Massage post-liposuction

[krrue]

Hi everyone. It's been a while since I visited the forum, but it's nice to be back. I have a client who will be undergoing liposuction procedure. The surgeon recommended receiving massage post-surgery, but probably no sooner than a week or two after, depending on how everything is healing. Do any of you have experience working with clients after they've had lipo done? Any ideas what type of techniques might be helpful? Any information would be appreciated.

 

[r_favorite_stuff]

Oops. I think I put this in the wrong category. I meant to put it in the "Illness/Pathology/Procedure" one, but I guess I wasn't paying attention when I posted. Any way to move it, if need be? Sorry about the confusion.

 

[Patel]

I haven't had any experience with this but we did have a client come in the day after having liposuction to her thighs and try to tell us that the doctor told her to get deep massage done to the area.

We refused to go anywhere near her thighs.

I would think that perhaps lymphatic drainage would be good?? But I'm just guessing. Hopefully someone with experience dealing with this will respond.

Angie

 

[chacoa]

Another therapist was telling a story once about getting a client post-lipo (not immediately post, but within a few weeks of I believe). He thought doing a bunch of myofascial/skin rolling would be good to help reduce any adhesions or dimpling. When the plastic surgeon found out, he had a fit - apparently he WANTED the tissues to adhere and hold tight.

I'd say this is a perfect example of a time that you'd want to confer with the doc and see what he has in mind.

 

[www.crystalsmassage.com]

I have worked with a few women in the past. I did mostly light work to the area's that were lipo'ed and vibration technique on the little incisions. I beleive it is helpful to get things moving through the area as well as relax the client who most likely is dealing with pain and discomfort.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I have worked with a few women in the past. I did mostly light work to the area's that were lipo'ed and vibration technique on the little incisions. I beleive it is helpful to get things moving through the area as well as relax the client who most likely is dealing with pain and discomfort.

I had a client a few weeks ago that just had lipo 2/3 weeks prior (had dr.'s consent to get massage) all she could tolerate was a lil vibration and CFF.

 

[wiemercats]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I'm definitely planning to consult with the doc and see what she has in mind. Most of the articles I've read regarding lipo recommend massage after, they just weren't consistent about how soon after. Some said a few days, others a few weeks. My guess is it depends on the individual. If anyone else has any other recommendations, feel free to add. Thanks again.

 

[iAm]

I've worked on 3 clients who have had lipo. Only one of those was in my office, which I was able to pull my chart notes on.

This may or may not be of help. These are some loose SOAP's with portions removed. But you should at least get the general idea of timing and that she still had swelling some months later.

Feb. 25, 200-

Client states she had her outpatient surgery on -day, Dec. 21, 200-. She had liposuction to the hips/buttocks and bilateral upper legs. She is pleased with the results and wishes to have deep tissue for the areas that need it and smoothing work for the areas which recieved liposuction.

2 hours firm to deep work - full body -- focus on upper body.

----------------------------------------

March 9, 200-

Client states she is still having some swelling in the bilateral lateral thighs. She would like full body work today.

2 hours firm to deep work - full body -- focus on upper body.

----------------------------------------

March 17, 200-

Client states she is still having some swelling in the bilateral lateral thighs. She would like full body work today, with more work on the legs.
(note: There was mild swelling of the left lateral upper thigh.)

2 hours firm to deep work with moderate to firm work on the bilateral legs.

----------------------------------------

March 31, 200-

Client states she would like full body work today. She states that the work done on her legs on the last visit really did help.

1 and 1/2 hour firm to deep work with moderate to firm work on the bilateral legs.

 

[Anna]

Thanks, pueppi. That helps me get a better picture on recovery time.

 

[whatever]

Hi guys, at the clinic I work in we have a client who had a complete body lift after losing a lot of weight and lipo was part of the procedure. She came to us as soon as she was allowed to walk for 10 minutes two times a day. She had huge incisions in her thighs. A few of us worked on her at different times. Her doctors urged her to get massage. She had tons of bruising and seforum.xxxnant blood. We used lymphatic drainage and Lots of effluerage and some swedish. She is still recovering and her doctor has told her that the massage has made all the difference and she didn't come as consistent for a while and when she got back regularly she said her doctor told her that she needed to and he wouldn't have her stunt her progress. Now we are doing Swedish and work on her scar tissue. Very cool client.

 

[Frankie Baby 82]

She is still recovering and her doctor has told her that the massage has made all the difference and she didn't come as consistent for a while and when she got back regularly she said her doctor told her that she needed to and he wouldn't have her stunt her progress. Now we are doing Swedish and work on her scar tissue. Very cool client.

Mind posting a time frame?

 

[gagan k]

I, too, would love a time-frame on this DianaMarie, if you can post it. Thanks.

 

[Taharry]

I've had a couple of post-lipo/tummy-tuck clients, and they get Lymphatic massage and some myofascial release, to the area and also the surrounding area. We can do some gentle work right on top of the stitches themselves, too. Nothing deep, though! In fact, I wouldn't go deep ANYWHERE. It has always been at least a few days (and usually 1-2 weeks) since the procedure. A plastic surgeon in our area recommends a series of 10 sessions to all of his clients and keeps a short roster of qualified therapists on hand. Unfortunately, my work with them has been sporadic (usually filling in for some of the therapists on the roster, though I'm probably about to get on that roster myself now that they're in need of a few), so I can't provide any time frames. It's really neat work, though, and the clients love it! It can really speed their healing, too.

Hugs,
~Jyoti

 

[Bethany]

Sorry!

I believe it was about two weeks following her procedures that she first came to recieve massage. The bruising and seforum.xxxnant blood looked really bad. Limbs full of it. At that point she said that her doctor told her to get a regular (once or twice a week) massage until she was completely healed and after that it would still be helpfull but up to her discretion. She went two weeks after that missing her appointments due to pain and complications. So that was about six weeks. The seventh week she came in and the bruising was gone but incisions in her thighs were still scabby. The seforum.xxxnant blood had come out but she was starting to have edema. She said what brought her back was the doctor saying she must be regular or she would not progress very quickly. So the eighth week was when she came in with the lump of swollen lymph node etc. after having a drain and a two week recovery she is back. So all told at about 8 or 9 weeks she is back on with massage once a week and getting around much better with closed up incisions and just dealing with scar tissue and getting her circulation sped up a little. I hope this helps, I was kind of in a rush. Any more questions I'll be sure to check back later.

 

[Brittney]

I would refrain from doing direct CFF or anything directly on a suture line.
Although breaking up a scar is a GOOD thing later on in the healing process, many of the sutures we use on the sub-q and skin won't completely do their job until 21 days-6 weeks.

Robyn