Kate Maas LMT

01/11/2026

POST-OP BILL OF RIGHTS 📜 (Unofficial… but absolutely real)

Surgery doesn’t end when the stitches come out.
Healing doesn’t end when you look better.
And recovery definitely doesn’t follow a straight line.

That’s why we created a Post-Op Bill of Rights—because your body deserves advocacy after the operating room.

You have the right to:
✔️ Heal at your own pace
✔️ Experience swelling, soreness, and setbacks without judgment
✔️ Feel “fine” and not fine at the same time
✔️ Ask questions, rest, and need support longer than expected

Post-op recovery is not weakness.
It’s biology, trauma, inflammation, and repair doing hard work behind the scenes.

At Iowa Postoperative Massage, we specialize in the part of healing no one warns you about—the after.
The delayed swelling.
The emotional whiplash.
The “why does this still hurt?” phase.

If this resonates, you’re not behind.
You’re healing.

💬 Save this.
💗 Share it with someone in recovery.
📅 And when you’re ready, we’re here to help your body move forward—safely and supported.

Kicking Pain to the Curb.

POST-OP BILL OF RIGHTS 📜 (Unofficial… but absolutely real)

Surgery doesn’t end when the stitches come out.
Healing doesn’t end when you look better.
And recovery definitely doesn’t follow a straight line.

That’s why we created a Post-Op Bill of Rights—because your body deserves advocacy after the operating room.

You have the right to:
✔️ Heal at your own pace
✔️ Experience swelling, soreness, and setbacks without judgment
✔️ Feel “fine” and not fine at the same time
✔️ Ask questions, rest, and need support longer than expected

Post-op recovery is not weakness.
It’s biology, trauma, inflammation, and repair doing hard work behind the scenes.

At Iowa Postoperative Massage, we specialize in the part of healing no one warns you about—the after.
The delayed swelling.
The emotional whiplash.
The “why does this still hurt?” phase.

If this resonates, you’re not behind.
You’re healing.

💬 Save this.
💗 Share it with someone in recovery.
📅 And when you’re ready, we’re here to help your body move forward—safely and supported.

Kicking Pain to the Curb.

01/11/2026

During recovery, what surprised you the most?
• 😳 “I felt ‘fine’… but wasn’t”
• 🤕 Swelling & pain changing daily
• 😴 Sleep being impossible
• 🤷‍♀️ All of the above
• 📝 other

01/06/2026

10 Years ago I started Massage School. Little did I know that my future business was going to be centered around an experience I had in clinic, providing post op care. Let alone become a Watsu Practitioner. Two friends of mine at the time nudged me to pursue this field one of which is no other than . Thanks Chelsey, I think you would love Watsu and Brazilian Lymphatic Body Sculpting.

01/06/2026

I’ll be here.
Come meet us here at Massage Iowa!

In 5 days, Come help me celebrate being 45, owning Massage Iowa for 5 years, serving this community with massage for 25 years at 555 W. Cherry St Suite 5 in North Liberty! WHY... Because there will be CAKE!!!! Need I say more?? Ok, You can also meet all 6 other providers in-house, check out retail, share stories of your massage "WINS" and participate in Raffles! I can't wait to see you all again soon. And I am deeply Grateful to all of you near and Far that have helped me get to this point!!!!

01/03/2026

How scar tissue acts like a dam in the lymphatic system.

Think of your lymphatic system as a slow-moving river whose job is to drain excess fluid, proteins, waste, and inflammation from your tissues. Unlike blood vessels, lymph vessels are soft, superficial, and pressure-sensitive—they rely on movement, breathing, and gentle tissue glide to function.

Scar tissue disrupts this system in several key ways:

⸻

1. Scar tissue is dense and non-elastic
When the body heals from surgery, injury, or inflammation, collagen fibers are laid down quickly and randomly, forming tissue that is:
• Thicker
• Less flexible
• Less hydrated

Lymph vessels that normally glide through tissue become compressed or kinked, much like a river narrowed by concrete.

⸻

2. It compresses and collapses lymph vessels
Lymph vessels have thin walls and no central pump. Scar tissue can:
• Flatten vessels
• Reduce vessel diameter
• Prevent the opening/closing of lymph valves

This mechanically slows or blocks lymph flow.

⸻

3. Fluid backs up behind the scar (the “dam effect”)
Just like water behind a dam:
• Lymph fluid accumulates upstream
• Swelling, heaviness, pressure, or puffiness appear
• Inflammation lingers longer than it should

This can happen far from the scar itself, which is why symptoms often seem “unrelated.”

⸻

4. Stagnant lymph changes tissue health
When lymph can’t drain properly:
• Oxygen delivery drops
• Waste products accumulate
• Nerves become irritated
• Tissue feels tight, achy, numb, or hypersensitive

Over time, this can contribute to chronic pain, fibrosis, and recurrent inflammation.

⸻

5. Manual therapy helps by “opening spillways”
Skilled manual lymphatic and scar mobilization techniques:
• Rehydrate scar tissue
• Restore tissue glide
• Reduce pressure on lymph vessels
• Create alternative drainage pathways

This is why people often feel lighter, less swollen, and more mobile after treatment—even years after surgery.

01/03/2026

https://youtu.be/CjGQvcCWZ8U?si=ofuaByVMeDSFj7GG

NOTE FROM TED: Please do not look to this talk as a substitute for health advice. This talk represents the speaker's personal views and understanding of trau...

01/03/2026

Water exposes whatever the nervous system hasn’t practiced regulating. Why tolerate pain on land when you can get relief in water?

Watsu takes load off your spine through physics + neurobiology working together. It isn’t just that it feels good — the water is literally changing the forces acting on your spine while your nervous system stops guarding.

12/19/2025

Need some time to yourself before the Holidays? I got you covered! ✅

Stayed tuned for Important updates this upcoming new year!

11/04/2025

It’s the beginning of the Month and there are 4 available slots for this month.
To schedule your consultation , either message me, or schedule online.

Salute to Service is a program that honors and supports the Veterans of the United States by providing up to $2,000 in critical Aquatic Therapy services each year.
At the beginning of each month, check for upcoming available slots.
Sessions are first come-first serve and exclusively available to Veterans.

To claim the spot, send me a confidential message and we’ll chat about your needs.
I’ll ask a few questions to make sure you get the perfect treatment so we can maximize your results.

I follow all privacy laws, so your information and our conversation is completely confidential.

**There are currently 4 open slots for October**