For those who have never had major plastic surgery such as Lipo, Tummy Tuck, Breast Augmentation (lift or implants), etc, after surgery you WILL need Lymphatic Massages. These are NOT the same as a regular massage, as these massages are meant to rid your body of extra fluid and reduce swelling, as well as stimulate your nerves to regrow so you gain back feeling in your surgical area(s).
FYI, I am a current full-time employed RN.
After my surgery I went to Beaute & Sculpting and saw Marylu for 12 visits (a total of 2 sets of 6 sessions). I have seen Marylu twice a week for 6 weeks. I looked forward to my visits every single week. The facility is clean, inviting, and comfortable, and it smells excellent! The blue couch is absolutely adorable! The staff at the front desk are always smiling, polite, and professional.
During my first few visits when pain was still an issue, Marylu was sooo gentle and informative. She was constantly teaching about drains/wounds, fluid retention, nutritional needs, and other pertinent information that results in successful wound healing. She would "milk" the drains effectively and teach how to milk them at home to prevent clogs/clots. She would assess the area around the drains to ensure they are intact and for signs/symptoms of infection. Marylu is sensitive to your pain and what you are going through. Not only has she been a Plastics Nurse for YEARS, she is also a patient of Plastics herself, so she fully understands what you're experiencing and going through. She also helps you get undressed/dressed before and after the visits. She will remove lingering sutures that aren't coming out on their own, and she will remove the drain(s) if you don't feel comfortable doing it at home. Marylu also treats your incision and drain sites. She will suggest supplies for you to have at home to continue wound care between visits.
As the weeks passed, and my swelling was going down and the pain was subsiding, my Faja (pronounced Fa-Ha) was becoming too big and no longer effective for compression. MaryLu has garments and supplies at the store for purchase so that you don't have to go shopping anywhere else for your needed garments. I purchased my Stage 2 Faja from MaryLu, and it's fabulous! You can try on your requested garment(s) at the store, and as long as you're happy with it, she cuts the tags off immediately, so you can wear the garment home.
About the massages... oh my gosh, she has hands made of solid gold. The massages have exactly the right pressure, and she knows where to add/decrease pressure so that you remain comfortable. I can't tell you how many times she massaged me, and it felt like I could LITERALLY feel my nerves being stimulated and growing together again to bring back the feeling in my numbed surgical areas.
I honestly don't know how anyone can go through major surgery without getting Lymphatic Massages. These treatments are essential for a complete healing process. They should be included in your surgical budget because they are truly invaluable for reducing inflammation, speeding recovery, and helping you regain sensation in the surgical areas!
Also, I am now 7 weeks post-op, and I am continuing my visits with MaryLu. I will continue to see her 1-2 times per week for the nerve stimulation and inflammation reduction properties of the massages.
My suggestions: I would say that if you had a BBL, you might want to bring your own Boppy Pillow for the massages if they make you more comfortable when lying on your back. MaryLu has the half-circle and full-circle pillows for behind your back and under your legs to keep you comfortable, but if you're worried about your BBL then you might want to bring your own Boppy :) read more
