In this brief educational video, Dr. Robert Whitfield explains why postoperative swelling often returns after a single lymphatic massage. He notes that the lymphatic system lacks a pump and moves fluid only when external pressure is applied, so a single massage can clear fluid for only a day or two before it re‑accumulates. After surgery, when surgical drains are not used, the excess fluid must exit via the lymphatics, making effective fluid removal critical. Dr. Whitfield describes the use of the Flopresse compression‑and‑heat suit, which patients begin wearing the day after surgery to apply gentle pressure and heat to the legs, torso, and arms, facilitating fluid movement. Certified lymphatic massage therapists then work by hand on any remaining fluid pockets. Because fluid continues to be produced during healing, patients typically need a series of lymphatic sessions or continued use of the Flopresse suit during the early recovery weeks to manage swelling effectively.
