How to Prepare for Your First Post-Op Lymphatic Massage Appointment

Ask your surgical team whether lymphatic massage is appropriate for your procedure and current recovery stage before choosing a start date. If you are unsure whether massage is suitable, NCCIH recommends discussing your concerns with your healthcare provider.

Make your questions specific to the appointment you are considering:

• Is massage appropriate at this point in my recovery?
• Are there areas that should not be touched or positions I should avoid?
• What instructions about compression garments or dressings apply during a visit?
• Is there written recovery guidance I should discuss with the provider?
• Which changes or concerns should I contact your office about before attending?

For liposuction, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons explains that your surgeon provides individual recovery instructions, including care after surgery, concerns to watch for and follow-up. Use those instructions as the starting point rather than applying a preparation routine from someone else’s recovery.

You can contact us while planning ahead, too. We recommend reaching out before surgery when possible so there is time to discuss arrangements. An early conversation does not establish when treatment should begin.

A short note can help you remember what you want to cover. Start with the name and date of your procedure, or planned procedure, and the guidance you have received from your surgical team.

Then add:

• Your main questions about the first visit.
• Any restrictions that affect lying down, moving or attending the appointment.
• What you are hoping to discuss about your recovery care.
• Any concerns about previous post-op care that you want us to understand.
• Questions about what information to bring and how to share it securely.

These are conversation prompts, not a required document list. Ask us what is needed for your situation before assuming you need to bring a particular form or record.

Your surgeon is the person to ask about medical restrictions and recovery concerns. Ask us about the proposed visit, what it would involve and whether the arrangements work for you. Our Post-op Care page explains the care we offer and the concerns you can discuss with us.

Start through the appointment request action on our website. It opens our Jotform, where your preferred date and time begin a request. They do not confirm suitability or reserve treatment.

We follow up to discuss your procedures, goals and preferred timing before confirming appointment details. Consent forms are sent before sessions. Give yourself time to read them, raise questions and understand what is being proposed.

If you are uncertain about a part of the visit, ask for an explanation before agreeing to it. You can also ask about relevant training and experience: NCCIH includes those questions, along with costs, in its guidance for people considering massage.

Confirm the length and current price of your own appointment. Ask what the quote covers and whether any other charges apply. If you are discussing a package, ask about its contents and terms before deciding; your first visit does not need to settle every later appointment.

For an in-studio visit, confirm the Orange location and arrival details directly with us. If travel during recovery is a concern, raise it when discussing arrangements rather than waiting until the day.

Mobile visits are available by request for post-op care at homes or hotels with space for a massage table, mainly in Orange County. Confirm your particular location, availability and travel fees before scheduling. The setting and cost of a mobile visit need their own confirmation; do not assume they match a studio appointment.

If you’re considering a coordinated multi-session program, read about Private Recovery Concierge.

Ask what to wear and what clothing or draping arrangements to expect. Tell us about any positioning restrictions and ask whether the proposed setup can accommodate them. If you may need help arriving, changing position or getting onto the table, discuss that need in advance so the arrangements can be confirmed.

Compression is a question for your surgical team as well as an access question for the visit. Do not change garment or dressing instructions to fit generic massage advice. ASPS includes compression-garment use and removal of dressings among the questions to discuss with your surgeon after liposuction.

Keep following your surgical team’s food, fluid, medication and activity instructions. If something you have been told about massage preparation seems to conflict with them, resolve that question with the surgical team before the appointment. Ask before changing food or fluid intake or starting any supplement for the visit.

Before the session begins, mention any new guidance you have received and ask any questions still on your list. Let us know if you are uncomfortable with a position, touch or part of the proposed care. Ask for a pause or an explanation when you need one.

Our approach is to listen, explain what to expect and discuss care around your situation. You can ask what to expect afterward and how to raise appointment questions, while continuing your surgical team’s recovery instructions.

A medical concern should not wait for a massage appointment or a reply about scheduling. The CDC advises calling your healthcare provider immediately for possible infection symptoms after surgery, such as redness and pain at the surgical site, drainage or fever. Contact your surgical team or healthcare provider about those concerns; the appointment conversation does not assess or diagnose an infection.

You can begin with questions. Read about our post-op care in Orange, then use the appointment request action to share your preferred timing. We’ll discuss whether an in-studio or mobile post-op visit may suit your situation and confirm the next steps with you.