Liposuction & 360 Lipo
Post-liposuction swelling can be extensive and uneven. Gentle lymphatic techniques may be incorporated into the recovery plan once treatment has been cleared as appropriate.
Post-Surgical Recovery · South Kensington
Medical Lymphatic Drainage Massage
Gentle, specialist manual lymphatic drainage to support post-operative swelling management, comfort and mobility during recovery.
Designed for clients recovering from procedures such as liposuction, 360 lipo, abdominoplasty and BBL, with treatment planned around your procedure, healing stage and surgical team's instructions.
Post-operative treatment:
Your surgeon's instructions take precedence. Timing and suitability
depend on your procedure, wound healing, drains, medical history and
stage of recovery.
Understanding MLD
What is medical lymphatic drainage?
Manual lymphatic drainage — MLD — uses gentle, rhythmic, skin-stretching movements intended to support the movement of lymphatic fluid.
Following surgery, swelling is part of the normal healing response. Where appropriate, post-operative MLD can form part of a wider recovery plan focused on fluid management, comfort and gradual return to normal movement.
Treatment may support:
- Post-operative swelling management
- Movement of accumulated tissue fluid
- Comfort during recovery
- Gentle mobility as healing progresses
- A structured post-operative recovery programme
Procedures we commonly support
Every surgical recovery is different. Your therapist adapts treatment according to the procedure performed and your current stage of healing.
Tummy Tuck
Following abdominoplasty, treatment is adapted carefully around the surgical area, wounds and any restrictions specified by your surgeon.
BBL
Positioning and technique are adapted to the surgical procedure and your surgeon's post-operative instructions.
Body Contouring Surgery
MLD may form part of recovery following selected body procedures where post-operative swelling is significant.
Multiple Procedures
Combined surgery requires particularly individual planning. Treatment is adjusted according to wounds, mobility and surgical instructions.
Later-Stage Recovery
If swelling, tissue firmness, scar restriction or reduced movement persists later in recovery, we can assess whether MLD, physiotherapy or another approach is more appropriate.
When should I start?
There is no single correct day for everyone
Some post-operative plans introduce gentle lymphatic drainage during the first week after surgery. Others require a longer period before treatment begins.
The appropriate timing depends on the operation, wound status, drains, complications, your general health and your surgeon's protocol.
We therefore ask you to follow the advice of your surgical team. If you have written post-operative instructions, please bring them with you.
What happens during a session?
Review
We discuss your procedure, date of surgery, recovery so far, medication, surgeon's instructions and any current concerns.
Assessment
Your therapist considers swelling, comfort, wounds, garments and which areas can safely be treated.
Gentle MLD
Light, rhythmic manual techniques are used. Post-operative MLD should not resemble deep-tissue massage.
Recovery plan
We discuss your response, next session and whether other post-operative support may become appropriate later.
Post-surgical MLD is not deep-tissue massage
| Treatment | Pressure | Primary purpose | Early post-op? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical MLD | Very light | Fluid movement and post-operative swelling support | Potentially, when appropriately cleared |
| Wellness lymphatic massage | Light | General wellbeing and relaxation | Not a substitute for post-operative assessment |
| Deep-tissue massage | Firm | Muscular tension and soft-tissue work | Generally inappropriate over recently operated areas |
| Post-operative physiotherapy | Varies | Mobility, function, scar restriction and rehabilitation | Timing depends on procedure and assessment |
How many sessions might I need?
There is no fixed number. Recovery, swelling and surgical protocols vary considerably between patients.
Early recovery
Where appropriate, sessions may be closer together during the early period when swelling is more pronounced.
As swelling settles
Frequency can usually be reviewed and reduced as recovery progresses rather than continuing on a rigid schedule.
10-session package
For clients expecting a programme of post-operative treatment, our ten-session option provides a saving over individual sessions.
What if I develop hard or uneven areas?
Early firmness
Post-operative tissues can feel swollen, firm or uneven while healing. MLD is primarily used to support fluid management rather than aggressively manipulating these areas.
Forceful massage is not automatically appropriate and should not be performed simply because tissue feels hard.
Persistent restriction
Where fibrosis, scar restriction or reduced range of movement develops, this may require separate assessment and a different treatment approach.
Our physiotherapy team can assess later-stage mobility and scar-related concerns where appropriate.
When treatment should wait
Please tell us before your appointment if you have:
- Unhealed or problematic wounds
- Active infection or fever
- Increasing redness or unusual warmth
- New or unexplained swelling
- Significant new pain
- Cardiac or renal conditions affecting fluid balance
- Any concern raised by your surgical team
Suspected DVT requires medical assessment
MLD should not be performed where a blood clot is suspected. New one-sided leg swelling, calf pain, unexplained shortness of breath, chest pain or other concerning symptoms require urgent medical assessment rather than massage.
Post-operative massage supports recovery but is not a substitute for medical or surgical care.
What should I bring?
Surgeon's instructions
Bring any written post-operative protocol or relevant instructions, particularly if your surgeon has specified when MLD can begin.
Compression garment
If you have been prescribed a compression garment, bring or wear it so that treatment fits around your post-operative routine.
Comfortable clothing
Wear loose, easy-to-remove clothing that does not unnecessarily compress tender surgical areas.
Post-Surgical MLD at Santi
10-session programme
£1,300
Ten 60-minute sessions — saving £100 compared with booking ten individual appointments.
Post-operative care in South Kensington
Recovery-focused
Treatment is adapted to the procedure performed and your current stage of healing rather than using a standard massage routine.
Calm & private
Appointments take place in private treatment rooms at our South Kensington clinic.
Joined-up care
Where appropriate, MLD can sit alongside physiotherapy, scar management and other elements of a broader recovery plan.
Post-Surgical MLD FAQs
When can I start lymphatic drainage after surgery?
Timing varies. Some surgical protocols introduce gentle MLD during the first week, while others require a longer wait. Your surgeon's advice, wound status, drains and type of surgery all need to be considered.
Is post-surgical MLD painful?
It should generally be gentle. MLD uses light, rhythmic, skin-stretching movements rather than deep pressure. Your therapist will adapt treatment to your comfort and stage of healing.
How many sessions will I need after 360 lipo?
There is no universal number. Some people have several sessions during early recovery and reduce the frequency as swelling settles. Your plan should reflect your surgeon's protocol and your individual recovery.
Can MLD remove fibrosis?
MLD is primarily a fluid-management technique. Persistent fibrosis, scar restriction or tissue firmness may need separate assessment and should not automatically be treated with increasingly forceful massage.
Can I have deep-tissue massage instead?
Not over recently operated areas. Deep-tissue massage uses substantially firmer pressure and has a different purpose. Post-operative treatment should be selected according to your procedure and healing stage.
Should I wear my compression garment afterwards?
Follow the instructions given by your surgical team. If a compression garment has been prescribed, bring it with you and your therapist can work around your existing post-operative protocol.
Can MLD be combined with physiotherapy?
Yes, where appropriate. Physiotherapy may become particularly relevant where mobility, range of movement, scar restriction or functional recovery need additional attention.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Bring your surgeon's post-operative instructions where available, details of your procedure and surgery date, and your compression garment if one has been prescribed.
Supporting your recovery
Santi London · South Kensington
Support your post-surgical recovery
Tell us what procedure you have had, when your surgery took place and any instructions from your surgical team. We can then help determine whether Medical Lymphatic Drainage is appropriate at your current stage of recovery.
60 minutes £140 · 10 sessions £1,300 · Post-operative treatment subject to suitability and surgical guidance · Santi London, 33 Thurloe Street, South Kensington, London SW7 2LQ.