Everything You Need to Know About a Lymphatic Massage

A lymphatic massage is one of the best ways to help your body heal after undergoing cosmetic surgery. Its primary use is to stimulate the lymphatic system, reduce inflammation and eliminate toxins from your body.

It is a non-invasive treatment that improves the general condition of your whole body, both in healthy people and those suffering from specific pathologies, reducing fluid retention, the proliferation of undesirable substances in the body, and post-surgical recovery.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about lymphatic massages.

What is a lymphatic massage?

A Lymphatic massage is a gentle massage technique used to accelerate the body's detoxification processes and eliminate fluid retention.

Through this process, excess fluid is filtered through the kidneys and eliminated as urine. This means that the feeling of sluggishness and swelling you have experienced could be the product of long-term accumulation.

This massage therapy technique consists of massaging different areas of the body by activating and improving the circulation of the lymph system, thus helping to eliminate edema and other possible alterations derived from poor circulation, in addition to maintaining the homeostatic balance of the organism.

In a few words, we can say that it is a massage that acts on the lymphatic vessels to help to reabsorb the lymphatic fluid and purify the body of toxins.

How does it work?

The massage manually redistributes toxins and fluids, therefore unblocking the lymphatic system can make you feel lighter almost immediately.

The action of draining the body's lymphatic fluids, flushes out toxins, viruses, and bacteria that can cause illness if not removed. In that way, it can help reduce swelling and bloating by draining fluid retention, making you feel more comfortable.

How is it performed?

This type of massage is based on performing gentle and repetitive movements that help drag the retained fluids toward the lymph nodes. This massage should have a pleasant and relaxing effect, avoiding pain.

These actions should be slow and constant, following the direction of the lymphatic ducts, from the closest to the farthest area. It is a quiet and long-lasting massage, which usually lasts at least an hour.

What are the benefits?

A lymphatic massage can help you get the best results after your surgery. However, there are many other benefits you can expect, among them:

• Reactivation of lymphatic circulation 
• Decreases fluid retention and regulates muscle tone
• Aesthetic improvements in the appearance of the skin
• Combats acne and cellulite
• Reduction of swelling from fluid retention
• Helps as an analgesic for diseases such as fibromyalgia (sedative).
• Stimulates kidney function
• Improves blood circulation
• Help in times of stress and anxiety
• Combats pathologies such as migraines and dizziness
• Renforces the body's defenses
• Helps regenerate tissues after operations

In which areas can it be performed?

Lymphatic drainage may be done on the neck, face, abdomen, arms, neck, back, lumbar area, buttocks, and legs.

Therefore, it is useful in many cases, from lymphedema, after surgery or edema due to circulatory disorders, to the treatment of chronic sinusitis or migraines.

When is it noticeable? 

Results are usually noticeable from the first session. For cellulite, at least 5 sessions may be necessary for best results.

How long does the effect last?

It varies depending on the tendency of each person to retain liquids. This tendency depends on the characteristics of each individual as well as their lifestyle habits.

What types of lymphatic massage are there?

• Manual Lymphatic Massage

A manual lymphatic massage session is applied directly to the skin without gliding, and only manual maneuvers are used. In some clinics, some minimal elements are usually added to the manual technique.

This procedure is performed by specialized kinesiology and physiotherapy professionals. He or she applies soft, slow, and very relaxing massages to the areas affected by fluid retention and pooling.

The manual drainage technique moves the excess lymph accumulated in areas of edema to healthy lymphatic territories.

• Mechanical Lymphatic Massage

Mechanical lymphatic massage uses sequential pressure therapy equipment.

There are several models on the market, with different pre-established programs for regulating the inflation pressure in chambers, and they include covers for legs, abdomen, and arms. 

These pressures range from pumping in ganglionic areas to forces similar to those when performed manually, performing lymphatic and blood emptying that favors venous return and lymphatic recirculation.

• Lymphatic Massage Using Equipment

As described above, lymphatic stimulation can also be performed through the use of specific equipment that simulates and/or accompanies the manual work in order to optimize the result and maintain it over time.

Girdles and boots connected to a compressor (sequential pressure therapy), mobilization devices, and ultrasound therapy are some instruments used to complement the manual technique. 

When is it recommended?

There are cases and situations in which lymphatic massage is advisable, such as:

• Edemas due to trauma.
• Postoperative edema.
• For skin problems such as burns, bedsores, keloids, acne, or scars.
• For aesthetic purposes, such as hair loss, wrinkles, or cellulite.
• Stress and/or insomnia.
• To improve the functioning of the digestive system (reduces constipation and flatulence).
• In venous circulation disorders, venous edema of pregnancy.
• In the case of psychogenic and somatic pain, apoplexy.
• For respiratory disorders such as sinusitis, tonsillitis, colds, chronic colds, and bronchial asthma.
• Lymph node removal after mastectomy
  
  

When is it not recommended?

In general, this is a safe treatment, although there are some conditions and circumstances in which it is not recommended:

• Acute infections.
• Heart failure.
• Phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, and deep vein thrombosis.
• Asthmatic crisis.
• Presence of truncal varicose veins.
• Hypotension.
• Hyperthyroidism.
• Allergic reactions.

Remember that the lymphatic system is vital for our organism since it performs a double function of purification and protection, it is essential for the basic functions of the circulatory system.

A Lymphatic massage, when properly applied, can do you a lot of good. It will keep you healthy, active, and in a good mood, in addition to preventing, alleviating, or treating many pathologies. Just remember that the opinion of your family doctor is essential.

Another notable application of lymphatic drainage focuses on the postoperative processes of cosmetic surgery, as it helps to accelerate the healing of tissues, prevents edema, reduces inflammation and pain, and increases the quality of healing.

If you are interested in receiving this treatment, you can contact us at Cosmetica Plastic Surgery, we are certified professionals specializing in Lymphatic Massages.