Educate yourself about your procedure. Know what to ask your surgeon and what to expect.
Here is a YouTube video by board certified dermatologist, Dr Dray - 8 Questions to ask before any cosmetic procedure
Preparation is key!
- If you are having joint replacement surgery, surgery to remove cancer or any other medically necessary surgery, it's important to prepare beforehand for a complete & effortless recovery
- If you are having cosmetic surgery, you have just spent or are about to spend thousands of dollars- do your research and prepare for your recovery.
Manual lymphatic drainage is a light, gentle manual therapy that stimulates the lymphatic system to pump more & increase lymphatic circulation which reduces bruising, swelling & pain (excess lymph is what causes swelling after surgery). Lymphatic circulation eventually drains lymph into the blood stream, blood passes through the kidneys & excess lymph is urinated out.
Article - Eight ways to make liposuction recovery a breeze ...
Lymphatic massages are essential
"The first week, the body is quite inflamed, which translates to you feeling sore, a little tired and the body has either retained a lot of fluid or has made a lot of fluid, and our main focus is getting all that excess out of the body," says Dr. Neinstein, who adds that this is done via drains or a combination of drains and lymphatic drainage massages, a low-pressure technique to stimulate the body's natural drainage process.
While every plastic surgeon will have their own list of recovery dos and don'ts, many have their liposuction patients begin lymphatic massages the day after surgery, and continue the appointments several times each week for two months. In addition to releasing fluid, it also helps to "prevent fibrosis, contour irregularities and lumps and bumps," adds Christian Subbio, MD, a plastic surgeon and ASPS member in Philadelphia. "Massage will help facilitate the drainage of the lymphatics and make the result more even and smooth." ...
Make sure you find a certified practitioner with experience doing post-op work(see websites below) who received training from a reputable program (minimum 35 hrs in person class). I am a certified lymphedema therapist with over 300 hours of training in lymphatic drainage and over 20 years doing post-op work.
Many surgeons, including the one in the video below, don't feel lymphatic drainage is "necessary" in order to heal. That is generally true, eventually most people will heal after surgery. HOWEVER, you will heal more quickly, with less discomfort if you see a practitioner who is properly certified and experienced using traditional lymphatic drainage. Lymphatic drainage reduces bruising & swelling more quickly than if nothing was done. In addition, the longer swelling remains, the harder it becomes (fibrosis) which makes it more difficult to correct.
Video:Plastic surgeon warning about inappropriate post-op "massages"
Finding a certified lymphatic drainage practitioner. Practitioners should be a licensed professional - licensed massage therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, MDs, RNs, PTAs or OTAs. The following schools are reputable with excellent programs in lymphatic drainage:
Plan ahead. Therapists often book weeks in advance. Schedule several post-op sessions before your surgery. Ideally, have a session of lymphatic drainage before surgery (a day or 2 before surgery is best) - this is helpful for 2 main reasons. 1 - you can experience lymphatic drainage and be assured that this is a gentle, relaxing technique which will not cause you discomfort after surgery. 2 - helps to increase lymphatic circulation to its optimal level and may help minimize post-operative swelling.
Prepare for surgery to heal faster by Dr. Andrew Weil -"The body uses a lot of vitamin C to make connective tissue and high levels of the vitamin speed the healing of surgical wounds."
Intravenous vitamin C has many benefits - Dr Weil suggests having it during surgery, but if your surgeon won't add it, you can receive it before and after surgery. IV C has also been shown to kill cancer cells & can be a complement to traditional oncology treatment. If you're in the Metro DC area, check out:
Banks Phlebotomy & IV Therapy, LLC
7207 Hanover Parkway, Suite B
Greenbelt, MD 20770
(301) 798-6101
Some of my post-op clients have found these helpful during healing
VitaMedica Recovery Support (manufacturer description)
- COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT OF SURGERY RECOVERY: Supports all aspects of recovery from surgical and plastic surgery procedures
- MORNING & EVENING SUPPLY: Supports energy levels during the day and promotes rest in the evenings
Juven Therapeutic Nutritional Supplement (manufacturer desc)
JUVEN is a targeted therapeutic nutrition drink mix that has been clinically shown to support tissue building in 2 weeks, and to help build and maintain lean body mass (LBM) in 4 weeks. Two packets per day are recommended to increase lean body mass, support tissue building and increase collagen formation (results begin in 2 weeks).
Studies show people who prepare for surgery by using meditation and/or guided imagery require less post-op medication for pain, report fewer side affects and heal more quickly. There are many such programs available. The original is Peggy Huddleston's program.
Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster program by psychologist Peggy Huddleston
Guided meditations recorded by psychotherapist Belleruth Naparstek and available via her Web site: www.healthjourneys.com
Coping with a New Joint - by Dr Andrew Weil
..." If you are going straight home from the hospital, follow the tips below from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons to make you and your environment safer and more comfortable:
Arrange items that you use regularly at arm level so that you don’t have to reach or bend for them. Keep all your medications and instructions from your physician or physical therapist within easy reach.
Rearrange furniture so that you can move about easily with a walker or crutches; remove any rugs that you could slip on; make sure that electrical cords are secured out of your path around the house.
Install a shower chair, gripping bar and raised toilet.
Get a chair that is firm and has a higher than average seat...
There are a few supplements that can help stimulate healing and reduce the pain, swelling and bruising that follow surgery. Take 200-400 mg of bromelain three times a day on an empty stomach along with three to five 30c tablets of homeopathic arnica every two to four hours as needed."
Bromelain supplement available on Amazon. Vitacost.com is also a good resource
Turmeric is an excellent anti-inflammatory (use with some black pepper to increase absorption). In the double-blind, randomized placebo study below, those taking curcumin had to take only 7 "rescue painkillers" vs the non curcumin group which had to take 39 doses in the same time period.
Speeding Recovery from Surgery with Turmeric :
'The efficacy of turmeric curcumin in pain and postoperative fatigue after laparoscopic cholecystectomy—people getting their gallbladder removed: a double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study. Fifty people operated on to remove their gallbladder were given curcumin, or an identical looking placebo, along with rescue analgesics—actual pain killers to take if the pain became unbearable. Even though it’s just laparoscopic surgery, people don’t realize what a toll it can take—you can be out of commission for a month. In India, turmeric, in curry powder, has traditionally been used as a remedy for traumatic pain and fatigue.
In the weeks following surgery, a dramatic drop in pain and fatigue scores in the curcumin group. It’s hard to come up with objective measures of pain and fatigue, but drug-wise, the curcumin group was still in so much pain, they were forced to take seven of the rescue painkillers. In the same time period, though, the control group had to take 39. The conclusion was like no other I’ve ever read in a drug trial. “Turmeric is a natural food ingredient, palatable, and harmless.” '
Amla is powdered Indian gooseberry which is high in Vitamin C, antioxidants & a good anti-inflammatory addition to your diet
5 Tips for a Smooth Recovery After Surgery
- **Line up help, starting with a ride home**
- Rest—give your body time to heal
- Maintain good nutrition
- Get in some steps
- If you have any concerns, call your doctor
Minimize scar appearance post-surgery - a YouTube video by Dr Dray, a board certified dermatologist
Please note, some links on this page are affiliate links which means I may get paid a small percentage of your order when you use a link on this page - this does not affect your price in anyway.
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