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You’ve made the big decision to have lipo or surgery! It’s important to think about your aftercare as well. In the weeks after your procedure, you will be swollen and bruised and in pain. But every day is better than the previous one, so be patient as your body heals from the inside out.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is extremely important to start Day 2-4 after your procedure. Your body is rapidly trying to deal with the excess fluids from the surgery and the normal swelling that happens after “injury” to the tissues. You should schedule a few initial sessions of MLD at least 2-3 weeks before your procedure for the early days after your procedure. There are only 3 mobile certified lymphatic therapists in the San Fernando Valley (I am one) and I am the only one covering the Santa Clarita Valley.
Most clients have MLD 2x/week for 3-6 weeks. Daily sessions are NOT necessary. Some have sessions 3x/week initially, then taper to 2x and then 1x. It depends on how quickly you heal and if you are wearing your faja (garment) and if you’re doing your at-home work to get healthy. Normal sessions are 60 minutes. MLD will continue as long as your doctor, you, and myself feel it is necessary. Your body will be swollen and will still heal for at least 6 months after surgery, but you just won’t need the regular MLD sessions after approximately 3-6 weeks. You can always have an occasional “tune-up” session at any time, too!
It is very important to only hire a Vodder method lymphatic therapist to come to your home. There are only 10 programs/institutes in the US that certify for lymphatic work. A properly trained therapist will be a Certified Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist or Certified Lymphedema Therapist with any of these letters after their name: CMLDT, CLT, or MLD-C.
MLD is very gentle on the body. It is very relaxing and soothing. MLD speeds up the collection and movement of lymphatic fluid (the trash removal system in the body) 10-20 times its normal rate. I use dry hands to gently stretch the skin on different spots on the body to bring the excess fluid up to veins at the throat. That process causes the cell walls of the lymph vessels to open, pulling in excess fluid. A light touch must be used because 70 percent of our lymphatic vessels are just under the skin and are the size of a hair on our head. They are very fragile. Oils are never used, because oils would prevent the stretch of the skin. Machines, other than perhaps vibration tools, are not used, as they can be too heavy if placed on the body or they cause heat and inflammation inside which is the opposite of what we want.
I don’t touch fat-grafted areas such as breast tissue or glutes for 12 weeks, because we want blood vessels to grow from your normal tissue into the new fat and make it all one and we don’t want the MLD to “wash” the cells away.
My rates for a 60-min session in your home or at my Sylmar treatment room are $175. 90-min sessions are $225.
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These are the cities I travel to:
Northridge, Burbank, Chatsworth, Winnetka, Lake Balboa, Studio City, Sherman Oaks, Montrose, La Canada-Flintridge, Sunland/Tujunga/ Sun Valley, Sylmar, Santa Clarita, Stevenson Ranch, Valencia, Canyon Country, Agua Dulce, Shadow Hills, Arleta, San Fernando, North Hollywood, Valley Village, Van Nuys, Reseda, Mission Hills, North Hills, Canoga Park, Newhall, Saugus, east Simi Valley