Your Pre-Surgical Check-list

Preparing for surgery can be an overwhelming time. It may feel as though there are a hundred things to learn and do in order to have the most successful outcome possible, but finding a single complete resource for all the details may be difficult to find. So we at Madison Lymphatics and Bodywork have composed a handy list of items that may be needed for achieving an optimal result. Of course, if you were given specific protocols for products and recovery by your surgeon, please follow their guidelines first and foremost.

• Pre & Post-surgical Manual Lymphatic Drainage. We at Madison Lymphatics and Bodywork suggest 1-2 pre-surgical appointments to prep your lymphatic system for optimal lymphatic movement and reduce any sluggishness in the areas that will be augmented in surgery. A minimum of 3 post-surgical sessions are suggested to reduce the initial swelling associated with the procedure and for your therapist to access your short and long term treatment plan for recovery. Note – 3 sessions isn’t usually adequate for most of our patients so it’s important to come up with a plan on your first visit that meets your specific financial and scheduling needs. To schedule an appointment, please visit our booking site.
• Compression garments. Most surgical procedures will require the patient to wear some sort of compression garment to reduce post-surgical swelling and help protect the body as it heals. Both Marena and ContourMD are wonderful websites for finding a suitable garment. Some patients also like to look at resale sites like Poshmark. You will most likely require more than one garment (your body size will change throughout the course of healing due to fluctuations in swelling) and because they can be pricey, resale can sometimes be a good option.
• Adjust nutrition and hydration. Getting additional protein and collagen can be vital for the overall healing trajectory for your body before and after surgery. We highly suggest you consult your surgeon or primary care doctor about nutrition advice and before starting any supplements.
• Research scar tape/cream/oils. Some surgeons suggest very specific products for healing and reducing the visibility of superficial scarring due to surgery. Silicone has been proven to help with the appearance of scars. Cica tape is an affordable medical grade, silicone-based product which we have seen to be effective for giving patients a reduction in scar appearance.
• Order LiIpofoam. Lipofoam is placed in between your seamless tank top and the compression garment to reduce asymmetrical swelling, bumps, and fibrosis associated with liposuction. It is relatively inexpensive and can be purchased online through either Marena or ContourMD.
• If needed, order a belly button plug. After an abdominoplasty and some other abdominal reconstructive procedures, a new navel is often created if skin is removed. Belly button plugs are used to produce a more natural looking belly button and to stop the scar tissue around the new belly button from closing in on itself (scar tissue is 12x the tensile strength of surrounding tissue so healed scars want to tighten and adhere!). A silicone plug can be inserted once scabbing has completely healed, stitches have been removed, and incisions are completely closed. SexySkinz makes an excellent product for navel reshaping.
• Buy a seamless tank top/shirt. Wearing a seamless tank top or shirt under your compression garments will reduce the likelihood of lines/marks/indents in your skin due to the seams of the garment. Seamless tank tops can be found on Amazon in a wide variety of sizes and styles.
• Check out some literature. Being able to read about other people’s recovery after plastic surgery can be incredibly helpful for the patient, both for gaining insight into what to expect for a recovery trajectory and tips on how to take care of yourself to the best of your ability. Two books we suggest checking out are The Plastic Surgery Recovery Handbook by Kathleen Helen Lisson, CLT and After The Cut: How To Prepare For And Recover From Cosmetic Plastic Surgery by Nicole Psomas.
• Understand post-operative depression and how to avoid/manage/address it. It is extremely common for patients to experience post-surgical depression. It is not unheard of to feel a bit blue or have a lot of mixed emotions after a surgical procedure. The North Raleigh Plastic Surgery website has an excellent page devoted to this topic which we suggest reading before surgery.

We hope this list has given you some information and additional resources for taking care of your body and mind before and after your surgery. For more information or questions about post-surgical manual lymphatic drainage, or scheduling please feel free to call or text us at 608-358-2082.