POSTOPERATIVE · MAASMECHELEN · BELGIUM
Postoperative massage in Maasmechelen, guided by the phase of your healing
Searching for postoperative massage in Maasmechelen usually means looking for something more specific than a massage: support that helps healing tissue recover without placing it under strain. At Maison Ipanema Institute, aftercare is physiological tissue management, matched to the stage of your recovery and to your surgeon’s instructions.
PHYSIOLOGY
Why massage after surgery has to be different
Surgery is a controlled injury to tissue, and the body responds with inflammation. That response is essential to healing. When it is too intense or lasts too long, however, it sets off a familiar chain of events.
- Inflammation makes small blood vessels more permeable, so fluid and proteins leak into the surrounding tissue.
- Oedema follows: swelling, tightness and a sense of heaviness.
- The lymphatic system must clear this excess, often while some of its own vessels have been disrupted by the procedure.
- When that lymphatic load stays high, the risk of fibrosis rises: firm areas, layers of tissue adhering to one another, and a loss of suppleness.
Deep or forceful massage can intensify this chain by irritating tissue that is still repairing. Our approach relies on gentle, precise input that supports drainage, helps preserve the glide between tissue layers and helps reduce the risk of fibrosis.
WHO IT IS FOR
Procedures and situations we support
We support clients after a wide range of body, face and breast procedures, whether performed in Belgium or abroad:
- liposuction, lipo 360 and HD liposuction (see also post-liposuction aftercare);
- abdominoplasty, BBL and body lifts;
- breast augmentation, reduction, lift and reconstruction;
- facelift, neck lift and other facial procedures;
- persistent swelling, firm areas or a tight, restrictive scar.
If you have had lipedema surgery, our lipedema support continues from there.
If your surgery was some time ago and you still notice stiffness or irregularities, an assessment can still be worthwhile. You will find more background on our postoperative recovery page.
THE APPROACH
How your aftercare is structured
Everything starts with a careful assessment: the procedure, how long ago it took place, your surgeon’s instructions, your compression garment, the condition of your skin and tissue, and what matters most to you. From there we build a plan using the NCT Method®, which follows the biological phases of healing:
- Inflammatory phase (roughly the first 7 to 10 days): very gentle manual lymphatic drainage, no deep pressure, attention to comfort and compression.
- Proliferative phase (approximately day 7/10 to 21): controlled progression, early fascial mobilisation and therapeutic taping.
- Remodelling phase (from around day 21, continuing for months): progressive scar work and, once the tissue is ready, technology such as photobiomodulation, TECAR, pulsed therapeutic ultrasound, radiofrequency or Endermologie/LPG.
These timings are guides only and vary from person to person and from one procedure to another. When you can begin depends on the procedure and your surgeon’s approval; often it is within the first week. There is no standard number of sessions; it is determined after assessment. Where appropriate, we coordinate with your surgeon or physician.
SAFETY
Limitations and safety
Our aftercare complements your medical follow-up and never replaces it. We do not diagnose, prescribe medication or perform medical procedures.
Contact your surgeon or physician immediately if you notice:
- a fever;
- pain that is increasing;
- redness or warmth around the operated area;
- sudden or unusual swelling;
- any wound problem, such as opening, discharge or an unusual smell.
Call 112 if you have calf pain with swelling, or shortness of breath. If anything gives us cause for concern, we pause the sessions and refer you on.
LOCATION
Postoperative aftercare in Maasmechelen and Meise
Our main institute is at Koninginnelaan 72, 3630 Maasmechelen, in the province of Limburg. It is easy to reach from Genk, Hasselt, Lanaken and Maaseik, as well as from the Dutch border region around Maastricht. In the first weeks after surgery, a calm setting close to home makes a real difference.
Two days a week we also see clients in Meise (Flemish Brabant), inside a plastic surgery clinic; the exact address is shared when your appointment is confirmed. Sessions are available in English, Dutch, French and Portuguese; practical questions are welcome via our contact page. If drainage is your main focus, read more about lymphatic drainage in Limburg.
MAISON IPANEMA
Why Maison Ipanema
Maison Ipanema Institute was founded by Neiva Cimini, originally from Rio de Janeiro and based in Belgium since 2015. She is a certified massage therapist recognised by the Belgian Federation of Massage Therapy, holds a postgraduate qualification in dermatofunctional physiotherapy from Brazil, and has further training in lymphology, wound-healing physiology and mechanobiology. Neiva Cimini is not a physician or a physiotherapist.
She created the NCT Method® and is an invited speaker at ISAPS Body Masters 2026 in Barcelona, as well as a speaker and member of the scientific committee of Beyond The Scalpel in Brussels.
Practical information
Maasmechelen · Limburg
Maison Ipanema Institute
Koninginnelaan 72, 3630 Maasmechelen (Limburg, Belgium)
+32 471 46 37 02 · reception@maisonipanema.be
Languages: Dutch, English, French, Portuguese
View on Google Maps →Meise (Flemish Brabant)
Treatments inside a plastic surgery clinic, two days a week. The address is shared when your appointment is made.
Frequently asked questions
Answered honestly.
When can I start postoperative massage?
It depends on the procedure and your surgeon’s approval; often it is within the first week. In the early days we work only very gently. Your surgeon’s instructions always take precedence.
Is postoperative massage painful?
It should not be. In the inflammatory phase in particular, we use light, rhythmic techniques without deep pressure. Your comfort is an important guide to the right intensity.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no standard number. It depends on the procedure, how your tissue responds and your personal circumstances, and is determined after assessment. The plan is then adjusted as you progress.
Can this prevent fibrosis?
We prefer to be precise: phase-adapted aftercare helps reduce the risk of fibrosis and may help soften firm areas that have already formed. Outcomes remain individual, because every person heals differently.
I had surgery abroad. Can you still support me?
Yes. If possible, bring your operative report and your surgeon’s aftercare instructions. This allows us to tailor your sessions and to make sure you know whom to contact with medical questions.
Should I keep wearing my compression garment?
Always follow your surgeon’s advice on this. During sessions we check how your garment fits and offer practical guidance, but the medical decision on duration and type remains with your surgeon.
Book your assessment in Maasmechelen
The first conversation matters: it is where we bring together your procedure, your stage of recovery and your surgeon’s instructions. Schedule your assessment via WhatsApp on +32 471 46 37 02, or write to reception@maisonipanema.be.
Maison Ipanema Institute does not perform medical procedures, diagnoses or prescriptions. All care is non-medical, conservative and complementary to the treatment provided by your physician.
Maison Ipanema
Institute
Postoperative recovery, lymphology and lipedema support in Limburg and Belgium. Founded by Neiva Cimini.
Areas
© 2026 Maison Ipanema BV · CBE/VAT BE1003.133.517 · RPR Antwerp, Tongeren division