Lymphatic drainage is a therapy that promotes the natural circulation of fluids to reduce swelling and aid detoxification. It moves stagnant fluids toward lymph nodes to reduce lymphedema, bloating, and discomfort. At Denver Lipo, we use the Ballancer®Pro system to provide patients with advanced lymphatic drainage after surgery.
Denver Liposuction Specialty Clinic is led by expert surgeons who specialize in patient care and satisfaction. After a procedure, your body retains fluid, and lymphatic drainage helps to accelerate the body’s natural healing process, reducing swelling and bloating and decreasing discomfort.
If you are wondering if lymphatic drainage can benefit your healing process, contact us online or call our office at (720) 372-2155 to learn more.
Contents
About Lymphatic Drainage
The lymphatic system is an essential component of the broader circulatory system that drains fluid from the body and enhances immune function. (1) These processes are vital for maintaining homeostasis and for proper healing, as the lymphatic system rids the body of toxins, cell waste, and more. Lymphatic drainage stimulates the natural flow of lymph fluid to better reduce swelling, remove toxins, and enhance post-surgical recovery.
Is lymphatic drainage worth it?
In almost all cases, yes. Lymphatic drainage is worth it, and we especially recommend it after liposuction, a tummy tuck, and breast procedures to minimize swelling, bruising, and discomfort. Lymphatic drainage helps prevent complications like fibrosis, improves mobility, and assists in draining the toxins and cell waste that may be lingering in the body post-surgery. It also accelerates healing by draining the leftover fluid after surgery and reduces the risk of skin hardening.
After your surgery, you may feel discomfort and stiffness, and this type of therapy can reduce the pressure on your nerves and tissues, acting as a reset for the body.
Without lymphatic drainage after a surgical procedure, especially if there is significant tissue trauma, there is potentially an increased risk of lymphedema. Lymphedema is the accumulation of protein-rich fluid that your body naturally drains through the lymphatic system, but at times, the lymph vessels are not able to properly drain. This is usually from an arm or a leg. (2) This can lead to prolonged swelling, increased discomfort, and an increased risk of chronic lymphedema. By managing swelling and moving lymph fluids away from healing tissues, lymphatic drainage can reduce the risk of lymphedema.
About the Ballancer®Pro
The Ballancer®Pro is a recovery-focused treatment that uses rolling pressure to reduce swelling and decrease fluid retention in the body. The Ballancer®Pro uses a specialized suit that helps your body push toxins, water, and other waste products you may be holding onto after surgery to your lymph nodes, allowing your lymphatic system to drain them properly. The specialized sensor-based compression therapy is equipped with four sequential, peristaltic treatment settings and a built-in pretreatment mode that targets several areas of the body at once—including the stomach, hips, upper body, and thighs. The Ballancer®Pro uses precise, consistent, and rhythmic pressure for the entire duration of your treatment session, reducing metabolic waste more efficiently than manual techniques in the process.
Benefits Of Lymphatic Drainage After Surgery
After a facial, abdominal, breast, or other extremity procedure, lymphatic drainage helps by:
- Accelerating healing
- Minimizing swelling
- Increasing blood flow
- Reducing discomfort
- Improving circulation
- Oxygenating tissues
- Promoting softer skin
- Improving sleep
- Relaxing muscles
Candidates
If you are experiencing post-surgery swelling, discomfort, tenderness, poor circulation, or inflammation, you may benefit greatly from lymphatic drainage. Procedures like liposuction, tummy tucks, Brazilian Butt Lifts, and more can cause lingering swelling in the body that often becomes uncomfortable. Lymphatic drainage enhances comfort and supports optimal healing after surgery. Ideally, patients should wait four to five days to two weeks post-operation to receive lymphatic drainage. Patients must also be in relatively good health, not have post-surgical complications, and maintain realistic expectations for their progress. Many patients see their best results after undergoing a series of 5 to 10 sessions with the Ballancer®Pro throughout their recovery, or approximately once a week.
Personal Consultation
During your personal consultation, one of our patient coordinators will review your medical history, examine your post-surgical results, and learn about your goals. If you are exploring lymphatic drainage before a procedure, they will explain how it can work in your treatment plan to enhance healing. After a thorough conversation, they will create a customized treatment plan that addresses your concerns and outline a schedule that includes the total number of sessions you require. If you are ready to explore how you can benefit from lymphatic drainage, contact us online or call our office directly at (720) 372-2155 to schedule a personal consultation.
Procedure
At the start of your treatment, you will be dressed in the Ballancer®Pro suit, which you will wear throughout your lymphatic drainage treatment as you recline comfortably. This suit is designed to cover your hips, thighs, buttocks, and stomach. A jacket is also available to target the upper body, arms, and back.
Our team will monitor the suit’s settings to target the specific areas of your body. You will feel the suit inflate and deflate, creating a rolling pressure across the treatment areas with sensor-based technology. This wave-like motion will help move excess fluid and waste towards the lymph nodes to improve your circulation, alleviate discomfort, and help you see a shorter recovery.
This session lasts approximately 20 to 60 minutes, depending on the surgery you underwent and the area(s) of concern. Many patients find the process relaxing and are able to nap, read, or listen to music as they wait for the Ballancer®Pro to work its magic. Once your session is over, we will help you remove the suit, and you will be ready to go home.
Results
Receiving lymphatic drainage after your surgical procedure significantly improves your well-being. After your treatment, you will begin to notice a reduction in swelling, firmness, and fluid retention in the recovering areas of the body. After consistent treatments, your body will have smoother and softer skin, enhanced circulation, and longer-lasting reductions in muscle tension. As you progress through your recovery, you can enhance these results and long-term well-being through regular exercise, a balanced diet, and optimal hydration.
Corresponding Procedures
Awake Liposuction
Awake liposuction is a body-contouring procedure that removes stubborn deposits of fat around the body without general anesthesia. This procedure allows patients to recover faster without the discomfort and side effects of general anesthesia. Lymphatic drainage after liposuction enhances your recovery time, removes additional fat from the body, and alleviates stiffness or tension in your healing tissues.
Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a procedure that removes excess skin and tissue around the midsection and repairs separated abdominal muscles. This procedure is ideal for patients who have lost a significant amount of weight or whose bodies have undergone a significant amount of change after pregnancy. Lymphatic drainage after this surgery can help reduce swelling or discomfort in your abdomen and waist to further define your contours.
Fat Transfer
A fat transfer is a cosmetic procedure that uses one’s own body fat and transfers it to another region to enhance and restore volume in specific areas. This technique can correct and resculpt several regions of the body to address irregular contours, asymmetry, boost your self-confidence, and more. Combining the Ballancer®Pro into your recovery plan after a fat transfer can effectively reduce swelling and discomfort to return to your daily routine more quickly.
Cost of Lymphatic Drainage in Denver, CO
Every patient who undergoes liposuction at Denver Liposuction Specialty Clinic receives two complimentary lymphatic drainage treatments as part of their post-operative care. If you receive a different procedure and want to include lymphatic drainage, the overall cost of your treatment will depend on the complexity of your procedure and how many total sessions you require. During your personal consultation, one of our patient coordinators will outline your total cost for your sessions and answer any questions you may have regarding the timeline and schedule for your lymphatic drainage sessions. Contact us online or call our office at (720) 372-2155 to schedule your personal consultation!
FAQ
How soon after my procedure should I receive lymphatic drainage?
You should receive lymphatic drainage typically around four days to two weeks after your procedure. However, the exact time frame depends on your surgical procedure and initial recovery rate.
How many lymphatic drainage sessions will I need?
As your recovery progresses, you will see your best results after undergoing 5 to 10 treatment sessions with the Ballancer®Pro. We recommend receiving a lymphatic drainage massage once a week.
How long do the benefits of lymphatic drainage last?
Many patients notice improvements after the first session. Consistent treatments during recovery help maintain lymphatic flow and can support long-term wellness by reducing fluid retention and promoting healthy circulation and oxygenation.
References
- Null M, Agarwal M. Anatomy, Lymphatic System. Nih.gov. Published June 22, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513247/
- Sleigh BC, Manna B. Lymphedema. PubMed. Published April 19, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537239/