It’s a smart post-op doll who knows she has to take special care of herself. Assembling a support group; eating healthy meals; staying well hydrated; getting plenty of rest; tending to incisions; bathing properly; even scheduling regular post-op lymphatic massages. That last one is where Darlene Rose of Positive Touch Therapy Wellness Spa steps in. A licensed massage therapist, esthetician, and instructor, she’s an expert in her work with post-op dolls.
Chances are great you’ve never heard of post-op dolls before, so let’s give you a quick introduction. They’re patients recovering from cosmetic surgery, many of whom share and collect information about their procedures, surgeons, best practices, tips, photos, and so much more on Instagram. Of course, that means there’s an abundance of online content about cosmetic surgery, some of which is misinformation that can be downright dangerous.
“Cosmetic surgery is more popular than it has ever been and there are a lot of people getting into the industry and some things are not regulated,” said Darlene. Some of these people, she adds, “are untrained on skin, they’re untrained on tissue, they’re untrained on muscles and how it all affects the human body. So I feel like I stand out the most because I’m constantly putting out information.”
“The majority of my girls are not getting their work done locally. They’re going to Florida, Texas, and New York…I’m getting a lot of people who went to Illinois for surgery. What I focus on is the recovery portion of it,” said Darlene. “I find out who their doctor was and exactly what procedure they had. It’s really important to find out how many procedures they have had, because that tells me what type of tissue I’m going to be working with. Some women will say, ‘Oh, I just had lipo,’ when really they’re on their fourth round of lipo and their recovery is going to look a lot different.”
Age also plays a difference. Darlene says, “If you’re an older woman and you get lipo done, your recovery is going to be a little bit longer. And then, of course, it’s how they do their home care. Some women aren’t drinking enough water, so that fluid is going to stay on their bodies a lot longer. Some women get back to drinking alcohol and going out, or they’re not wearing their compression garments,” she adds. It all makes a big difference in recovery.
Her clients learn what helps with inflammation, which supplements are good, and which garments to wear to help compression. Darlene goes through a full history with them and is clear about what they should and shouldn’t do; she also teaches them what’s part of a proper cosmetic surgery post-op massage and what isn’t. For instance, the touch should be firm and never circular in motion. The massage should provide tangible relief. Frequent bathroom breaks after a massage is also a good indicator.
On the Post-Op Dolls page of PositiveTouchTherapy.com is listed other important info, all of which Darlene has carefully and thoughtfully put together.
A former hospice massage therapist and an entrepreneur for 10 years, Darlene also provides other services such as her signature relaxation, prenatal, athletic, and pediatric massages; body treatments such as an Algae Marine with Chamomile Full Body Masque; hair removal; and skincare treatments like microneedling, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, and facials.
Post-op lymphatic massages have become a big part of Darlene’s business and she now trains registered nurses and other massage therapists how to perform them properly.
Earlier this year, Darlene was one of 30 entrepreneurs who received a Fiserv Back2Business COVID-19 relief program $10,000 grant. It was awarded in partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Appointments for any of Darlene’s services must be booked online.
Here’s a link to a New York Times article on post-op dolls.
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