Manual Lymphatic Drainage
What Is Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) Massage?
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) massage, also known as manual lymph drainage was created by Emil and Estrid Vodder. It was designed to treat lymphedema, which is swelling caused by accumulation of fluid in the interstitial space (tissue space) through rhythmic precise hand movements.
The Benefits
- Removes metabolic waste, excess water, toxins, bacteria, large protein molecules and foreign substances from the tissues.
- Promotes faster post-surgery healing
- Alleviates pain by reducing the pain signals transmitted to the brain.
- Supports and enhances the immune system's function.
- Minimize scar formation.
Why Is Lymphatic Drainage Massage Important?
The ability of the body to regenerate tissues, drain fluids, filter out foreign substances and toxins, detoxify, and maintain a healthy immune system is dependent on a functioning lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is complex, consisting primarily of nodes and lymph vessels that collaborate to achieve these goals. The lymph transports fatty acids, hormone cells, immune cells, proteins, and toxins to the lymph nodes for processing. When the body is stressed, fatigued, infected, fighting a disease process, or—in some cases—recovering from surgery, the process may be slowed.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage After Cosmetic Surgery
Swelling is a typical part of the healing process for all cosmetic procedures. Because of the location of the surgery, some cosmetic surgeries, such as liposuction and tummy tucks, disrupt the lymphatic system’s natural pathways. Tummy tucks and liposuction procedures are usually the cosmetic surgeries with the most lymphatic swelling due to the extensive areas of disruption.
Swelling occurs when lymph fluid moves into surrounding tissue after a surgical procedure disrupts the normal lymphatic pathways. MLD massage therapy assist the body in removing this extra fluid from the body
