Post-Surgical Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
Post-surgical MLD is a highly specialised form of Manual Lymphatic Drainage used to manage swelling, bruising, seroma, fibrosis and delayed healing following surgery. When delivered correctly and at the right frequency, it can make a meaningful difference to both short-term recovery and long-term tissue quality.
I work regularly with clients following cosmetic, orthopaedic and abdominal surgery, and with those whose surgeons specifically recommend or prescribe post-operative lymphatic drainage. Because effective post-surgical MLD often requires multiple closely spaced treatments, availability is limited and advance planning is strongly advised.
Specialist lymphatic care to reduce swelling, accelerate healing, and support optimal surgical outcomes.
Post-surgical MLD can help:
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Reduce post-operative oedema (tissue swelling), helping tissues settle more quickly
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Relieve pain and discomfort through MLD’s natural analgesic effect
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Accelerate clearance of residual anaesthetic agents and inflammatory by-products
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Minimise bruising and tissue congestion
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Reduce the risk of seroma formation and post-surgical fibrosis
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Support the drainage of existing seroma and fibrotic tissue (e.g. following liposuction, hernia repair or abdominoplasty)
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Stimulate immune response, supporting the body’s ability to resist infection
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Improve wound healing and tissue quality by enhancing circulation
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Support lymphatic vessel regeneration and adaptation following surgical disruption
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Assist recovery from the post-surgical “slump” associated with stress-hormone overload
Clinical benefits of post-surgical Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Why surgeons recommend Manual Lymphatic Drainage after surgery
Surgery inevitably causes physical trauma to the body. Whether tissue is cut, dissected or disrupted (for example through the use of a liposuction cannula), delicate lymphatic vessels are damaged in the process. These vessels play a crucial role in draining excess fluid, cellular debris and inflammatory by-products from tissues.
At the same time, the body mounts an inflammatory healing response, increasing blood flow to the surgical area in order to repair damaged tissue. When lymphatic drainage pathways are temporarily compromised, this increase in fluid cannot be cleared efficiently. The result is post-surgical oedema (tissue swelling), which can contribute to pain, delayed healing, bruising, seroma formation and the development of fibrotic tissue.
For this reason, post-operative Manual Lymphatic Drainage is now routinely recommended or prescribed by surgeons following procedures such as liposuction, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck), caesarean section, joint replacement, gynecomastia surgery and facial surgery.
When applied appropriately, MLD supports the body’s natural healing processes by gently redirecting excess lymphatic fluid away from congested surgical sites towards functioning lymph nodes, helping to control swelling while damaged lymphatic vessels regenerate or neighbouring pathways adapt to take on the increased drainage load.
Why experience matters in post-surgical MLD
Post-surgical Manual Lymphatic Drainage is not the same as relaxation-based lymphatic massage or MLD for people with a normally-functioning lymphatic system. Knowledge of lymphatic pathways, the surgery undertaken, use of appropriate pressure, sequencing and frequency are critical — particularly in the presence of fresh incisions, drains, seroma or vulnerable tissue.
I work conservatively and precisely, adapting each session to the stage of healing and the individual’s response, and always within the parameters set by medical guidance. This level of clinical sensitivity is especially important during the early post-operative period, when tissues are most reactive and the lymphatic system is under greatest strain.
Suitable procedures
I regularly provide post-surgical MLD following:
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Liposuction (including multi-area procedures)
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Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)
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Breast lifts, augmentation, reduction, mastectomy, reconstruction
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Caesarean section
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Joint replacement (hip, knee, shoulder)
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Hernia repair
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Gynecomastia surgery
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Facial and neck surgery
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Buffalo hump (dorsocervical fat pad) removal
If you are unsure whether MLD is appropriate for your procedure, please feel free to get in touch to discuss this prior to booking.
Why reducing swelling matters after surgery
Excess swelling at a surgical site can compromise healing by placing tension on incisions, increasing infection risk, or disrupting sutures at skin or subcutaneous levels. Swelling can also affect scar quality by distorting healing tissue planes.
In procedures where tissue has been removed — such as liposuction — swelling increases the risk of seroma formation. Seroma are pockets left within the tissue that can fill with lymphatic fluid, leading to uneven contours or a lumpy appearance. If this fluid is not drained effectively, it may harden over time and become fibrotic.
Post-surgical MLD helps to manage swelling, supports the natural drainage of seroma, and reduces the likelihood of long-term tissue congestion and fibrosis.
How soon after surgery can I have MLD?
With the consent of your medical professionals and in the absence of post-surgical complications, MLD can often be performed as soon as 24 hours after surgery.
In practice, many clients choose to begin on day 2 or 3 post-operatively, once they feel more stable and the immediate effects of anaesthesia have subsided. In general, the sooner MLD is introduced, the more effective it is likely to be in controlling swelling and supporting recovery.
How many post-surgical MLD treatments will I need?
The number and frequency of treatments depends on the type of surgery, the areas involved, and your individual healing response. It is normal — and often optimal — for post-surgical MLD to be carried out intensively over a defined period, particularly in the early stages of recovery.
It can be helpful to think about post-surgical MLD in three phases:
1) Pre-operative MLD (typically 1–3 sessions)
Preparing your body for surgery with 1–3 MLD sessions in the week prior to your operation is highly recommended. Pre-operative MLD supports detoxification ahead of anaesthetics and medications, improves circulation to the surgical area, enhances immune readiness and helps calm the nervous system before surgery.
2) Post-operative MLD – Intensive Phase (Often prescribed by surgeons; commonly around 10 sessions)
The primary goal of the intensive phase is to reduce inevitable swelling in damaged tissue and to keep it to a minimum during the early weeks following surgery. This helps minimise the risk of complications such as seroma and fibrosis, and can reduce the need for further medical intervention.
Many surgeons now prescribe a post-operative MLD schedule on discharge. For example:
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Extensive liposuction may involve daily sessions initially, reducing gradually over several weeks
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Joint replacement surgery may involve 2–3 sessions per week for the first few weeks
Where no formal schedule is provided, I will recommend an evidence-informed treatment plan based on experience with similar cases. Because this phase often requires multiple appointments per week, advance booking is strongly advised.
3) Maintenance MLD (typically around 5 sessions)
Once the intensive phase is complete and swelling has stabilised, the focus of treatment shifts towards stimulating lymphatic vessel regeneration. Lymphatic regrowth occurs between approximately the second and fifth month after surgery, during which severed vessels attempt to reconnect through scar tissue.
Maintenance MLD during this window helps load and stimulate newly forming lymphatic pathways, increasing the likelihood of effective long-term drainage. Treatments are typically spaced fortnightly initially, then monthly through months 3–5.
Appointments & Prices (practice-based treatments)
Post-surgical Manual Lymphatic Drainage typically involves a course of treatment, particularly during the early stages of recovery. Appointment length and frequency are guided by the type of surgery, the areas involved and your individual healing response.
Initial post-surgical MLD appointment
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80 minutes £125
An 80-minute appointment (minimum) is required for all first post-surgical MLD visits. This includes consultation to discuss your surgery, treatment aims and aftercare, followed by your first treatment.
Follow-up MLD appointments
Optimal session length for follow up visits will be suggested at the initial appointment, based on your treatment requirements.
60 minute treatments
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Pay-as-you-go: £95
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Package x 4: £361 (£90.25 per treatment)
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Package x 6: £528 (£88.00 per treatment)
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Package x 8: £684 (£85.50 per treatment)
75 minute treatments
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Pay-as-you-go: £115
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Package x 4: £437 (£109.25 per treatment)
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Package x 6: £638 (£106.33 per treatment)
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Package x 8: £828 (£103.50 per treatment)
90 minute treatments
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Pay-as-you-go: £140
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Package x 4: £532 (£133.00 per treatment)
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Package x 6: £777 (£129.50 per treatment)
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Package x 8: £1,008 (£126.00 per treatment)
2 hour treatments
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Pay-as-you-go: £180
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Package x 4: £684 (£171.00 per treatment)
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Package x 6: £999 (£166.50 per treatment)
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Package x 8: £1,296 (£162.00 per treatment)
Packages apply to follow-up appointments and must be paid for in advance by bank transfer or in cash only.
Advance booking is strongly advised where multiple appointments are required in close succession, please get in touch for full details including terms & conditions.