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Post-operative care · South Berkeley
Lymphatic Drainage After Facial Surgery. One side may settle faster than the other.
After facial surgery, the swelling can look dramatic at first and then settle unevenly. One side may stay puffier or feel behind the other. That is very common. It does not automatically mean something is wrong, and gentle lymphatic work can help both sides keep moving.
- Common start
- When your surgeon clears you
- Also covers
- Neck lift, eyes, rhinoplasty
- Note
- You may need drainage before a facial
- First step
- A free phone call with me
Why the face responds so well
Why the face responds so well to gentle work.
The face and neck have many lymph vessels and lymph nodes close to the skin. That is why swelling can look so strong after surgery, and also why very gentle, well-directed work can make a noticeable difference.
Surgery interrupts some of those routes, but your body still makes fluid while it heals. I begin at the neck and collarbone, where the fluid needs to leave, before I work on the face. There is no point moving fluid toward a route that is not ready.
If your facelift was recent, you may not be ready for a lymphatic facial. You may need focused drainage for the face and neck instead. They are different services, and I would rather talk with you and choose the right one together.
What this helps with
What people call me about after facial surgery.
Your surgeon decides when it is safe to begin. Timing can vary more than people expect.
Swelling and puffiness
Visible swelling and puffiness are why most people call me, especially when what they see looking back at them in the mirror is upsetting to them.
Bruising
Helping lymph move supports your body as it clears bruising.
Uneven settling
One side may lag behind the other. Gentle work helps both keep moving.
Tightness and numbness
Common around the jaw, ears, and neck, and usually temporary.
Sinus and ear congestion
Easy to overlook, but often uncomfortable and responsive to focused work.
Scars, later
Once fully closed, I can work on scars around the ears and hairline before they become tight.
Timing
When to start.
Your surgeon decides. Some surgeons allow very gentle drainage in the first week or two, while others want you to wait. Once you are cleared, it is usually better to call sooner rather than wait until the swelling has become firm.
Early appointments may focus more on your neck, collarbone, and upper chest than on your face. That is intentional. I need to make room for fluid to leave before I guide more fluid toward those areas.
A lymphatic facial includes skincare, a mask, and products, so it usually comes later. If your face is not ready for that, I will tell you and we will do focused drainage instead.
Worth saying plainly
Where my work ends.
I do not assess your surgical result
If you are worried about the shape of your result, call your surgeon. I do not assess that.
Sudden changes go to the surgeon
Call your surgeon for fast-growing swelling on one side, redness, warmth, fever, or incision changes.
I do not do wound care
Anything open or not fully closed belongs with your surgeon.
I will not rush you into a facial
If your face needs drainage instead of a facial, I will tell you and change the appointment.
Before you call
Questions people ask me.
How soon after a facelift can I have lymphatic drainage?
Your surgeon decides. Some surgeons clear very gentle work in the first week or two, and others prefer to wait. Ask your surgeon and tell me what they said.
Why is one side of my face more swollen?
Because bodies rarely heal at exactly the same rate on both sides. Facial surgery makes that difference easy to see, and it is one of the things people ask me about most.
Can I have a lymphatic facial after a facelift?
Possibly, but you may not be ready yet. Early on, you are more likely to need focused drainage for the face and neck. Set up a call and I will help you choose the right service.
Will it help my sinuses and blocked ears?
Often, yes. Congestion around the sinuses, ears, and jaw is common after facial surgery and can respond well to focused work.
Does it help bruising?
It can help. The lymphatic system helps your body clear bruising, and supporting it may help the bruising settle.
What about the scars around my ears?
Once the incisions are fully closed and your surgeon is happy, those scars are worth working on. It is easier to address tightness before it becomes established.
You may also want
These may help too.
The next step
Tell me what was done and when.
Set up a free 15-minute call and tell me what procedure you had, the date, and what your surgeon has said. I will help you understand when it may be safe to start and whether you need focused drainage or a lymphatic facial.