After liposuction, a BBL, a tummy tuck or other cosmetic surgery, many Houston surgeons recommend lymphatic massage to help with swelling and bruising. In a city this spread out, driving to a clinic while you're sore and in a compression garment is the hard part. A licensed therapist can come to your home or hotel instead, with everything needed for the session.
Bigtoe offers post-operative lymphatic massage at home across the Houston area. This guide covers timing, what a session involves, what therapists can and can't do, and how to book a series.
When to start
Follow your surgeon's plan. Many patients start within the first days to weeks after surgery and book a series rather than a single session. Bigtoe asks for your surgery date when you book and schedules post-op sessions from 3 days after surgery onward, so the first visit falls in a safe window.
What a session involves
- Feather-light strokes that avoid strain on healing tissue.
- Clearing the main drainage areas first, then working toward the treated areas.
- Gentle pumping movements that move fluid without pressing on incisions.
- Most sessions run 60 to 90 minutes. Have your compression garment ready as your surgeon directs.
What a massage therapist does not do
Post-op lymphatic massage is not medical drainage. Therapists do not treat open wounds, remove fluid, or handle surgical drains. If you have an open incision, a fever or signs of infection, call your surgeon instead of booking.
Planning around Houston distances
Houston's suburbs are far apart, so book a day or more ahead where you can, especially for the suburbs. Add gate codes, apartment numbers and parking notes when you book so your therapist isn't delayed at the door.
If you're recovering at a family member's home or in a hotel near your surgeon, use that address. You can change the address for later sessions in the series.
Where we come to
Bigtoe therapists cover the Houston area, including:
- Uptown and the Galleria
- River Oaks, Montrose and the Heights
- The Medical Center and West University
- Memorial and the Energy Corridor
- Sugar Land and Missouri City
- Katy, Cypress and The Woodlands
Booking a series with Bigtoe
Choose Post-Op Lymphatic Massage, enter your surgery date, and set the time and place. Bigtoe sends a licensed therapist who has opted in to post-op work. The price is shown before you book, including the standard 20% tip, with no booking fee or membership, and package discounts are available when you book a series. After your first session you can request the same therapist for follow-ups, which keeps your care consistent.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get post-op lymphatic massage at home in Houston?
Yes. Bigtoe sends licensed therapists who do post-op lymphatic massage to homes, hotels and short-term rentals across the Houston area. They bring the table, linens and supplies.
How soon after surgery can I book?
Bigtoe schedules post-op sessions from 3 days after surgery onward. Your surgeon's instructions come first, so check with them about timing.
How many sessions will I need?
It depends on the procedure and your surgeon. Many patients book a series over the first few weeks. Ask your surgeon what they recommend.
Do therapists come out to Katy, Sugar Land or The Woodlands?
Yes, Bigtoe covers the wider Houston area. Booking a day or more ahead gives the best chance of a therapist in the outer suburbs.