What ever stage you’re in- from just thinking about cosmetic surgery, or you’ve had cosmetic surgery and need assistance with your recovery- we got you.

Certified in Cosmetic Surgery Therapy from the Norton School of Lymphatic Therapy, we are specifically trained in preparing a client for cosmetic surgery and facilitating post-operative healing.

Cosmetic Surgery Therapy

Why Post-op therapy?

Sometimes, poor results from cosmetic surgery is attributed to the inept skills of the Plastic Surgeon. However, unsatisfactory outcomes are most likely due to poor post-operative care.

Even when a patient feels they are prepared, they often find themselves not knowing the right next things to do post-operatively to promote their healing.

With Elizabeth, you will receive manual treatments that focus on swelling reduction, increasing sensation and circulation, as well as scar tissue work once incisions are healed. Pain and swelling will be reduced, and ultimately, results and appearance will be maximized. You will also receive education about how to take recovery into your own hands and prevent complications with nutrition tips, exercises, and education materials.

Good post-operative care is a necessity to get the best results from the surgery performed. With this knowledge, you are empowered to help make your recovery the best it can be- so you can get back to living your life!

Pre-surgery consultation

Cosmetic Surgery - although elective - is still surgery, and there is a lot to consider. In your pre-surgery consultations, we won’t talk about if you should have surgery, which surgery to have, or which surgeon to select. However, we can discuss things like:

  • Questions to ask your surgeon while deciding to hire them

  • What to (realistically) expect after surgery

  • How to prepare your home and loved ones to best support surgical recovery

  • Proper garments and usage for your specific surgery

  • If you know your surgery date, scheduling your post-op Lymphatic Drainage appointments

  • Any questions you might have!

What does Manual Lymphatic Drainage after (any) surgery do?

  • Assists your lymphatic system in doing what it’s already trying to do for you- remove excess fluid and unwanted cellular debris from your body. With MLD, this will happen at a faster rate.

  • Reduces swelling- which reduces pain, increases mobility, and reduces possibility of fibrosis

  • Increases localized circulation of oxygenated blood- which accelerates healing

  • Decreases the risk of infections

  • Proper healing ensures better outcomes of your investment

How soon should you start?

We recommend getting your post-op appointments booked as soon as you know your surgery date. That way, it’s one less thing to worry about, and - trust me - your future, post-op self will thank you for thinking of them. 

Every body is different, but the inflammation phase of healing usually starts within 24 hours after surgery and can last for 2 weeks or more. Therefore, we like to start treatments in the first 3-5 days after surgery with two sessions per week for the first two weeks. At that point, depending on what your body is indicating that it needs, we will decide together how to move forward.

It’s common to continue therapy through the final stages of healing to maximize the return on your investment. Over time and as your body heals, you’ll need different things such as scar tissue work and possible fibrosis care.

Post-Op Lymphatic Care sessions include:

  • Manual lymphatic drainage techniques to the affected areas of your face and body to reduce pain, edema, seromas, fibrosis, bruising, and decreased range of motion

  • Modalities such as herbal supplements and body positioning to reduce swelling, bruising, and pain

  • Compression garment assessment and implementation

  • Evaluation and identification of post-op complications

  • Pain management and relaxation training

  • Scar management and massage for the face and body

  • Answering your questions about recovery

  • With your consent, recovery collaboration with your surgeon

Things to know before your FIRST post-op appointment

  • Before your first appointment, a consultation call with your therapist is required. We will go over your intake form, what type of surgery(ies) you had, how your recovery is going so far, what to expect when you come for your appointment, and any questions you might have regarding your treatment and recovery.

  • We DO NOT perform Incisional Drainage. This act is when a service provider re-opens a healing wound and uses pressure to push fluids out of the body through the opened wound. Mostly because it’s outside the scope of practice of anyone other than a RN or MD to open incisions, but also because it’s unhygienic, makes you more susceptible to infection, increases scar tissue, delays wound healing, is unnecessarily painful in your acute stage of healing, and other unsavory reasons.

  • Incisions that are not fully scabbed over must be covered with bandaging for all appointments.

  • If you need assistance undressing and re-dressing before and after your session, or if you need assistance getting on or off the table, then you will need to bring someone with your to your appointments.

  • If you need to bring your child with you to your appointment, please see our policy for this in the FAQ section below.

  • You must be free of infection, blood clot, seroma, and without problematic wounds to receive our post-op care. If any of these are present, please cancel your appointment(s) until they are resolved as soon as the issue arises. The 24-hour cancelation policy will not apply in these instances.

Post-Op Lymphatic Care FAQs

  • A pre-surgery consultation is not required to have post-op services.

    However, a pre-appointment phone call with your therapist IS required.

  • If you need assistance undressing and re-dressing before and after your session, or if you need assistance getting on or off the table, then yes you will need to bring someone with your to your appointments.

  • Having your surgeon’s information is not a requirement, but knowing who your surgeon is and, particularly, the ability to contact them to consult about your recovery could be helpful.

  • In a pinch, parents might find that the only way they can keep their appointment is if they bring a child with them. This is allowed under the following circumstances: You have discussed bringing your child with you prior to your service with your service provider, it’s only one child, they will stay in the treatment room with you at all times, they don’t need supervision or tending to during your session, and they can stay quiet as to not disturb clients. Bringing your child or children with you outside of those parameters could result in cancelation of the service and being charged up to the full service fee.