Body Work That Works: Redefining Recovery for the Modern Man

There was a time when “recovery” for most men meant a protein shake and a good night’s sleep. These days, it looks a little different, and a lot more intentional.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Wood Therapy, post-surgical massage. These might sound like terms borrowed from a wellness retreat brochure, but they’re fast becoming part of the mainstream for men who train hard, work long, or just want to feel a bit more in control of their bodies.

And if there’s one person seeing that shift up close, it’s Felicia Alaia, a post-surgical and recovery specialist and founder of Alaia Aesthetics who’s quietly built a reputation among men who want to recover smarter, not just harder.

“The way men think about their bodies is changing,” Felicia says. “It’s not just about looking good anymore. It’s about function, longevity, and being able to keep up with the life you’ve built.”

Her clients range from gym addicts and amateur athletes to executives recovering from cosmetic surgery. What they have in common is a growing awareness that performance isn’t just about output, it’s about how well you bounce back.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is one of those treatments that’s often misunderstood. It’s not painful, it’s not intense, but its effects are powerful. Using gentle, rhythmical movements, it encourages the body to clear out excess fluid and waste. The result? Reduced swelling, faster muscle recovery, and improved definition.

For men recovering from surgery or high-volume training, it’s quickly become a go-to. “You can see the difference,” Felicia says. “The body looks tighter, the recovery is smoother, and clients feel the shift in how they carry tension.”

Wood Therapy, meanwhile, adds a more hands-on edge. Using carved wooden tools, the treatment targets deep muscle tension and fascia, ideal for guys who lift heavy or sit rigid behind a desk all day. It’s not relaxing in the traditional sense, but it’s effective.

Then there’s post-surgical massage, a space that’s quietly growing among men having procedures like liposuction or abdominal etching. Often ignored after surgery, the recovery process is where results are either cemented or compromised.

“People think the surgeon does everything,” Felicia says. “But recovery shapes the outcome. You can’t skip it.”

What’s clear is that recovery is no longer niche. As more men start paying attention to inflammation, tightness, and long-term wear and tear, therapies like these are finding their place in the gym bag next to protein and pre-workout.

This isn’t about self-care slogans, it’s about control, understanding how the body holds stress, processes physical strain, and rebuilds over time. And in a world obsessed with optimisation, recovery is finally getting its due.

Turns out, slowing down might be the smartest flex yet.