“It is disheartening to learn that the average American medical school graduate receives an exposure to the lymphatic curriculum for less than 30 minutes within a four-year medical education.”
–Stanley G. Rockson, MD
Editor-in-Chief, Lymphatic Research and Biology,
Founding Chair, Lymphatic Education and Research Network,
Professor of Cardiology, Stanford University, Stanford Medicine
Why is there a variability in clinical recommendations from plastic surgeons regarding Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) and possible explanations for not recommending MLD?
The purpose of this blog is to shed some light and answers to the above question. Dr. Stanley Rockson’s quote can shed some light to why the variabilities exists.
Now what does the science say about MLD and post-surgical healing? First, what is MLD?
I had my training at the Klose School using the Vodder method which uses a from of skin stretching, pumping, and various technique forms of moving lymphatic fluid in a swollen area or limb.
MLD is critical immediately after surgery as it is contraindicated to exercise, even light exercise in the first few weeks, as it can compromise your surgical incision(s) and prolong your healing. So please, follow your surgeon’s orders on post-operative care.
There are literature supporting MLD and other modalities supporting post-surgical healing, e.g., liposuction edema and fibrosis, however, most of those scholarly articles on Manual Lymphatic Drainage are non-American Journals and mostly coming from Brazil and India. Unfortunately, there are not enough studies supporting the use of MLD as plastic surgeons need more evidence.
“It is disheartening to learn that the average American medical school graduate receives an exposure to the lymphatic curriculum for less than 30 minutes within a four-year medical education.”
–Stanley G. Rockson, MD
Editor-in-Chief, Lymphatic Research and Biology,
Founding Chair, Lymphatic Education and Research Network,
Professor of Cardiology, Stanford University, Stanford Medicine
Why is there a variability in clinical recommendations from plastic surgeons regarding Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) and possible explanations for not recommending MLD?
The purpose of this blog is to shed some light and answers to the above question. Dr. Stanley Rockson’s quote can shed some light to why the variabilities exists.
Now what does the science say about MLD and post-surgical healing? First, what is MLD?
I had my training at the Klose School using the Vodder method which uses a from of skin stretching, pumping, and various technique forms of moving lymphatic fluid in a swollen area or limb.
MLD is critical immediately after surgery as it is contraindicated to exercise, even light exercise in the first few weeks, as it can compromise your surgical incision(s) and prolong your healing. So please, follow your surgeon’s orders on post-operative care.
There are literature supporting MLD and other modalities supporting post-surgical healing, e.g., liposuction edema and fibrosis, however, most of those scholarly articles on Manual Lymphatic Drainage are non-American Journals and mostly coming from Brazil and India. Unfortunately, there are not enough studies supporting the use of MLD as plastic surgeons need more evidence.