Los Angeles has some of the country's best-known cosmetic surgeons, and most of them recommend lymphatic massage after liposuction, a BBL, a tummy tuck or facial surgery to help with swelling and bruising. Sitting in LA traffic on the way to a clinic is the last thing you want while you're healing. A licensed therapist can come to your home, hotel or recovery rental instead, with everything needed for the session.
Bigtoe offers post-operative lymphatic massage at home across the Los Angeles 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.
Recovering in a hotel or rental
Many patients stay in a hotel or rental near their surgeon for the first week or two. Therapists can come to your room: add the hotel, room number and parking or valet notes when you book.
In California, massage therapists are certified through the California Massage Therapy Council (CAMTC). Bigtoe verifies credentials before a therapist can take bookings.
Where we come to
Bigtoe therapists cover the Los Angeles area, including:
- Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Century City
- Santa Monica, Venice and Marina del Rey
- Brentwood, Westwood and Culver City
- Downtown LA, Silver Lake and Los Feliz
- Sherman Oaks, Encino and Studio City
- Pasadena and Burbank
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 Los Angeles?
Yes. Bigtoe sends licensed therapists who do post-op lymphatic massage to homes, hotels and short-term rentals across the Los Angeles 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.
Can a therapist come to my hotel near Beverly Hills?
Yes. Add your hotel, room number and any valet or front-desk instructions when you book. Hotel sessions carry a hotel fee, which is shown before you book.