Post-Surgical Lymphatic Care

My Approach

Post-surgical care begins with understanding your procedure, your surgeon’s instructions, and your current stage of recovery.

Gentle Manual Lymph Drainage may help reduce swelling, support lymphatic circulation, and improve comfort. Each session is adjusted according to how your tissues are responding rather than following a fixed treatment schedule.

Recovery works best when your surgeon, your body, and your therapist are working together. Care is always provided within your surgeon’s guidelines and within my scope of practice.

Phase 1:

Early Recovery

During early recovery, inflammation and swelling are often at their highest. Gentle Manual Lymph Drainage is generally the primary hands-on approach during this stage.

Sessions may focus on:

Supporting lymph movement
Reducing swelling and fluid buildup
Improving comfort
Working gently around newly healing tissues

Phase 2:

Tissue and Scar Recovery

As swelling improves and tissues continue to remodel, sessions may begin to focus more on scar mobility, areas of restriction, and lingering fluid buildup.

Depending on your stage of recovery, care may include Manual Lymph Drainage, gentle manual therapy, LymphaTouch , and self-care education. All techniques remain gentle and are adjusted to your tissue tolerance and your surgeon’s guidelines.

**LymphaTouch is a non-invasive negative-pressure device that may be used during appropriate stages of recovery to support tissue mobility and comfort.

Reduce Swelling

Enhance Circulation

Minimize Scar Tissue

Common Procedures

Lymphatic Massage May Be Appropriate Following:

Lumpectomy, mastectomy, or breast reconstruction
C-section
Hysterectomy or myomectomy
Liposuction or abdominoplasty
Facelift or other cosmetic procedures
Medical and orthopedic surgeries

Treatment Boundaries

I do not:

Force fluid through open incisions
Remove surgical drains
Express fluid from incisions
Perform aggressive post-surgical techniques
Provide care directly over open or infected wounds

When concerns arise, you may be asked to contact your surgeon or medical provider before continuing treatment.

Your Safety Comes First

A session may need to be postponed or medically cleared if you are experiencing:

Fever
Unexplained redness or warmth
Sudden or significant swelling
Intense or worsening pain
Active wound complications
Signs of infection
A known or suspected blood clot or DVT
Any condition requiring medical clearance

Rachel is hands down the best LMD massage therapist I have seen, and that number is quite high. I found her after a double mastectomy and she has helped my body recover so much. Her expertise and nonstop continued learning make her always ahead of how to better help her clients. I look forward to seeing her and my body appreciates all that she does!

- Yelp Review

I found Rachel on google , I recently had lipo 360 and she was so very kind and gentle with my lymphatic massage. I was swollen and in pain when I got there , and when I left there I was feeling better. The office was so nice and clean , parking was easy. I truly recommend her. Thanks again for taking good care of my post surgical needs.

- Google Review

I visited Rachel 10 days after my surgery and then weekly for the next month and a half. Each visit I left feeling stronger, more relaxed and restored. Rachel had the right touch for each moment in the healing process and really listened and responded in her treatment based on what I shared with her about how I was feeling in my body. I can't recommend Rachel highly enough. I'm quite certain my recovery went much smoother and quicker because of Rachel's care. She's created such a nurturing and comfortable space in her office. Plus, she's a wonderful person on top of all that!

- Google Review

When Should You Start?

The appropriate time to begin Manual Lymph Drainage varies according to your procedure and surgeon’s recommendations.

Some clients are cleared to begin within the first week, while others are advised to wait longer. Please follow the instructions provided by your surgical team.

Medical approval is especially important following oncology-related procedures or when complications are present.

I do not bill insurance directly. FSA and HSA payments are accepted. Upon request, I can provide an invoice that you may submit to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. Please check with your insurance provider regarding eligibility and reimbursement.