Maningas, 2020).
Surgeons often recommend MLD 48–72 hours post-op, depending on medical clearance.
🌬️ 4. Lymph Drainage Reduces Pain Without Pressure
Deep pressure is not safe after plastic surgery.
MLD uses:
• Feather-light skin stretching
• Rhythmic vessel stimulation
• Gentle directional flow
Benefits include:
• Reduced pressure on nerves
• Less tightness and discomfort
• Relief from swelling
• Softer tissues
Patients frequently experience immediate pain relief after a session.
🩸 5. MLD Helps Clear Bruising Faster
Bruising forms when blood becomes trapped between healing tissue layers.
MLD:
• Mobilises trapped blood
• Speeds up pigment clearance
• Reduces discoloration
• Improves comfort and mobility
This shortens the visible recovery timeline.
🧬 6. MLD Supports the Immune System During Surgical Healing
Because surgery is a controlled injury, the immune system plays a critical role in healing.
Stimulating lymph flow:
• Enhances immune response
• Helps remove bacteria and waste
• Reduces infection risk
• Accelerates cellular repair
This is especially vital after:
• Large-volume liposuction
• Abdominoplasty
• BBL
• Combined procedures
🧖♀️ 7. It Helps Maintain Surgical Contours and Prevent Irregularities
Post-surgical swelling hides the final shape.
If fluid pools unevenly, it can create:
• Bulges
• Ripples
• Hard spots
• Asymmetry
MLD:
• Guides fluid into correct zones
• Minimises uneven swelling
• Helps tissues settle properly
• Protects the surgeon’s sculpting
Especially important for high-definition liposculpting.
🕒 8. It Significantly Shortens Recovery Time
Research shows that patients receiving post-op lymph drainage experience:
• Less swelling
• Reduced pain
• Softer healing tissues
• Faster scar maturation
• Earlier mobility
• Better long-term results
MLD can reduce recovery time by up to 40% (Masson et al., 2014).
🌟 In Summary: Why Every Plastic Surgery Patient Needs Lymph Drainage
Because lymph drainage:
✔ Speeds up healing
✔ Prevents fibrosis
✔ Reduces swelling
✔ Protects surgical results
✔ Clears bruising faster
✔ Restores lymphatic pathways
✔ Supports immunity
✔ Reduces pain safely
✔ Regulates fluid balance
✔ Enhances long-term outcomes
Charmaine has additional certified training in post-operative lymphatic drainage and recovery, ensuring that every technique used is:
• Medically safe
• Procedure-appropriate
• Gentle and non-invasive
• Designed to support healing and protect results
📚 Peer-Reviewed References
1. Marxen, S. et al. (2023) – The Utility of Lymphatic Massage in Cosmetic Procedures.
2. Phondge, V. et al. (2025) – A Review of Postoperative Lymphedema in Aesthetic Surgery.
3. Masson, I. et al. (2014) – Manual lymphatic drainage and therapeutic ultrasound in lipoabdominoplasty recovery.
4. Maningas, M. (2020) – Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Postoperative Abdominoplasty/Liposuction Patients.
⚠️ Medical Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your surgeon and a certified post-operative lymphatic therapist before beginning any lymphatic drainage after plastic surgery. Healing responses vary by individual and procedure.
Thanks to Bianca Botha, CLT | RLD | MLDT & CDS from Lymphatica ZA for this content