Post-Surgical Swelling

After an operation, the body sends fluid to the area as part of healing. Usually it resolves on its own; sometimes — particularly where lymph nodes or vessels were disturbed, or mobility is limited during recovery — it lingers, and the area stays puffy, tight and uncomfortable.

This is territory where conventional massage is generally not appropriate: the tissue is healing and swollen, and deep pressure can do more harm than good. Manual lymphatic drainage was developed for exactly this kind of situation. The pressure is often compared to the weight of a hand stroking a newborn's head, and the strokes follow the direction the fluid needs to travel — away from the congested area towards working lymph node groups.

What a post-surgical program can include

• Manual lymphatic drainage around (never over) healing wounds, aimed at encouraging fluid to drain away from the swollen area.
• Low level laser therapy over the affected tissue — a painless, non-thermal light therapy.
• Pneumatic compression for post-operative swelling in the legs.
• Guidance for home, including positioning, gentle movement and simple self-massage where appropriate.

Kylie has supported patients through recovery from orthopaedic, abdominal and cosmetic procedures over her 37 years of practice. She will work in with the guidance of your surgeon or doctor — and where a procedure involved lymph node removal or cancer treatment, a doctor's letter is required before treatment begins.

Timing

When to start depends on the procedure and your surgeon's advice — some patients begin gentle work within days, others need to wait for wounds to close. If you are unsure, book a free discovery call and Kylie will tell you honestly whether it is the right time.