Question 1

What is pre-surgical lymphatic massage?

Accepted Answer

It is a first visit held before your operation rather than after it. Your therapist assesses how your tissue is holding fluid and records a baseline, you have a full manual lymphatic drainage session so the technique is familiar, you go through the self-care and compression your surgeon has advised, and your recovery sessions get booked in advance.

Question 2

Will lymphatic massage before surgery reduce my swelling afterwards?

Accepted Answer

We do not claim that, and you should be cautious of anyone who does. What a pre-surgical visit gives you is a measured baseline to compare against, familiarity with a technique you will be having on tender tissue, self-care you have already practised, and appointments already on the calendar. Those are the reasons to come in beforehand.

Question 3

Then why bother coming in before my operation?

Accepted Answer

Because recovery is a poor time to be doing any of it for the first time. Meeting a therapist, learning what the work feels like, working out compression and finding appointments are all much easier a fortnight before your date than three days after it, and a baseline taken before your tissue changes is a record you cannot go back and create later.

Question 4

When should I come in before surgery?

Accepted Answer

Anywhere from a few weeks to a few days beforehand works. If you want work on scar tissue from a previous procedure, come in earlier so there is room for a short series. If you mainly want the assessment, the session and the scheduling, a single visit closer to your date is enough.

Question 5

Do I need my surgeon's permission for a visit before surgery?

Accepted Answer

For work before your operation, ask them. Most have no objection to gentle drainage on healthy tissue, but if yours would rather you had no bodywork beforehand, follow that and we will see you afterwards instead. Everything after your operation does require their clearance, without exception.

Question 6

Can you work on scar tissue from an earlier surgery?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on tissue that has fully healed, and never near a planned incision site. Myofascial release and drainage on older fibrotic areas is ordinary work we can do in the weeks before your date, which is easier than stacking it on top of fresh recovery. It stops whenever your surgeon asks it to.

Question 7

Can I book my recovery sessions at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and it is one of the better reasons to come in. We map the cadence at your assessment and hold the appointments then. They all remain subject to your surgeon clearing you, and we move them without fuss if your recovery runs on a different timeline than expected.

Question 8

Is a pre-surgical visit covered by insurance?

Accepted Answer

We are a self-pay clinic and do not bill insurance directly. HSA and FSA are accepted, and we provide an itemized superbill after your visit that you can submit to your insurer yourself. Coverage depends on your plan. Current session and series prices are on our pricing page.

Question 9

What does a pre-surgical visit cost?

Accepted Answer

It is priced as a standard first visit, because that is what it is. Current prices for first visits, return visits and series are listed on our pricing page, and your therapist will map the recovery cadence with you at the assessment rather than quoting a number before seeing you.

Pre-Surgical Lymphatic Massage

What a pre-surgical visit looks like.

Why clients choose NLC.

The full team.

Sharon M. Vogel

Abdul Alagha

Ludmila Lynch

Stephanie Kos

Hana Echevarria

Ricky Sharma

Mary Phelps

Sharon M. Vogel

Abdul Alagha

Ludmila Lynch

Stephanie Kos

Hana Echevarria

Ricky Sharma

Mary Phelps

Reserve your Pre-Surgical Lymphatic Massage visit.

No referral needed.

A self-pay clinic, with a superbill for your insurer.

Pre-Surgical Lymphatic Massage: Common Questions

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Come in before your date, not after it.