Safe Recovery: Why "Social Media Therapists" and Unlicensed Incisional Techniques are a Risk to Your Results
Post-op Lymphatic Drainage Massage in Riverside, CA
In the world of post-op recovery, there is a clear legal line that should never be crossed. As you search for care on social media, you will see many individuals offering a menu of services that includes both Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) and Incisional Drainage.
While many patients know these are two different things, they often don’t realize that one of them is a medical act that most of these "social media therapists" are performing illegally.
The Legal Line: Who is Allowed to Touch Your Incisions?
Incisional drainage—the act of opening wounds, removing drains, or manually forcing fluid out of surgical incisions—is a medical procedure. It is not a massage technique, and it is not a "variation" of MLD.
Legally, only licensed medical professionals are authorized to perform incisional drainage:
Doctors (MD/DO)
Registered Nurses (RN)
Physician Assistants (PA)
If a therapist is not a licensed medical professional, they are practicing medicine without a license the moment they touch your incisions. At Wrthit, we hold a firm standard: we are MLD-certified experts. We focus on the internal lymphatic system through non-invasive techniques. We do not perform medical procedures, and we do not interfere with your surgeon's work on your incisions.
The Danger of "Social Media" Medical Care
When an unlicensed individual offers incisional drainage via Instagram DMs, they are bypassing the safety protocols required for medical care.
Zero Accountability: These accounts rarely have a professional website, a verifiable medical background, or a business license. If an infection or a complication occurs, you have no medical recourse.
The Risk of Sepsis: Incisions must be handled in a sterile, clinical environment. Performing "drainage" in a home or hotel room is the fastest way to introduce life-threatening bacteria into your body.
Permanent Damage: Squeezing incisions can traumatize healing tissue, leading to internal scarring that can permanently distort your surgical results.
Meet Monica Skalsky: A Commitment to Clinical Excellence
When it comes to your recovery, the credentials of your therapist matter just as much as the technique. Monica Skalsky, the founder of Wrthit, is a Certified Massage Therapist (CAMTC #33056) and is MLD-Certified. With over three decades of experience in the wellness and therapeutic industry, teaching at National Holistic Institute and American Career College, Monica has dedicated her career to providing safe, legal, and science-based recovery solutions. Her expertise in Manual Lymphatic Drainage is rooted in a deep understanding of human anatomy and the body’s natural healing processes, ensuring that every client receives care that is both effective and strictly within the professional scope of practice.
The Wrthit Standard: Professional MLD
We believe in a safe, legal, and biological approach to healing. Our certified MLD sessions focus on the science of moving fluid through your internal lymphatic channels. By staying within our legal scope of practice, we provide our clients with a recovery that supports the body's natural healing process without the risks associated with unauthorized medical "drainage."
Mobile Recovery Service Areas
We bring professional, MLD-certified care directly to your home. Wrthit proudly serves the following Southern California communities:
Temecula Valley: Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Riverside, and Fallbrook.
Orange County: Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and San Juan Capistrano.
How to Vet Your Recovery Professional
Before booking a mobile session, look for these "Green Flags":
Scope of Practice: They only perform non-invasive MLD and refer you back to your surgeon for all incision-related concerns.
Professional Presence: They have a verifiable website and a clear business history (not just a DM-based profile).
Certification: They are CAMTC licensed and MLD-certified.