How Does the Nervous System Affect Healing After Explant Surgery?
(Based on a recent interview with Jodi Cohen, founder of Vibrant Blue Oils and bestselling author of Essential Oils to Boost the Brain and Heal the Body, discussing the nervous system, lymphatic drainage, and recovery)
For many women, the weeks before explant surgery are just as demanding as the procedure itself. There is travel to coordinate, questions to research, and a body that is already carrying stress before the first incision is made. In a recent conversation with functional practitioner Jodi Cohen, we talked about something that rarely comes up in pre-surgical planning: how the nervous system and the lymphatic system work together to shape how well, and how quickly, a patient recovers.
This connection matters more than most patients realize. Surgery itself, however well planned, signals the body that something significant is happening. Understanding how to support the nervous system and lymphatic flow around that event is part of a comprehensive recovery approach.
Why the Nervous System Plays a Central Role in Surgical Recovery
When the brain perceives a threat, whether that threat is a physical injury, a stressful trip to an unfamiliar city, or the anticipation of surgery, the body reallocates resources toward immediate survival. That shift can come at the expense of processes like immune support and detoxification, which are deprioritized when the nervous system senses danger.
The goal, as Jodi Cohen explained, is to help the body settle into a parasympathetic state, sometimes called "rest and digest," rather than staying in the sympathetic, fight-or-flight state that surgery and travel can trigger. One of the fastest ways to influence that shift is through the sense of smell.
How Smell Signals Safety to the Brain
Smell has a uniquely direct pathway to the brain. Scent signals travel quickly to the regions of the brain involved in safety perception, which is part of why a familiar or calming scent can shift how a person feels within seconds. Cohen described using scent, including essential oils applied topically near the neck, as a safety signal that can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
She also shared a specific technique worth knowing before a procedure: gently plugging the right nostril and breathing a scent in through the left nostril only. This is thought to stimulate the left hemisphere of the brain and help balance activity between the two hemispheres, which some patients find useful for easing anxiety in the moment. The scent itself does not have to be a specialized product. Cohen noted that citrus peels, coffee, or a garden flower can produce a similar grounding effect. The larger point is that a simple sensory tool, available to nearly everyone, can be part of preparing the body for a stressful event.
This is also why comprehensive pre-surgical education matters. Patients who understand what is happening in their body, and who have simple tools available to them, tend to approach surgery with a steadier nervous system than patients who arrive without that context.
The Lymphatic System's Role After Explant Surgery
Alongside the nervous system, the lymphatic system plays a central role in how the body manages fluid and inflammation after surgery. Cohen described the lymphatic system using a helpful image: think of a busy road where too many cars create a bottleneck. When lymphatic flow slows down in a similar way, fluid can back up into surrounding tissue, including the breast tissue after implant removal, rather than draining and clearing as it normally would.
One detail patients rarely hear from their surgical team is that all lymphatic fluid eventually passes through the clavicles. Because of this, gentle attention to that area, whether through manual lymphatic massage or the use of a topical product designed to support glide and movement, may help open up that drainage pathway.
Why the Clavicles Matter for Lymphatic Flow
Understanding this bottleneck concept helps explain why post-operative care extends beyond the surgical site itself. Supporting lymphatic flow at the clavicles and neck is one piece of a broader recovery picture that also includes nutrition, rest, and nervous system regulation. None of these pieces work in isolation. A patient who is anxious and shallow-breathing, for example, may also be someone whose lymphatic flow is more sluggish, since the lymphatic system does not have its own pump and relies partly on movement and breathing to keep fluid circulating.
Supporting Recovery Before and After Surgery
Cohen made an important distinction between preparing the body in advance of surgery and supporting it afterward. Opening lymphatic drainage pathways before a procedure, sometimes called "prepaving," may help the body respond more predictably once there is more fluid to clear post-operatively. This is similar to training for a physical event: a body that has practiced a process ahead of time tends to handle the same process better under stress than a body encountering it for the first time.
This preparation-and-recovery framing lines up closely with how we approach post-operative protocols at our Austin practice. Patients often begin lymphatic support the day after surgery, alongside additional recovery tools such as hyperbaric treatment and red light therapy, with the goal of helping the body move toward a calmer, more regulated state as quickly as possible. Many of our patients travel from outside Austin for care, which adds its own layer of stress on top of the procedure itself, so we place real emphasis on giving patients accessible tools they can use at home, both before they arrive and after they leave. Our pre- and post-surgery essentials collection (https://www.drrobssolutions.com/collections/pre-post-surgery-essentials) is built around this exact idea: giving patients simple, vetted tools to support their body on both sides of the procedure.
For a deeper look at how we think about implant-related symptoms and recovery more broadly, our breast implant illness resource hub (https://drrobertwhitfield.com/breast-implant-illness) walks through the evaluation process we use with patients who are considering explant surgery.
For patients with sensitivities, including those who experience mast cell activation, histamine reactivity, or neuropathic symptoms, product selection matters. Cohen recommended applying anything new, including topical oils, to the bottom of the feet first. The skin there is thicker and contains a wide network of reflex points, which makes a reaction there less likely than on more sensitive areas of skin.
Protein, Fluid Balance, and Swelling
One of the more overlooked pieces of post-surgical recovery is protein intake, particularly around fluid consumption. After a traumatic event or surgery, the brain's thirst center activates, which naturally increases the drive to drink fluids. Without adequate protein or amino acids in that fluid, though, increased water intake alone will not necessarily reduce swelling and may make a patient feel more swollen rather than less.
This comes down to a concept called oncotic pressure, which is regulated in part by the liver, gut, and blood vessels. When protein concentration in the blood is too low, fluid can leak out into surrounding tissue. When protein levels are adequate, the body can draw that fluid back into the bloodstream, where it can be filtered and released through normal processes. This is one reason we encourage patients to add a protein or amino acid source to the fluids they drink during recovery rather than relying on water alone.
Getting enough high-quality protein matters more than the specific source. Whether a patient follows an animal-based, vegan, vegetarian, pescatarian, or Mediterranean pattern of eating, the priority is consistent, adequate protein intake to support tissue repair and fluid balance during recovery. Our inflammation support bundle (https://drrobssolutions.com/products/inflammation-support-bundle) includes options patients use to help meet these nutritional targets during recovery.
If you are weighing whether explant surgery is the right next step, a conversation with our team is a good place to start. You can book a discovery call (https://discovery.drrobertwhitfield.com/form) to walk through your history, your goals, and what a personalized recovery plan could look like for you.
Simple Daily Habits That Support Healing
Several of the most effective tools discussed in this conversation are also among the simplest. Walking, for example, gently supports lymphatic movement without the cortisol spike associated with more intense exercise, which is part of why walking is often recommended as one of the safest activities during recovery. Breathing practices, such as inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth, cost nothing and require no special equipment. Even something as simple as spending time outdoors, when weather allows, or bringing a calming scent indoors when it does not, can support a steadier nervous system throughout the recovery period.
How the SHARP Framework Applies to This Discussion
The SHARP method, which stands for Strategic Holistic Accelerated Recovery Program, was built around the idea that surgery alone rarely tells the whole story of recovery. This conversation with Jodi Cohen touches on several SHARP pillars directly.
Preparation before surgery is reflected in the idea of opening lymphatic pathways and practicing nervous system regulation techniques in advance, rather than waiting until after the procedure. Immune support and toxicity reduction connect to the discussion of biofilms, systemic inflammation, and the role of the lymphatic system in clearing what the body no longer needs. Gut health and hormonal balance are reflected in the conversation's attention to diet, protein intake, and the way inflammation and hormone patterns can influence skin and overall wellbeing. Accelerated recovery strategies are reflected directly in the post-operative protocols discussed, including lymphatic support, hyperbaric treatment, red light therapy, and nervous system calming tools that many of our patients use in the days and weeks after their procedure.
None of these elements replace clinical care or a personalized surgical plan. They are meant to work alongside it, supporting the body's own capacity to recover.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does calming the nervous system actually change how the body heals after surgery?
A regulated nervous system is associated with the parasympathetic "rest and digest" state, which supports the body's normal recovery processes. It is one part of a broader recovery picture rather than a stand-alone solution.
What is the connection between the clavicles and lymphatic drainage after explant surgery?
All lymphatic fluid eventually passes through the clavicles. Supporting flow in that area, through gentle massage or topical support, may help address congestion that can otherwise contribute to swelling in the chest area.
Why would drinking more water make swelling worse instead of better?
Without enough protein in the bloodstream, fluid can leak into surrounding tissue rather than staying in the blood vessels where it can be filtered out. Adding protein or amino acids to fluids during recovery is one way patients can support proper fluid balance.
Is walking safe during recovery from explant surgery?
Walking is generally considered one of the gentlest activities available during recovery because it supports lymphatic movement without significantly raising cortisol the way more intense exercise can. Patients should always follow their surgeon's individual guidance on activity timing.
Can essential oils really help with anxiety before surgery?
Some patients find that calming scents, including essential oils applied topically, support a sense of safety and help ease anxiety in the moments before a procedure. This is a supportive tool, not a substitute for medical or psychological care when anxiety is significant.
What should patients with sensitivities know before trying a new topical product?
Applying a new product to the bottom of the feet first is one approach some practitioners recommend, since the skin there is thicker and less likely to react. Patients with known sensitivities should always consult their care team before introducing a new product.
Disclaimer: The content provided in this article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen, supplements, or treatment plan. Results discussed are not guaranteed and individual outcomes will vary.
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