Pre & Post Operative manual Lymphatic Drainage

Pre- and post-operative manual lymphatic drainage is a gentle therapy that helps reduce swelling, support healing, and enhance recovery after surgery.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage After Surgery: Why Your Scar Still Feels Tight (And How to Help It Soften)

Vivienne Myofascial Release for Scars, Pre & Post Operative manual Lymphatic Drainage , , , , , , ,
Scar on leg
Scar on leg

Manual lymphatic drainage after surgery is often recommended to help reduce swelling and support healing.
But what many people don’t realise is this:
Even when a scar has healed on the surface, it can still feel tight, restricted or “not quite right.”

You might notice…

> a pulling sensation around your scar
> tightness when you move
> swelling that lingers
> areas that feel lumpy or uneven

This is very common after procedures such as:
> tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)
> liposuction
> breast uplift or breast surgery
> mummy makeover procedures
And it’s not just about the scar you can see.

What’s happening under the surface

Beneath your skin is a layer of connective tissue called fascia. Fascia is like a supportive web that surrounds muscles and structures in the body, helping everything move smoothly and comfortably. During surgery, this layer is cut as part of the procedure, and as your body heals, it naturally lays down new tissue to repair the area. This is a normal and healthy part of recovery.

Why scars can feel tight or “not quite settled”

As healing progresses, the new tissue can sometimes feel:
> a little firmer
> less stretchy
> slower to move

At the same time, your body is adapting and reorganising around the area. Because everything in the body is connected, it’s quite normal to notice:
> a sense of tightness when moving
> areas feeling slightly different to before
> a feeling that things haven’t fully “settled” yet

This doesn’t mean anything is wrong. It simply means your body is still in the process of adjusting and healing.

How manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) helps

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD massage) works gently with your body to:
> reduce swelling and fluid retention
> support the healing process
> ease discomfort
> encourage better fluid movement
It’s a calm, rhythmical treatment that helps your system settle and supports recovery after surgery.

What is myofascial release for scar tissue?

This is a very gentle, precise approach that works with the fascia and tissue around the scar.
It’s not forceful or invasive. Instead, it:
> works gently with your body
> helps soften areas that feel tight
> supports natural movement in the tissue
> encourages the area to feel more comfortable over time
Because it is so gentle, it can be used even when areas still feel sensitive.

Why combining MLD and scar work matters

After surgery, swelling and tissue tightness often happen together. After procedures like a tummy tuck, liposuction, breast uplift or mummy makeover, your body has already done a lot of work and:
> Fluid can create pressure in the tissues
> Areas that feel tight may take longer to fully settle

Your scar feels:

> tight or pulling
> thicker or uneven
> swollen or slow to settle
> not quite “part of you” yet

When both Swelling & Scars are supported by gentle Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Myofascial Release, the body can:
> feel more comfortable
> scars can soften more easily and heal more quickly
> settle in a more natural way,


Healing isn’t just about how your scar looks. It’s about how it feels in your body. And sometimes, it just needs a little more time and the right kind of support to fully settle.

Find out more about Manual Lymphatic Drainage treatment and Myofascial Release for Scar Tissue.

To book an appointment out my latest appointments and message me.

Post Surgery Recovery: How MLD Massage Can Support Healing After an Operation

Vivienne Pre & Post Operative manual Lymphatic Drainage , , , , ,
Post operative scars on the abdomen

If you’re preparing for surgery, or already recovering, you may be wondering how to best support your body as it heals.
Post operative MLD massage (Manual Lymphatic Drainage) offers a gentle, effective way to support recovery, helping your body reduce swelling, ease discomfort, and restore balance after an operation.
From my practice in Plymouth, I support clients at different stages of recovery using this calm, targeted approach.

What is Post Operative MLD Massage

Post operative scars on the abdomen

Post operative MLD massage is a specialised, gentle treatment designed to support the lymphatic system and speed and aid recovery.

After surgery, swelling (oedema) is a normal part of the healing process. However, when fluid builds up or lingers, it can feel uncomfortable and may slow recovery.
Manual lymphatic drainage uses light, rhythmic movements to encourage the natural flow of lymphatic fluid, helping the body clear excess fluid and support healing.
It is a very light and gentle treatment, working with your body rather than against it.

How MLD Massage Supports Recovery After Surgery

Helps reduce swelling (oedema) and fluid retention
Encouraging the movement of excess fluid away from the affected area.
Supports faster healing and tissue repair
By improving the flow of lymphatic fluid, the body can more efficiently clear waste and deliver nutrients.
Can help reduce pain and discomfort
Less swelling often means reduced pressure in the tissues.
Minimises scar formation and supports scar healing
It can also be combined with Myofascial scar work⁠ to help soften and improve mobility in healed scar tissue.
Enhances relaxation and overall wellbeing
The gentle, rhythmic nature of the treatment supports the nervous system and encourages the nervous system to drop into the parasympathetic state (rest, digest & repair), which is where the body is able to focus on healing itself.

What Types of Surgery Can MLD Help With?

Post operative MLD massage can be beneficial following a wide range of procedures, including:

Liposuction
Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)
Breast surgery (augmentation, reduction, reconstruction, mastectomy)
Facelift and other cosmetic procedures
Orthopaedic surgeries (knee, hip, shoulder)
Caesarean section (C-section)
Hernia repair
Cancer-related surgeries involving lymph node removal
General surgeries where swelling and fluid retention are present

If you’re unsure whether this treatment is suitable for your specific procedure, you’re very welcome to get in touch.

A Gentle Approach That Supports Your Body

After surgery, the body doesn’t need force, it needs the right kind of support.

MLD massage uses light, precise touch to encourage your body’s natural healing processes. Many people find they feel more comfortable, less swollen, and more at ease in their body as recovery progresses.

Post Operative MLD Massage in Plymouth

If you’d like to explore whether post operative MLD massage could support your recovery, you can find more information here:
Pre & Post Operative Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Check out the available appointments

Why You Feel More Anxious During Menopause (Even If Nothing Is Wrong)

Vivienne Access Bars, Counselling, Menopause, Pre & Post Operative manual Lymphatic Drainage, Spinal Touch , , , , ,
Anxiety during menopause

Many women notice a shift during perimenopause and menopause. You may feel:
More anxious than usual
Easily overwhelmed
Less tolerant of stress
Waking in the early hours with your mind racing
Emotionally reactive “for no clear reason”


This can feel confusing, especially if you’ve always coped well.Often, nothing external has changed. But internally, something important has. Many women I work with in my Plymouth practice describe this shift during perimenopause and menopause.

The Role of Hormonal “Buffering”

Oestrogen does much more than regulate reproductive cycles. It also supports the nervous system in several important ways.

It helps to:
Support serotonin (which influences mood stability)
Enhance GABA activity (a calming neurotransmitter)
Strengthen vagal tone (our ability to settle after stress)
Regulate sleep patterns
Moderate the body’s stress response

You could think of oestrogen as part of the nervous system’s buffering system. It softens stress spikes. It helps you recover more quickly. It keeps emotional responses within a steadier range.

What Happens When Buffering Reduces?

During perimenopause and menopause, oestrogen fluctuates and gradually declines. When that buffering reduces:
Stress can feel sharper
Anxiety can feel louder
Sleep becomes lighter or fragmented
Cortisol (stress hormone) spikes may feel stronger
Emotional responses can feel closer to the surface

This does not mean you are becoming weaker or less resilient. It means the biological cushion that supported stress regulation is thinner.
Your nervous system is recalibrating.

What’s Happening in the Nervous System & Why Anxiety Can Appear “Out of Nowhere”

If you have long-standing patterns of:
Pushing through stress
Holding tension in the diaphragm or shoulders
Staying in high mobilisation
Managing a busy life without much recovery time

Menopause can make those patterns more noticeable. It does not create anxiety from nothing. It can amplify what was previously buffered.
For some women, old emotional themes or unresolved stress patterns may also resurface during this time, not because something is wrong, but because the system has less capacity to suppress.

Supporting the Nervous System During Menopause

Because this shift is physiological, nervous system support can be especially helpful during this stage of life.

Gentle body-based approaches such as Spinal Touch and Access Bars work with the nervous system rather than against it.

Spinal Touch aims to reduce long-standing muscular bracing patterns, support diaphragmatic breathing and improve structural balance. When tension in the spine, pelvis or diaphragm reduces, the body can move more easily into a rest-and-repair state (Parasympathetic nervous system state).
Access Bars uses gentle touch on specific points on the head to encourage deep relaxation and mental quietening. Many people experience a noticeable reduction in mental overactivity and a greater sense of calm following sessions.

When hormonal buffering is reduced, subtle therapies can feel particularly supportive because they encourage regulation rather than stimulation.

Counselling can also provide a steady space to explore emotional changes and restore confidence during this transition.

You can choose either counselling or body-based sessions depending on the kind of support you feel would suit you best.

Nothing Is “Wrong”

Increased anxiety during menopause is common.
Understanding the role of reduced hormonal buffering can reduce self-criticism and help you respond with support rather than fear.
If you would like to explore counselling or gentle bodywork support in Plymouth during menopause, you are welcome to get in touch.

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Recover Better After Surgery

Vivienne Myofascial Release for Scars, Pre & Post Operative manual Lymphatic Drainage ,
Post operative scars on the abdomen

Recover Faster. Heal Better. Feel Lighter


Swelling, tightness, or discomfort after surgery?
Post Operative Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a gentle and specialised technique that supports your body’s natural recovery.

💧 Reduces swelling and fluid retention
💧 Speeds healing and tissue repair
💧 Softens scar tissue
💧 Promotes relaxation and comfort

Support your recovery naturally with Pre & Post-Operative MLD in Plymouth.
👉 Check out the available appointments

What could change if your mind felt lighter?

Vivienne Access Bars, Pre & Post Operative manual Lymphatic Drainage
Access Bars Session

Access Bars® helps release limiting beliefs, stop looping thoughts, and clear mental chatter, freeing up space for new ideas, focus, and calm.

Clients have shared that after sessions they feel:

  • More mental space & clarity
  • Better sleep
  • Less anxiety
  • More creativity & focus
  • A deep, relaxed calm in their whole body

In fact, studies show up to 84.7% reduction in anxiety and 82.7% in depression after just one session.

Whether you’re feeling stuck, stressed, or just in need of a reset, Access Bars could be the change your mind is asking for.
📅 Book your August session today.