YOUR POST SURGICAL RECOVERY CONCIERGE IN THE HEART OF WEST LONDON

Thank you for contacting me and well done on getting through your surgical procedure, depending upon which procedure/s you have had you will definitely be in need of some MLD. 

Click on the consultation link below to grab your FREE 20 minute video chat with me to get the ball rolling.

Unfortunately depending upon where you had your surgery the treatment process is not always standardised, this can mean a culture shock to your system on finding out that you need MLD (specialised post surgical massage) or at least 2-3 other compression garments - You may also find out that you may be developing fibrosis if left too long to complete these treatments - Fibrosis is a lumpy hardening leathery feel to the skin, unfortunately once it has set in you may need further specialist treatments other than MLD, BUT it can be softened and managed with a different type of fibrosis massage which I am also trained in, also you will have access to buy fibrosis reducing foam treatment. All will be explained in our video call, you can also grab my free eBook on how to proceed, heal and process everything you are now discovering - Cosmetic surgery is a journey, unfortunately it isn't as quick a fix as it is made out to be, but you have already started the healing process and I will guide you through it every step of the way.

Being under any form of anesthesia for surgery will cause the body to develop inflammation and the body is immediately trying to heal and repair itself. It has been placed into a state of shock and will send white blood cells called lymph to areas that need to heal to try to start the repair process immediately. Fortunately for many the swelling doesn't last longer than 4-6 weeks but for others this can take longer. Important aspects which can impact your healing include drinking enough water and eating the right foods for repair - I cover this in my eBook which you can download for FREE at the end of this page.

This could be signs that you have developed a seroma, this is very common post tummy tuck and this pouch is often a result of the surgeon not removing all of the fluid in the drain completely post surgery. It can through MLD sessions disappear by itself, however the longer it is there the more uncomfortable you can feel..

Your seroma is very common but asking your GP or surgeon  to aspirate it or drain it could be the next best step before or after you have completed your MLD course depending on it's severity or how long it has been developing. Always keep your drain site clean and follow your surgical team instructions. Unfortunately if you had surgery abroad, you will have to either approach your GP or get it drained privately which could e an added cost. 

Making sure that you eat meals which contain foods encouraging water release and urinating can help, warm compresses every 15 minutes on the hour can also help, but try not to worry and to avoid infection continue to keep it clean and tell your GP / surgical team, your MLD specialist will also be able to provide guidance, but always do your thorough research when finding a private seroma drain specialist.  

Manual lymphatic drainage is a specialised massage which assists the body in it's healing process after it has received a significant amount of trauma such as surgery. It is manual because it relies upon the lymphatic system to pass lymph fluid out of your body via lymph nodes and your urinary tract, breath, tears and sweat. This system relies on the manual pump of the hand of a trained therapist, unlike the circulatory system is doesn't pump automatically. After just 20 minutes in a session, provided you have gone to the toilet, you should see your swelling, fluid and pain level reduce dramatically. 

MLD will reduce and remove everything that needs to naturally come out, however some people depending upon hydration levels may experience a block in their lymphatic system where there may be a back up in fluid which refuses to drain, or a seroma, but if it happens it is nothing to be concerned about if there is no infection present, you will simply book an appointment with your primary Health care practitioner, your consultant or surgeon if they are in the UK or you may be referred to a  gastroenterologist  for a simple gentle procedure of draining the remaining fluid within seconds with a needle. 

A minimum of 10 a maximum of 15 should be sufficient

You will have to ensure that you are well hydrated, you will have been expected to drink at least 1 litre of water before your session.

 I will ask you to immediately go to the toilet upon arrival to empty your bladder.

 Then you will hand me any discharge papers to look over and confirm that you have had a chat with you Primary health care consultant who is happy for you to go ahead with these sessions.

 You will be helped out of your compression garment and into a robe, unless you are in week 1-2 of recovery, I will ask that you keep your garment on after I will take your temperature and check for visible signs of infection.

You will be handed another glass of water and you will then lay on the couch and just relax and enjoy your session until you feel the urge to go to the toilet again.

It is common to go to the toilet at least 2-3 times during an MLD session, some clients have been more depending upon how much drainage takes place.

As above, just come prepared, relax and let me do all the work

I may very likely suggest self drainage and massage for between sessions, you will also need to stay calm, complete your medication ESPECIALLY COMPLETE YOUR ANTIBIOTIC COURSE -THIS IS NON NEGOTIABLE - Pain medication however will be required less and less the more you drain, also you will need to ensure that you are wearing the correct compression garments 24/7, checking your drains, checking for signs of infection, making sure that you are adequately nourished, hydrated and rested. 

Individual sessions are £120, you can reduce this slightly if you wish to book multiple sessions in a block and you may pay with an arrangement of 2-3 instalments.

PSMLD is a crucial part of your post surgical journey, for most people it can be the difference between having one surgical intervention and having to go back for corrective surgery if your haven't drained your fluid properly or if you develop a post surgical infection or fibrosis due to not having drained properly and not getting these massages could cost you a lot more in the long run. 

You should walk around as much as possible, eat correctly, do NOT exercise until week 5-6, you will have the opportunity to speak with a personal trainer to arrange private PT sessions to make sure that you are building muscle the correct way and not losing the fat which has been transferred. 

You will need to make sure that your faja is correctly fitted

You must follow the surgeons protocols and my instructions to make sure that you get the best recovery outcome.

You MUST book your sessions in advance.

I provide sessions on Monday, Friday , Saturday and Sunday.

However, I get booked up very VERY quickly and these sessions are mostly block bookings so planning is very important, I am a planner but I realise not everyone can plan in advance.

Making sure that you complete your course of 10 minimum is vitally important to your recovery. 

My style and schedule will not suit you as much if your work means that you may not know your schedule ahead of time, or if you have holidays and trips booked within the first 5-6 weeks of our program.

I highly discourage unnecessary travel before week 6 of healing and not being able to commit to your course of drainage sessions will affect your accessibility to me and you may have to seek another therapist to complete treatments.

So before booking please consider these points, booking in single sessions will cost you more and booking a course you can complete in 5 weeks will be best in the long run for your recovery and for your budget.