Post Mastectomy Lymphatic Drainage & Massage
Healing
Resting and healing time during the first two weeks should be your priority. The body does it's best healing when at rest. At this phase, starting small movements and deep breaths to increase your range of motion in arms, shoulders, chest, diaphragm and possibly pelvis/hips is a good idea. It helps to get the fluids moving in your lymphatic and circulatory systems, as well as your joints, and stimulates your nerves to reactivate your muscles.
When to begin your sessions
This depends on several factors, first what type of surgery did you have. Physicians instructions, If you still have tubes or drainage, all of these factors can help determine when you should begin.
In terms of timing, I find the best results come with the women who begin post surgery massage between 2 - 4 weeks after surgery, or if you have had a TRAM or DIEP you may be more in the 4 - 6 week window as ideal for starting massage therapy . This way your body has healed enough you can get out of the house (assistance with driving is recommended during this period for some clients)
Massages will focus on milder techniques for keeping the tissues from hardening, lymphatic drainage and teaching you self care for home.
6 Weeks - 3 Months
If you have not started yet, I would definitely start within this window. Your body is very pliable and there is much we can do.
This can be the "getting comfortable" phase, where you start to live in your body again and feel like you are acclimating to your "new normal".
Massages here will focus on scar tissue and nerve repair, circulation improvements, getting your strength and range of motion back and continuing to reduce any swelling.
When is it too late?
It is never too late to work on scar tissue and nerves. I have had clients that did not begin until a year or more after due to lack of information from physicians. Scar tissue and range of motion can always be corrected to help you be more comfortable.