Bodywork After Surgery

This blog is to give people a little bit more information about massage and bodywork after a major surgery or even a minor surgery. After going through major surgery myself in July 2023 and seeing the confusion among my clients as to when I was going to be able to return to work again. It showed me that this topic may need some clarification. First, let's start with you should always be following the directions of your healthcare provider when it comes to the recovery you're going to be in during after a major or minor procedure. And as a good patient it only makes sense to ask a specific question and get a specific answer that includes asking about receiving a massage. Second, it is always good to contact your massage therapist or body worker to verify that what your healthcare provider has adjusted still makes sense in terms of where you can be massaged in relationship to the surgical sites or medication's you may be taking during the recovery process in other words, the factors that your doctor may not be fully aware of that could impact your session. Just remember your massage therapist has the final say in whether you get work or not. It is always in the massage therapist best interest to see you but it's not in their best interest to hurt.

In most situations suggested wait time after a major surgery if there are no complications is 6 to 8 weeks. For laparoscopic procedures that can be reduced typically down to 5 weeks. Many plastic surgeons will suggest that you not go in for any bodywork around the area of the procedure for up to 12 weeks in order to allow the area to heal in a very specific way for the best results. And as an additional caution if you do have complications many doctors will restart the clock as to when you can have a massage again because each complication can present it on recovery time so do not be surprised if you have major complications we may be waiting a significant period of time before you can get bodywork. 

My last piece of advice on this topic it's a very simple one, inform your bodyworker after you make your appointment of what procedure you had done and any complications that you've had so that they can make sure that you were safe and ready for a service. It is very frustrating for each party if you show up to your session and you were ineligible to get a service. This is also an important time to update your health history form so plan ahead to let them know that as well so that you can arrive early update your paperwork and get a session that you love.