Recovering from Surgery? Here’s How Acupuncture Can Help
Surgery can be a life-saving step. But what happens afterward—the recovery—is often where people feel stuck, vulnerable, and under-supported.
Whether you’ve had hernia repair, gallbladder removal, soft tissue surgery for scar tissue or endometriosis, or breast surgery (like lumpectomy, mastectomy, reconstruction, or augmentation), healing involves more than just incisions closing. It’s about regaining comfort, energy, and confidence in your body.
In my practice, I offer acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to help patients recover in a gentle, natural, and deeply supportive way. Let’s explore how it works—and how it can help you feel whole again.
🌸 How Acupuncture Helps After Breast Surgery
Breast surgeries—whether for cancer, prevention, or reconstruction—are both physically and emotionally intense. Common challenges include:
Post-surgical pain, tightness, or numbness in the chest, shoulder, and arms
Limited mobility from scar tissue or protective tension
Lymphedema (fluid retention) in the arm or breast area
Fatigue and emotional overwhelm
Hot flashes or hormonal changes (especially after mastectomy or hormone-related treatment)
Acupuncture offers an integrative approach to address all of these layers—body, mind, and spirit.
Here's how it helps:
Pain relief & nerve repair: Studies show acupuncture reduces post-mastectomy pain syndrome and neuropathic discomfort (Greenlee et al., 2016)
Lymphedema support: Acupuncture and gentle cupping can help reduce swelling and improve lymph flow (Cassileth et al., 2013)
Scar healing: Needling and techniques like gua sha improve circulation and soften adhesions
Emotional and hormonal support: TCM recognizes grief, fear, and “heart Qi” disturbance after breast surgery—acupuncture helps ease anxiety, promote sleep, and restore inner calm
“After my double mastectomy, I didn’t expect the emotional crash. Acupuncture helped me feel like myself again—connected, grounded, and less in pain.” – A patient
🧬 Other Post-Surgical Support: What Acupuncture Can Help With
🛠️ Hernia Surgery
Reduces incision-site pain and tightness
Strengthens Spleen Qi (core support in TCM)
Prevents re-injury by restoring abdominal energy flow
🥣 Gallbladder Removal
Improves digestion and bile regulation
Reduces bloating, urgency, or sluggish bowels
Eases Liver/Gallbladder tension and emotional symptoms (anger, irritability)
🧵 Soft Tissue Surgery
Helps with scar tissue remodeling and mobility
Reduces inflammation and lingering pelvic or abdominal pain
Supports emotional regulation, especially in endometriosis or reproductive procedures
🌿 The TCM Philosophy: Healing the Whole You
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, surgery is seen as a disruption to the body's internal harmony. It consumes Qi (vital energy) and Blood, and it can block the normal flow of meridians—especially around scar tissue or nerve-dense areas.
TCM aims to:
Rebuild what was depleted (like Qi, Blood, and Yin)
Move what’s stuck (like swelling, scar tissue, or emotional trauma)
Restore harmony between organs, especially digestion, Liver, and Heart systems
Calm the Shen (spirit), easing sleep issues, fear, or emotional distress
Each person’s recovery is unique. Acupuncture provides a personalized, whole-body support system tailored to what your body and mind need most.
🔬 What the Research Shows
Post-op pain relief: Acupuncture decreases pain and reduces reliance on opioids (Sun et al., 2008)
Improved GI recovery: Especially after abdominal or gallbladder surgery (Chen et al., 2022)
Reduced post-breast surgery symptoms: Acupuncture lessens pain, fatigue, and lymphedema (Greenlee et al., 2016; Cassileth et al., 2013)
Better circulation: Acupuncture improves blood flow to promote healing (Komori et al., 2009)
💆♀️ What a Session Might Include
Depending on your stage of healing, we may use:
Distal acupuncture points (on arms/legs) to reduce pain gently
Local needling (only when appropriate) for scar or nerve recovery
Electroacupuncture for nerve repair or bowel stimulation
Moxibustion to warm and nourish
Cupping or gua sha for lymph flow or scar release (after cleared by your surgeon)
🤍 You Deserve a Healing Space
Surgery is only part of the journey—true recovery is about feeling whole again in your body, emotions, and energy.
Whether you’re newly out of surgery or still carrying post-op symptoms months later, acupuncture offers a safe, research-backed, and personalized way to support your healing.
✨ I offer a free 15-minute consultation to discuss your recovery and create a care plan that’s just for you.
References:
Chen, L., et al. (2022). Electroacupuncture for postoperative ileus: A systematic review. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 827853. Link
Komori, M., et al. (2009). Effects of acupuncture on blood flow in various organs. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 6(2), 123–127. Link
Sun, Y., et al. (2008). Acupuncture for acute pain in emergency settings. The American Journal of Emergency Medicine, 26(6), 737–742. Link
Greenlee, H., et al. (2016). Acupuncture for the treatment of pain and symptom management in breast cancer-related procedures. Cancer, 122(6), 823–831. Link
Cassileth, B. R., et al. (2013). Acupuncture in the treatment of upper-limb lymphedema: Results of a pilot study. Cancer, 119(13), 2455–2461. Link
