Your body needs time to rest, recover and rebuild after surgery. While jumping into treatments that promise relief is tempting, massage therapy requires careful timing. If you do it too soon, it may cause complications. However, if you introduce it at the right stage, there are plenty of benefits of massage after surgery.

Talk to Your Doctor First

This step is essential. Before you schedule a massage or try anything at home, get clearance from your surgeon or health care provider. Every type of surgery — whether it’s orthopedic, abdominal or cosmetic — has its own healing time.

For more invasive surgeries, you may need to wait around six weeks before a massage therapist will work near an incision site. If you’re dealing with complications like excessive swelling, fluid retention or a risk of blood clots, your doctor may recommend waiting even longer.

Even if you feel OK, internal healing takes time. A massage therapist needs to understand what areas to avoid, how much pressure is safe and what techniques are appropriate for your specific condition.

The Benefits of Massage After Surgery 

When your doctor gives you the go-ahead, massage can become one of the most effective tools in your recovery plan. The benefits of massage after surgery go far beyond relaxation:

• Improved circulation: Massage helps increase blood flow, delivering oxygen and nutrients to tissues working hard to heal. Doing so is especially important in areas where mobility is limited after surgery.
• Lymphatic drainage and swelling reduction: Gentle massage techniques — especially lymphatic draining massages — encourage your lymphatic system to drain excess fluid, which reduces swelling and inflammation. This is critical for comfort and a quick recovery.
• Scar tissue management: Massage can help break down scar tissue that forms after surgery. This promotes smoother movement around the incision site and may improve the long-term appearance of scars.
• Pain and muscle tension relief: Studies show that massage therapy can reduce postoperative pain in the short and long-term. Compensating for pain or limited movement can also lead to tension in other areas of the body, but massage can release tight muscles and help you feel more at ease. 
• Improved mobility and range of motion: By reducing stiffness and helping muscles and fascia relax, massage supports better movement, which can improve your mood and reduce your risk of heart disease.
• Emotional support and stress relief: Surgery can take a toll emotionally, too. Massage therapy can reduce the stress and frustration associated with recovery. Touch therapy also promotes the release of endorphins and lowers stress, which can boost your mood.

What Kind of Massage Should You Get?

For most people recovering from surgery, lighter techniques are best to start with. Lymphatic drainage massage, gentle Swedish massage or myofascial release are common recommendations. These methods focus on supporting healing without putting too much pressure on the body. Deep tissue massage may be useful later in recovery, especially when dealing with scar tissue or tightness.

Using Self-Massage Tools

Self-massage tools can be helpful, especially for areas of the body not directly affected by surgery. Foam rollers, massage balls, or hand-held massage guns can offer relief and help you stay mobile during recovery.

Foam rolling over each area for around one minute can ease stiffness. Massage guns can help relieve aches and pains by using rapid pulses to stimulate blood flow and relax tight muscles. They’re great for easing post-surgery muscle soreness in areas compensating for limited movement. These tools are for easing areas that are stiff from inactivity or posture changes. Just be sure to:

• Avoid any direct pressure on the incision site or surrounding swollen tissue.
• Start with low-intensity or gentle rolling techniques.
• Use tools in short sessions to gauge how your body responds.

When Massage Might Not Be Safe

Those with blood clots should chat with their doctors before getting a massage. People with medical conditions like lymphedema must be especially cautious and consult a health care provider before starting any kind of bodywork, as traditional massages may exacerbate the condition.

It’s also important to be mindful of how your body feels during and after a massage. If you notice increased swelling, sharp pain or bruising, it’s a sign to stop and re-evaluate. Recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all process, so even if massage techniques helped someone else after surgery, your body may respond differently, and that’s OK.

Worth the Wait

There are plenty of benefits of massage after surgery to speed up your recovery, but only if your body is ready. When you introduce these techniques at the right time, they can ease pain, reduce swelling, improve movement, and support your physical and emotional healing.

Myobuddy’s main goal is to help you maximize your self-massage tools safely and effectively. Whether you’re easing muscle soreness or managing post-surgery recovery, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. If you have a question about how to use one of our products or if you’re looking for the right tool, let us know, and we’ll help.