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IDEAS THAT WORK
SOOTHING STRATEGY
Try Massage Therapy For Post-Op Pain
A
combination of massage and
pressure point therapy has
delivered pleasing results at our
cosmetic surgery center, providing us
with some very good word-of-mouth
marketing among the patient community.
• For post-op liposuction patients. We first
HEALING HANDS Perioperative massage therapy has many
benefits for cosmetic surgery patients.
tension in the lower back. And breast
augmentation patients may feel stiff from
brought a massage therapist on staff in
uncomfortable sleeping positions. There
2006 to treat liposuction patients.
are a lot of aching backs, arms and legs
Undergoing a session once a week for 6
out there, and our patients love the
weeks post-operatively helps to get fluid
results.
out and helps to ensure skin consistency,
• To prevent PONV. We've also put the
preventing lumps and bumps. So we
science of massage into use against post-
packaged the massage therapy in with
operative nausea and vomiting. Our sur-
the cost of the case.
geon performs acupuncture on a radial
• For abdominoplasty and breast augmen-
pressure point in the wrist before sur-
tation patients, too. We expanded the prac-
gery, and the massage therapist delivers
tice after finding that other patients bene-
acupressure afterward to forestall PONV.
fit from massage as well.
Mary Beth Smith, BSN, MSN
Abdominoplasty patients, for example,
Columbus Institute of Plastic Surgery
often adopt a hunched-over posture fol-
Columbus, Ohio
lowing surgery, which creates muscle
marybeth@instituteplasticsurgery.com
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | F E B R U A R Y 2013
