Rev up your Lymphatic System After a Body Contouring Procedure
What is the Lymphatic System?/ What does it do?
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels that circulates and drains lymph from tissues and muscles, removing toxins. Lymph is a colorless fluid, mainly comprised of white blood cells, which secrets from muscles and tissues and fights “bad” bacteria and toxins. The lymphatic system also controls fluid levels in the body, absorbs fat from the digestive tract (intestines), protects the body against foreign substances/ invaders, and circulates waste and abnormalities to the kidneys and liver for extraction from the body.
- Helps boost the immune system
- Reduce water and liquid retention
- Boost weight loss
- Speeds up recovery
How is the lymphatic system affected by body contouring surgeries/ procedures?
Invasive procedures can damage the lymph vessels which causes the circulation of lymph throughout the body to slow down. When this happens, the body experiences swelling starting from the area where the body contouring surgery/ procedure was located and can spread to the rest of the body if not properly addressed and drainage is resumed.
What are some of the body contouring surgeries/ procedures that affect the lymphatic system?
- Brazilian Butt Lift
- Mommy Makeover
- Tummy Tuck
- Liposuction
- Buttocks and Thigh Lifts
Things you can do to keep your lymphatic system happy
Massages
Professional lymphatic drainage massage (LDM) is one of the easiest and most relaxing ways to instantaneously get your lymphatic circulation going. LDM’s are full-body massages done with light pressure designed to get things moving in the body. An LDM is not a deep tissue massage but is designed to release pent-up pressure differently, relieving stress and helping your body release cellular waste and toxins. LDM’s are often scheduled in packages so you can keep giving your body the boost it needs on a regular basis while having a relaxing massage.
If a professional lymphatic massage isn’t for you, there is always the option of a manual lymphatic massage. Using tools like rollers, dry brushes and home massage machines can really help achieve results closer to professional lymphatic drainage massages. However, self-administered LDM’s don’t bring out the same results as professionally done LDMs since you aren’t fully relaxed, can’t access all areas, and will probably get tired in half of the time.
Hydrate
Most of the water in the body is part of the lymphatic circulatory system; staying hydrated helps keep the flow of the lymphatic system going and lymph thinner so it can travel better throughout the body. If the body is dehydrated, lymph becomes thicker causing circulation to weaken.
Herbal Remedies like Tea
Tea is essentially water with a little something extra. Tea has multiple medicinal properties that are backed by science. Depending on the tea and how it is prepared, it’ll help your lymphatic system flush those toxins out much faster. Some popular teas that are known for decreasing inflammation and promoting circulation are green, black, white, oolong, ginger, turmeric, astragalus, and peppermint. Now, if you load up your cup of tea with loads of milk and sugar, then you’re nullifying the beneficial effects of the tea.
Skincare
Your skin is the largest organ in your body and the one that often gets the most beat up. Keeping a skincare regimen with clean ingredients for your entire body is a good way to keep your lymphatic system at its best. Chemicals in skincare and body products seep past your skin and are absorbed by the body, making it work harder to get rid of unnecessary toxins.
Deep Breathing
Believe it or not, breathing actually functions as a “trigger” like function for the lymphatic system. Deep breathing serves as a pump that pushes and pulls the lymphatic system, enhancing circulation. Yoga incorporates deep breathing exercises with stretch and strength training movements that also increase lymphatic flow.
Have a Healthy Diet
Endorsing a healthier lifestyle sounds like a major hassle but, making small changes by adopting and eliminating certain items little by little is much easier than it seems. Having a healthier diet goes hand in hand with a healthier lymphatic system. Trading in for organic foods, clean proteins, and having FDA-approved groceries is a great way to start off. If you can’t/ don’t want to invest in these changes, start with what you can and work your way up. Buying from your local farmer’s market directly helps get fresher foods at a way cheaper price than at marked-up grocery stores.
Move Your Body
Whether it’s exercising at the gym or at home, jumping on a ball or a rebounder, or talking a walk, keeping your body moving is a way to keep your muscles on the move and encourage lymphatic circulation. Working out for 30 minutes a day is the minimum physical activity recommended by doctors but, if you know that you aren’t getting those 30 minutes in, taking a quick walk can check the box for you.
Check What You’re Wearing
After any body contouring procedure, patients will be given a compression garment to wear during the healing process to minimize swelling by promoting circulation. While compression garments are essential during the recovery phase, it’s best to avoid tight clothing afterward since they restrict circulation and lymph flow.
Avoid Chemicals
While most people don’t go diving in chemical pools, there are a multitude of chemicals that most people come into contact with daily without thinking twice about like pesticides, cleaning products, gasoline, cosmetics, plastics, cans, synthetic materials, BPAs, other plastics, detergents, soaps, toothpaste, and more. While it’s almost impossible to stop coming into contact with all chemicals on a daily, it is possible to make the conscious switch to non-toxic products.
Final Thoughts
After a body contouring surgery/procedure, it’s important to keep your lymphatic system up and running. Somethings you can do to help your lymphatic system after a body contouring procedure like getting an LDM, staying hydrated, doing exercise, having a healthy diet, hydrotherapy, and avoiding chemicals. All of these things can be done alone but, work more effectively when done in conjunction, to give your body the help it needs to get rid of toxins and lymph after a body contouring procedure.