Brazilian butt lifts have become incredibly popular in recent years due to beauty standards set by the rich and famous. However, in some cases, people go into Brazilian Butt Lift surgeries with little knowledge about aftercare, or what to expect post-surgery.
To ensure that the surgery is effective, and ends up looking as expected, there are various treatments and aftercare exercises that should be performed post-surgery. Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) massages are such a treatment.
What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage?
Manual lymphatic drainage is a post-surgery light massage that helps to keep pain, inflammation, scars, and lymphedema at bay. It encourages healing, stimulating your lymphatic system to work effectively, and helps to break down scar tissue.
The intention of MLD is to encourage the natural drainage of the lymph in order to carry waste products and excess fluid away from the affected tissues and back towards the heart. Almost like cleansing the body from the inside out.
Why is MLD Important?
In relation to Brazilian butt lifts, MLD eases the recovery period, helping your body recover from the trauma of surgery. It also works alongside other treatments and exercises to eventually provide the desired effect.
As Brazilian butt lifts can affect movement for a period of time after surgery, the lymphatic system will not be working optimally. This increases the chance of developing a backup of fluid and fatty deposits that sit under the skin’s surface, potentially compromising the hard work of your plastic surgeon. A compression garment will also help with this.
When Should I Have a MLD Massage?
It is recommended to begin manual lymphatic drainage massages as early as week one post-surgery, right through to several weeks post-op. Regular MLD massages, alongside exercise, drinking plenty of water, and a healthy diet will help speed up the healing process.
Brazilian Butt Lift Aftercare
Every patient will experience a different recovery period, however, the following tips will help to encourage the healing process, and maximise results:
Avoid Sitting Down
Most of us sit down for a good part of the day, whether that be sitting at your desk at work, or relaxing in front of the TV. To help the recovery process of a Brazilian butt lift, you should avoid sitting down for 10-14 days post-surgery in order to protect the grafted fat and allow it to settle into the surrounding tissues. Similarly, you should avoid sleeping on your back.
Wear a Compression Garment
Your surgeon should recommend a suitable compression garment. This will encourage good circulation and help the area to heal. It should also help to minimise swelling and reduce discomfort.
Exercise
We all know that regular exercise is important for our overall health and wellbeing, but it’s also important in the recovery process of a Brazilian butt lift. However, it is imperative that you don’t perform any high impact or high intensity exercises until you have been cleared by your surgeon, usually around 6 to 8 weeks post-surgery. At this point the transferred fat cells should be stable enough to endure more vigorous exercise.
Exercises that will help with the recovery of a Brazilian butt lift include
- Squats
- Donkey kicks
- Lunges
- Standing lateral and side leg raises
- Plank leg raises
Healthy Diet
Your surgeon will outline a suitable diet plan that will aid recovery post-surgery, it’s likely that this will include eating a balanced diet, with lower sugar and salt intakes.
Monitor for Infections
Stay alert for signs of infection, as this would throw a spanner in the works and increase your recovery time. Look out for excessive swelling and redness, an unpleasant odour from the affected area, increased pain, and oozing from the wound.
MLD at Katie Bell Physiotherapy & Wellness
At Katie Bell Physiotherapy and Wellness, we offer manual lymphatic drainage massages to help aid recovery from Brazilian butt lifts. Our specialist massage therapist, Jackie Buchanan, has trained both in the UK and at the renowned Dr. Vodder School in Austria, where the MLD technique originated.
Contact us today to learn more about how Katie Bell Physiotherapy can help support your Brazilian butt lift surgery recovery.