“The patient and surgeon exchange cheerful glances, both brimming with eager anticipation as the dressings are removed, unveiling what would reveal the culmination of their shared journey toward healing.”
The joy of delivering postop results and witnessing the impact of a patient seeing them for the first time is immeasurable. It’s hard to comprehend the magic of the moment when everything falls into place and the final result is achieved. It takes obsessive aftercare to achieve postoperative results that are jaw-dropping. Why is that, you might ask? Surgery disrupts lymphatic drainage and venous outflow.
Lymphatics help maintain skin health by transporting excess fluid, waste, and immune no cells away from tissues, promoting hydration and preventing swelling or infection. As you can see in the image above, this extensive network lies beneath the skin and is disrupted in surgical procedures. The remaining lymphatics bear the burden and are overwhelmed by the additional load of surgical recovery.
Postoperative compression aids lymphatics by reducing swelling, enhancing fluid drainage, and supporting the movement of lymphatic fluid, which helps prevent complications and promotes healing. The addition of lymphatic massage keeps the lymphatics moving and prevents fluid accumulation in the skin and soft tissues. Lymphatic massage should begin within a week of facial surgery and continue on a weekly basis. The actual timeline of when lymphatics recover after surgery varies from patient to patient. It can be weeks but sometimes it takes over a year.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can enhance lymphatic recovery after surgery. The pressure in HBOT can help reduce swelling (edema) by promoting fluid absorption and improving lymphatic drainage. It also stimulates angiogenesis. Increased oxygen levels can stimulate the formation of new blood vessels, aiding in recovery and improving nutrient delivery to tissues. Oxygen plays a critical role in collagen synthesis, which is essential for tissue repair. HBOT can help regulate inflammatory responses, reducing excessive inflammation that can impede recovery.
Red light therapy (RLT) assists by promoting tissue repair, reducing inflammation, and enhancing lymphatic drainage. The therapy works by using specific wavelengths of light to penetrate the skin, which can stimulate cellular processes such as increased circulation and collagen production. This can lead to reduced swelling and improved healing in affected areas. Additionally, RLT enhances lymphatic function, helping to alleviate fluid accumulation in tissues.
What’s your plan?
Manual Lymphatic Drainage early and constantly until swelling fully resolved
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
External Compression
Head elevation while sleeping
Red light therapy
Be proactive! If you swell more, you need to do more. This is not a passive process