Prep Your Body for Success: The Power of Pre-Surgery Lymphatic Drainage

Planning for surgery? While your focus is on the procedure itself, preparing your body beforehand can be the secret to a faster, smoother post-op recovery. One of the most powerful and often overlooked steps is incorporating Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) into your pre-surgical routine.

The Pre-Surgery Advantage: Why MLD Helps

MLD is a specialized, gentle massage technique that stimulates your lymphatic system—your body's natural waste disposal and immune system. Doing this before your procedure offers crucial benefits:

  • Reduces Inflammation & Fluid: By clearing the lymphatic pathways, MLD minimizes pre-existing fluid retention and edema. This gives the surgeon a cleaner, less congested area to work with, which can lead to better surgical outcomes.

  • Boosts Immune Function: A well-functioning lymphatic system helps clear toxins and prepares your immune cells to fight off potential infection, lowering the risk of post-op complications.

  • Faster Healing: MLD improves overall circulation and tissue health, ensuring the surgical site has optimal oxygen and nutrients for efficient repair.

  • Lowers Stress: The rhythmic, gentle strokes of MLD activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping to reduce pre-operative anxiety and promote relaxation.

The Ideal Pre-Surgery Timeline

Timing is key to maximizing the benefits of pre-op MLD:

1 to 4 Sessions of MLD, 1-4 Weeks Before Surgery

Prepare Tissues: This allows time to reduce fluid buildup and boost your lymphatic function before the surgical trauma occurs.

AVOID MLD Day Before Surgery

You should not receive MLD on the day before or the day of surgery.

By dedicating a session or two to MLD in the weeks leading up to your procedure, you're not just waiting for surgery—you're proactively setting your body up for success.

At Mbode Recovery, our licensed and certified therapists specialize in both pre- and post-op care. We're here to optimize your recovery journey from the very start.

Invest in a smoother recovery. Contact us today to schedule your pre-surgery Lymphatic Drainage session!

Erwin del Rosario