MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE
SPECIALIZED POST SURGICAL MASSAGE
Your recovery, in expert hands.
Specialized care for plastic surgery recovery, fibrosis, scar tissue, and lipedema in Portland, Oregon.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage · Fibrosis Treatment · Gentle Scarwork · Lipedema Care
Our Treatment Philosophy
Effective treatment doesn't have to be painful.
At Healwell Lymphatics & Massage, post-surgical care begins with understanding where you are in the healing process. Your treatment is adapted to your procedure, your tissue, your symptoms, and your surgeon's post-operative instructions.
We use gentle Manual Lymphatic Drainage during early recovery and progressively introduce fibrosis treatment, scarwork, gentle negative-pressure techniques, kinesiology taping, and other appropriate methods as tissues heal.
Every technique has a purpose. Nothing is applied simply because it's part of a routine.
The goal isn't to “grind through” healing tissue. It's to support your body's recovery.
Post-Surgical Care Should Support Healing — Not Fight It
You may have seen post-liposuction massage on social media involving aggressive wood tools, forceful massage, or manually opening incisions to drain fluid. That is not how we practice at Healwell.
We do not open incisions.
We do not express fluid through surgical wounds.
We do not use aggressive wood therapy on healing tissue.
Our approach is gentle, precise, and appropriate for your stage of recovery. We use Manual Lymphatic Drainage, progressive fibrosis treatment, gentle scarwork, negative-pressure techniques, kinesiology taping, and other evidence-informed methods as appropriate — always respecting tissue healing timelines and your surgeon's post-operative instructions.
Effective post-surgical care doesn't have to hurt to work.
Specialized Post-Surgical Care
We support clients throughout plastic surgery recovery — from the early post-operative phase through later-stage fibrosis and scar tissue care.
With your surgeon's approval, treatment may begin as early as 48 hours after surgery. We can also work safely around surgical drains when they are still in place.
Your Recovery Plan
A typical post-surgical MLD schedule may begin with two sessions per week for the first three weeks, then transition to weekly sessions as recovery progresses. This is only a general guideline. Your treatment plan is customized based on your procedure, how your body is responding, and where you are in the healing process.
We'll also teach you simple self-MLD techniques to use between professional sessions, helping you support lymphatic flow, manage swelling, and actively participate in your recovery.
Planning surgery? We recommend scheduling your first post-op sessions before your procedure so care is already in place when your surgeon clears you to begin.
Plastic Surgery Procedures We Commonly Support
Specialized post-surgical lymphatic care for a range of plastic and reconstructive procedures, including:
Liposuction & Lipo 360
Post-operative lymphatic care through later-stage fibrosis recovery
Abdominoplasty / Tummy Tuck
Including procedures combined with liposuction
Mommy Makeover
Coordinated recovery care following multiple procedures
Breast Surgery
Augmentation · Reduction · Lift · Reconstruction · Explant
Facial Plastic Surgery
Including facelift, neck lift, and other facial procedures
Brachioplasty / Arm Lift
Post-operative swelling and tissue recovery
Lipedema Liposuction
Specialized lymphatic support before and after lipedema reduction surgery
Care That Evolves With Your Recovery
Early Recovery
Gentle Manual Lymphatic Drainage supports lymphatic flow, swelling management, and comfort while respecting newly healing tissue.
Progressive Recovery
As tissues heal, treatment can evolve to address developing firmness, restriction, and fibrosis using progressively more targeted techniques.
Scar & Tissue Recovery
Once healing allows, gentle scarwork and tissue mobilization can help improve mobility, restriction, and the feel of mature scar tissue.