Cosmetic surgeries have become increasingly common, with procedures such as liposuction, tummy tucks, facelifts, and breast augmentations helping people achieve their desired aesthetic goals. However, while the surgical aspect gets most of the attention, what often goes under-discussed is the importance of post-operative care, especially Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) in promoting faster, smoother recovery and reducing the risk of ending with fibrosis tissue build up underneath the skin. What Is Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)? MLD is a gentle, rhythmic massage technique designed to stimulate the lymphatic system and encourage the natural drainage of lymph fluid. The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in immune function and fluid balance. After cosmetic surgery, lymphatic flow can become disrupted due to inflammation, surgical trauma, or temporary damage to lymph vessels. While the first few days post-surgery are dedicated to acute recovery and the taking of Antibiotic to reduce the risk of infection post-surgery, as soon as this risk is passed, that’s when you want to start your MLD journey. Why Is MLD Important After Cosmetic Procedures? Cosmetic surgeries often cause swelling, bruising, and fluid accumulation (known as seroma or edema). This is due to the body reacting to an invasive procedure and removing tissue beneath the skin. MLD helps: ✅ Reduce post-surgical swelling ✅ Accelerate the removal of metabolic waste and excess fluid ✅ Improve skin texture and reduce fibrosis (hardened tissue) ✅ Speed up visible results by enhancing contour definition ✅ Decrease discomfort by reducing pressure from trapped fluids As with any surgery, when lymphatic drainage massage is applied, no pain is to be experienced. While I treat someone with MLD I always pass this information up front, to ensure that if they experience any type of pain, I get told about it, so that I can go lighter with pressure. Which Procedures Benefit Most from Lymphatic Drainage? MLD is commonly recommended after: Liposuction (including 360 lipo or Brazilian Butt Lift – BBL) Tummy tucks (abdominoplasty) Facial surgeries (rhinoplasty, facelifts, blepharoplasty) Breast augmentation or reduction Body contouring procedures As a Lymphoedema therapist, I do get surgeons referring me patients to assist them with post-op management, especially when swelling or fibrosis is a concern. When Should You Start Lymphatic Drainage? As briefly explained above, the ideal time to begin MLD is as soon as you stop your antibiotic cycle, and is your surgeon or GP call to when you are safe to do so. On the other hand: Typically, MLD is started 3 to 5 days post-surgery, once acute inflammation has settled and the incision sites are closed or protected. A full course may include 6–10 sessions spaced out over a few weeks for optimal results. Always follow the advise of the surgeon about post surgery, but, when you safe to do, the more movement we add to Lymphatic Draiange, the better the recovery would go. Is MLD Safe post-cosmetic surgery? When performed by a qualified lymphatic therapist, lymphatic drainage is non-invasive, safe, and effective. It’s gentle enough for delicate post-op tissue and can significantly improve comfort and healing time. My qualification in Lymphatic Drainage was done with the Vodder Academy whicg holds the gold standards for MLD practice, and is worldwide well known for the quality of their practice. On the other hand, I also hold a qualification in Clinical Myotherapy, which allows me to help people recover from injury and stick to their fitness goals via training and exercises. When Can I Book My Appointment for Post-Cosmetic Surgery Recovery? My studio, Melbourne Massage and Treatment, is located in Fitzroy North, on the corner of St George Rd and Holden St. I work Monday to Saturday, and to book an appointment, you can just head online to the booking page and choose the best time/days that work for you. Given the number of session needed for this type of work, I always suggest to book a series of session in a raw, from to 3 session per week for the first 2 weeks. Session by session we do evaluate together the progress, and chose together what’s the next step. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. FAQs – Cosmetic Surgery & Lymphatic Drainage
Monthly Archives: June 2025
Blog
Neural Tension vs Muscle Tightness: Why Your Hamstring Feels Tight When You Bend Forward
I did stop counting the number of times I hear patients say that their hamstrings [...]
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Understanding Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: A Myotherapy Perspective
When the space between the collarbone and first rib gets tight, during movement or even [...]
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Nerve pain and nerve damage – How Mayotherapy can help
Nerves are the body tissue that control motion, sensory feeling, and can create a pain [...]
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Cosmetic Surgery Recovery and Lymphatic Drainage
Cosmetic surgeries have become increasingly common, with procedures such as liposuction, tummy tucks, facelifts, and [...]
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TMJ Clicking: Why can be painful?
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders are a common source of jaw pain, clicking, and discomfort that [...]
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Jun
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders are a common source of jaw pain, clicking, and discomfort that can impact anyone at any age. At Melbourne Massage and Treatment in Fitzroy North, I see many clients presenting with TMJ clicking and associated symptoms. One of the key factors behind the painful symptoms is retrodiscal tissue compression, a condition that not only causes joint noises but may also lead to chronic jaw pain. What Causes TMJ Clicking? Let’s start understanding why TMJ clicks. When looking at the TMJ, we can see that between the two bones that make up the joint, there is a disk, called the articular disc, which is made of cartilage and is meant to keep the bones apart (the temporal bone and the mandibular condyle). In a healthy joint, the disc moves smoothly with the jaw during opening and closing. But when the disc is out of alignment, the condyle may snap over it, creating that characteristic “click.” For reference, a condyle is a rounded protuberance at the end of a bone, which in this case, fits into a cavity. The Role of Retrodiscal Tissue Compression in TMJ Clicking and Pain Right behind the disc lies a tissue known as the retrodiscal tissue, which contains blood vessels, nerves, and connective tissue. When the disc is displaced anteriorly, the condyle may compress this sensitive area during jaw movements. This compression can lead to: Inflammation Persistent pain Increased joint stiffness Neurovascular irritation This is possible because the tissue, as mentioned earlier, is innervated, where the disk, is not. Therefor, the disk compression on its own, is not going to replicate any pain, as there is no nerve to pick up any stimulus in there. Forward Head Posture Would Not Help. Forward head posture is a common presentation linked to TMJ clicking. Forward head posture is characterised by the head sitting forwards compared to the midline of the body, and is often due to a lack of strength in deeper neck flexor muscles. This presentation can make the TMJ presentation worse because of the excessive load placed on the muscle that surround the TMJ (masseter and temporalis muscles). Other reasons include the misalignment of the teeth, which can make the chewing action more difficult and over time, create strain along the TMJ tissues (muscles, ligaments and tendons), but also referral pain from the cervical joint tension can lead to manifest stress in the jaw and face muscle due to constant pain and disconfort. How Myotherapy Can Help At Melbourne Massage and Treatment, I offer a combination of evidence-based manual techniques and exercise therapy to address the root causes of TMJ dysfunction, aiming not just to manage symptoms but to promote long-term recovery. 1. Joint Mobilisation Gentle mobilisation techniques to the jaw, cervical spine, and upper neck can reduce joint restriction, improve mobility, and relieve the pressure on retrodiscal tissue. Mobilisation helps restore normal disc-condyle mechanics, reducing clicking and improving range of motion. 2. Dry Needling Dry needling of trigger points in the masseter, temporalis, and lateral pterygoid muscles can reduce hypertonicity and relieve pain referred to the jaw and head. Targeting myofascial restrictions can also indirectly reduce stress on the TMJ itself. 3. Targeted Exercise Therapy Specific exercises for jaw control and cervical strength are crucial for maintaining results between sessions. Jaw isometric exercises are ideal for pain management and quick relief. Resistance bend exercises for jaw opening. Relaxation techniques for parafunctional habits like clenching Over time, these exercises can enhance joint stability, reduce overloading, and in some cases improve mild degenerative changes by promoting better joint mechanics and tissue resilience. 4. Deep Tissue Massage Massaging the muscles surrounding TMJ and the cervical muscles can help reduce tension, stimulate the nervous system to relax and give a break from pain and discomfort, while improving mobility. As always, there is not one solution for the common presentation of many. Each individual is different, and the treatment results can be different. But what we can expect is that, if we balance the usage of hands-on treatment and exercises, we can create some real change with some great benefits. TMJ Clicking and Menopause Menopause is a topic I have already spoken about in my blogs. Briefly, we can refer to menopause as the day past 12 months of missing menstrual periods in a woman’s life cycle. Before that is called perimenopause, after that day, we talk about post-menopause. This step is achieved when a woman has no more eggs to release, and her menstruation has stopped. While it is not the same journey for each woman and there are many changes that women can go through, a common one is stiffness of ligaments. Again, this is not happening in one day, but is a change that comes with time and is different person to person. This is possible because of the lack of estrogen. Indeed, estrogen, along with controlling many other aspects of the biological life of a woman, is also responsible for the elasticity of the ligament. Put: less estrogen, less elasticity. This can explain why, during this phase, women start experiencing more TMJ pain and potentially TMJ clicking. On the other hand, we have no yet enough evidence to say that Hormonal Replacement Therapy is effective for establishing this presentation (Robinson et al., 2019). FAQ – TMJ Clicking 1. What causes the clicking sound in the TMJ?The clicking occurs when the articular disc in the jaw joint becomes displaced, and the mandibular condyle snaps over it during jaw movement. This is often due to disc misalignment. 2. Why does retrodiscal tissue compression cause TMJ pain?The retrodiscal tissue contains nerves and blood vessels. When compressed due to disc displacement, it can lead to inflammation, pain, and stiffness in the TMJ area. 3. Can TMJ clicking happen without pain?Yes. If the articular disc is displaced but the retrodiscal tissue isn’t compressed or irritated, the joint may click without producing pain. 4. How does forward head posture affect TMJ?Forward head posture strains neck muscles and can […]
Jun
Bone fractures are a common injury, but with proper care and rehabilitation, bones can heal and regain strength. Strength exercise is a crucial component of this healing process, aiding in bone regeneration and restoring mobility and function. How can a bone fracture? Bones can fracture when placed under a load or force that they can’t tolerate. The load tolerance is subjective, person to person, and can vary based on the individual medical presentation and clinical history. Age it is only a circumstance that at the current moment in our society is seen as an increase the chance of fracture, but if we learn to age by keeping our feet via strength training, age would not be anylonger a risk component. Indeed, during the aging process, the bone can become weaker if not stimulate to positive stress, such as load active loads. The less load they received, the less the bone would keep regenerating, due to a slower metabolism. Therefor, as explained in other blogs, strength training is a key to longevity and better health. How can bone fractures heal? When a bone fractures, the body initiates a complex healing process involving several stages: Inflammation: Immediately after the fracture, blood clots form, initiating the healing process. Soft Callus Formation: Fibrocartilaginous tissue begins to bridge the fracture gap. Hard Callus Formation: The soft callus is replaced by a hard bony callus made of woven bone. Remodelling: The bone gradually remodels into its original shape and structure. This process can take several weeks to months, depending on factors like age, overall health, previous clinical history, medication intake and the severity of the fracture. Even thought there is nothing that can speed up the recovery, as this is a body natural process, there are things that can be done to assist the recovery and ensure that the healing happens as smooth as possible. Exercises is one of those factors, which are part of the healing journey, but have to be incorporated under supervision, to ensure not to aggravate the presentation. The Role of Exercise in Bone Regeneration As mentioned above, and in other blog exercises, specifically strengthening exercises, are a positive load for the body tissues, including bone, which can help stimulate the regeneration of those tissues. Obviously, different phases of healing require and can accept different types of strength exercises. So yes, you would not start with a single-leg jump on a broken tibia Stimulates Bone Formation: Mechanical stress from exercise promotes osteoblast activity, leading to new bone formation. Enhances Strength and Flexibility: Regular movement prevents joint stiffness and muscle atrophy; Improves Balance and Coordination: Reducing the risk of future falls and fractures. A systematic review by Kuijlaars et al. (2019) highlighted that physical therapy exercises, whether home-based or supervised, significantly improve functional mobility and strength post-fracture. Recommended Exercises for Recovery At Melbourne Massage and Treatment, I offer assistance with bone fracture recovery exercises throughout the Myotherapy and Fitness class treatment plan. What I would focus on, too, when aiming for recovery, would be: Weight-Bearing Exercises: Including walking or gentle jogging (if we are talking about lower limb injury), to stimulate bone growth; Resistance Training: Using bands or light weights to strengthen muscles supporting the bone, or the joint to which the bone is attached. Flexibility and Balance Exercises: Again, using weights and machinery, we aim to strengthen the muscles that control your overall equilibrium and stability to prevent further falls and reduce the risk of injury; Plyometrics which is most often towards the end of a recovery process from anytype of injury, where we focus on motion that are more close to return to daily activity, and we load your tendon as springs, as per can be doing jumping on the spot or repetitive explosive motions with arms. Clinical Evidence Supporting Exercise in Recovery from Bone Fractures Research, as already mentioned in the Kuijlaars et al. (2019) systematic review, shows the benefits of incorporating exercise into fracture rehabilitation, and below we look into more details about what exercises have to offer in terms of recovery: Improved Healing Rates: Patients engaging in structured physical therapy often experience more robust bone healing (Song, 2022). Reduced Complications: Regular movement decreases the risk of complications like deep vein thrombosis or joint stiffness (Ruan et al., 2023). Enhanced Quality of Life: Maintaining physical activity levels improves overall well-being and independence (Mahindru et al., 2023). What to consider when doing exercises post-bone fractures. While exercise is beneficial, it is always important to approach the recovery process with care: Follow Medical Advice: Always adhere to the guidelines provided by healthcare professionals. Avoid Overexertion: Pushing too hard can hinder healing or cause re-injury. Going hard or going home is not how recovery works. Monitor Pain Levels: Some discomfort is normal, but sharp or persistent pain should be addressed immediately. Pain-wise, on a scale of 0 to 10, we usually aim to get you to experience a comfortable discomfort, based on your worst pain experienced as max treshold. Recovery from an injury, including bone fracture, is a personal journey, and therefore is unique to everyone how quick it can be and what are the consideration to take in place during the exercises recocery. FAQs – Bone Fractures Recovery and Strength Training 1. How do bones fracture?Bones can fracture when exposed to forces they cannot tolerate. This tolerance varies from person to person, depending on factors like health history, bone density, and physical condition. While age is often seen as a risk factor, it’s more about reduced activity levels. With consistent strength training, the risk of fractures can be lowered significantly, regardless of age. 2. How does a fractured bone heal?Bone healing occurs in four key stages: Inflammation: Blood clots form to protect and initiate healing. Soft Callus Formation: Fibrous tissue bridges the fracture. Hard Callus Formation: New bone begins forming. Remodelling: The bone reshapes to its original form.This process varies in duration based on the severity of the fracture and individual health factors. 3. Can exercise speed up bone healing?While […]
Jun
As part of our journey, an injury at any tissue level can happen at any time. When we talk of tissue injury, we don’t talk only about the skin, but also about muscle, tendon, ligament or even bone. While your body has an incredible ability to go through tissue healing, the time it takes depends heavily on the type of tissue that’s injured. In this post, we’ll explore how long it typically takes for different body tissues to heal and why some recover faster than others. Different types of tissue and their healing time Muscle Let’s start with the fastest tissue to recover, the muscles. A muscle injury is among the most common, often caused by strains, overuse, or direct trauma. Healing Time: Based on the type of injury, the muscle recovery varies, based on the amount of tissue that needs to be recovered. Below is a simplification of the recovery time frame. Mild strain (Grade I): 2–3 weeks Moderate strain (Grade II): 4–6 weeks Severe tear (Grade III): 2–3 months or more Why does it vary? Muscles are the fastest tissue to recover, due to a high blood and innervation supply, which helps them receive more nutrients and stimulation, which are at the basis of the healing process. However, the severity and location of the injury significantly influence recovery time. Bone Fractures can range from minor stress fractures to complete breaks. In this other blog, we discussed the different types of bone fractures and how MLD can assist recovery. Healing Time: Minor fracture: 4–6 weeks Moderate to severe fracture: 6–12 weeks Complex or surgical fracture: 3 months or longer Why does it vary? The bone, compared to a muscle, does not have a heavy blood supply, and also is a hard structure, which before it can be regenerated needs to go through different processes, like: inflammation, soft callus formation, hard callus formation, and remodelling. Multifactorial are the reason why this process may take longer to happen, including: Age, nutrition, and whether surgery was required, and bone density. Tendons Tendons connect muscle to bone and are commonly injured through overuse or trauma. Healing Time: Mild strain or tendinitis: 4–6 weeks Partial tear: 6–10 weeks Complete rupture (often requires surgery): 4–6 months or more Why does it vary? Tendons have a relatively poor blood supply, which slows healing. They also bear high loads during movement, so rest and controlled rehab are crucial. Ligaments Ligaments are the tissue that connect bone to bone and give joints the stability needed to support body weight and allow movement and mobility. Joint sprains are the most common ligament injuries. Healing Time: Mild sprain (Grade I): 3–6 weeks Moderate sprain (Grade II): 6–10 weeks Severe sprain or tear (Grade III): 3–6 months (may require surgery) Why does it vary? Ligaments sit deep in the joint, and again, the lack of blood supply makes it hard to have a quick recovery time. In this case, then, we have to consider that once a Ligament is injured, it is not going to return to its full capacity, and to ensure an effective recovery and stop the recurrence of injury, the strengthening of the muscles that surround the joint is essential. This process is possible only thanks to strength training. Why Tissue Type Matters As already explained above, different types of tissues heal at different times due to a series of factors. Below, we summarise them: Blood supply: More blood means more oxygen and nutrients to aid healing. Indeed, positive stress like exercises and movement is a key component for establishing a recovery. For all the structure, the starting type of exercises for initial recovery is the Isometric exercises. Cellular structure: Some tissues regenerate faster due to the type of cells they contain and based on how those cells work. Function and stress: Tissues under constant use or mechanical load (like tendons and ligaments) need more recovery time. In fact, even if the mechanical stress is a positive type of stress that is needed for recovery, even the rest time is important, as Ligaments and Tendons, due to their functionality, may have a harder time resting. Supporting the Tissue Healing Process If nothing can speed up the healing process, a series of practices can help support it. Along those practices we find: Rest and protect the injured area (and this is usually for the first few days post-injury) Movement and strength are key roles in recovery, and they should be followed by a professional therapist. Eat a nutrient-rich diet, rich in natural food, with variety as a key practice. Being hydrated as water is essential for the body and organs to function and ensure the overall health of the body. Avoid re-injury by following a rehabilitation process that starts with isometric exercises and ends with a return to daily activities. Sleep and rest as the body recovers during these hours, especially in the early morning phase. How Myotherapy Can Aid a Healing Response Myotherapy, as the name suggests, “Myo=muscle” and “Therapy=Therapy”, can play a crucial role in enhancing the healing process of various tissue injuries. This is possible because during a myotherapy session, not only we stimulate the tissue with hands on treatment, via deep tissue massage, dry needling or joint mobilisation, but we also create a treatment plan based on exercises and proper fitness class, that aims to help your body recover from the injury, get strong once again, and put you in place to prevent further injuries. This approach can further help even if the injury is chronic. Yes, the tissue may be repaired, but its functionality is still impaired, and that’s how often people end up in chronic pain or create compensating habits. By addressing the mobility of the joint surrounding it and the strength of the tissue, we can change that. So if you are suffering an acute injury or going through chronic pain post-injury, book now a myotherapy session, or get in touch for a 15 minutes free online consultation on how I […]