Recovering from a BBL takes time, and no two recoveries are the same. Your surgeon is the person who guides your recovery, from your garments and how you sit and sleep to medication and when you can go back to work. Their instructions always come first.
This guide is about where aftercare fits around all of that, and how we plan post-operative lymphatic drainage around your surgery date. It is not medical advice, and if anything here doesn't match what your surgeon has told you, follow your surgeon.
Before your surgery: get your aftercare booked
The best time to think about aftercare is before you go in. We recommend arranging your aftercare appointments as soon as you know your surgery date.
Post-operative appointments can become booked up quickly, particularly around popular surgery dates and busy times of the year. Having your aftercare organised before your procedure means you can focus on resting, knowing your treatments are already in place.
If you are unsure how many sessions you might need, get in touch. We can talk through your surgery and advise you on a suitable starting treatment plan.
The first few days: rest and follow your surgeon
After surgery, your body will naturally experience swelling and a build up of excess fluid. That is part of how the body responds to surgery, and it is why the right aftercare matters.
We don't start massage straight away. The first few days are about rest and doing exactly what your surgeon has asked of you.
If something feels wrong, or you notice a new or unexplained swelling, contact your surgeon straight away. Your massage therapist is not the right first call for anything that worries you medically.
From day three: your first aftercare appointment
Your post-operative lymphatic drainage massage can generally begin from three days after surgery, providing you have been cleared for treatment by your surgeon and there are no complications or contraindications.
It is worth knowing that post-operative drainage is different from a standard lymphatic drainage massage. It is a specialist treatment designed to support your body through recovery after cosmetic surgery, which is why it matters that your therapist is properly trained in post-surgical aftercare. Our team are Level 4 Advanced Specialists in Post-Operative Lymphatic Drainage Massage.
Appointments are one hour. Please allow the full hour, as the hands-on time will be slightly less to leave room for consultation, preparation, changing and any aftercare advice. At every visit we will talk about how you are feeling and adapt your treatment to how your body is healing. Your comfort, safety and recovery are always our priority.
Weeks one to four: twice a week
As a general guideline, we recommend two massages per week for the first four weeks.
Those first few weeks are when consistency counts most. Having just one or two massages after major surgery is generally not enough to give your body the ongoing support it may need through recovery.
Most clients choose to begin with a course of five treatments. This gives us time to see how you are progressing and assess your recovery before we decide on the next stage of your aftercare together.
Week five onwards: once a week
After the first four weeks, we usually move to one massage per week, depending on your recovery and progress.
A minimum of six to ten treatments may be recommended after surgery. That is only a guideline, and some clients need more. The number you need will depend on:
- the type and extent of surgery you have had
- the number of procedures performed
- how your individual body is healing
We will never fit you into a fixed plan that doesn't suit your recovery. Your plan is guided by you and how your body is responding.
Adding red light therapy to your recovery
We also recommend 360° red light therapy as part of post-operative recovery. It is commonly used to support the body's natural healing and recovery processes following cosmetic surgery, alongside post-operative lymphatic drainage.
It is non-invasive, pain-free and needs no downtime, which makes it an easy addition to your plan once your surgeon or medical professional has cleared you. Each appointment is 30 minutes, with 20 minutes under the light.
Red light therapy is part of our sister clinic, Simply Contoured Wellness, and is booked separately. Packages of treatments are available there if you would like to include it in your recovery.
One thing to note: vibration plate therapy, which we offer alongside red light at the wellness studio, is not suitable for post-op clients in the early stages of recovery.
Looking after yourself between appointments
Your aftercare appointments are one part of recovery. What happens between them matters just as much.
Follow your surgeon's guidance on rest, movement, garments and fluids, and keep any check-up appointments they give you. Alongside that, a balanced diet and plenty of rest all help you feel more like yourself as the weeks go on.
If you have questions about what you can and can't do at any stage, your surgeon is the right person to ask. If your question is about your aftercare plan, ask us at your next appointment.
Thinking beyond the first weeks
Your surgery is only one part of getting the result you want. The aftercare you receive afterwards is also extremely important in supporting your recovery and helping you achieve the best possible outcome.
Once your post-op plan is coming to an end, we can talk about what feels right for you next. If you are curious how our standard treatment differs from post-op work, we explain it in what lymphatic drainage massage does to your body.
What it costs
Post-surgery aftercare is £140 per session, or £550 for a course of five sessions. You can see all of our prices on our pricing page.
If you have a BBL date booked, or you are still planning, get in touch and we will help you put your aftercare in place before the day comes.