Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Recover and Restore
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a specialized therapeutic technique with several key goals aimed at promoting overall health and wellness:
Reducing Edema: MLD helps to alleviate swelling by encouraging lymph fluid circulation, which reduces water retention in tissues and promotes a more balanced fluid level in the body.
Accelerating Recovery from Surgeries: By enhancing lymphatic flow, MLD can support faster healing after surgical procedures, minimizing bruising and swelling while promoting a quicker return to normal function.
Alleviating Fibromyalgia Symptoms: This gentle technique can help reduce pain and tenderness associated with fibromyalgia by improving circulation and lymphatic drainage, leading to increased comfort and relaxation.
Boosting Immune Function: By stimulating lymphatic circulation, MLD helps to enhance the body’s immune response, supporting its natural ability to fight off infections and illnesses.
Facilitating Detoxification: MLD promotes the elimination of toxins and waste products from the body, enhancing the natural detoxification processes and contributing to improved overall health.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage Technique
What to Expect: The manual lymphatic drainage technique incorporates a blend of gentle, rhythmic strokes designed to encourage lymphatic flow. Using a combination of trigger point work, Swedish massage, and myofascial modalities, the session may also include cupping to target deeper muscle layers.
Gentle and Restorative: This technique focuses on relaxation while providing therapeutic benefits without discomfort. The pressure applied is medium, ensuring a soothing experience that alleviates muscle tension and chronic pain.
Perfect Balance: The aim is to create an optimal balance of relaxation and recovery, allowing your body to unwind while effectively addressing specific concerns.
Overall, manual lymphatic drainage is a holistic approach to enhancing health, promoting recovery, and supporting the body’s natural healing processes.
What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage?
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a very gentle and soothing modality. It helps keep you healthy by aiding your immune functions and helping move waste and toxins. MLD is also perfect for pain management.
Vodder technique is used which is a clinical form of MLD.
Who is Manual Lymphatic Drainage for?
If you are recovering from orthopedic, cosmetic or reconstructive surgery, looking to reduce swelling and bruising or suffering with autoimmune disease this is the massage for you!! MLD can assist with swelling reduction, pain relief, and boost your immune system.
Benefits of Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) can be beneficial for various conditions and situations. It is commonly used after surgery to reduce swelling and promote healing, in the management of lymphedema, chronic swelling or edema, autoimmune disorders, chronic inflammation, migraines, fibromyalgia, and certain types of pain relief.
Some post surgery benefits include:
reduces scar formation, the build up of fibrotic nodules post surgery
removes waste and other debris from the traumatized areas
improves skin texture and tone by boosting healing responses
decrease risk of infection by improving immune response
decrease pain and sensitivity to the surgery areas tissues
Some overall benefits:
Boosts the immune system, removes stagnation
Gentle and soothing touch
Better nights sleep
MLD also has a wonderfully relaxing effect on your nervous system and so is also great for anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
*HSA cards accepted. I do not take insurance at this time.
What is the Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is responsible for maintaining fluid balance in the body, removing waste products, and supporting the immune system. However, the lymphatic system does not have a central pump like the circulatory system, so lymph fluid relies on the contraction of smooth muscles and external stimuli, such as manual lymphatic drainage and exercise to keep it flowing properly.
Why work with a certified therapist
Working with a therapist who has gone through the longer in-depth training required for certification is important, especially if you are wanting actual results. Post surgery work comes with precautions that you need your therapist to be aware of to prevent injury to your body. I have this training, and I can teach you home work you can do yourself to speed your recovery in-between sessions.
How soon after surgery can I start treatments?
While plastic and orthopedic surgery treatments can begin 24-48 hours after surgery in some cases. Most will begin 72hours after surgery with home visits.
Your body needs to be able to start its own healing process and MLD is here to assist. I can help you select the right post-op MLD care package which is optimal to set up prior to your procedure.
Pro tips:
Order your compression garments prior to surgery
Have your first 4 sessions of MLD (first two weeks post-op) booked in advance.
and lastly
Click the link below to schedule your FREE pre-op consult to find out more.
Know your risk
It's important to note that MLD should always be performed by a qualified and certified practitioner who understands the specific techniques and considerations involved in lymphatic drainage therapy. Someone who has had the specialized training in the lymphatic system and it’s functions. They can assess your condition and determine the most appropriate approach for your individual needs.
MLD is right for most people but not everyone. Please discuss all your health conditions with your therapist, as certain health conditions and diseases can make MLD risky for some people. Speak with your therapist today to find out if MLD is right for you and your body.
*To learn more about risks and benefits click HERE to check out what the Cleveland Clinic reports.
General PRO Tips for Manual Lymphatic work
Clinical MLD like the Vodder technique that I use, is what your surgen has in mind when they say MLD will assist with your healing. Clinical MLD is an extention of your surgical team and as such you should take your time and do your research prior to your surgery date. It is very important to get a form of clinical MLD post procedure.
What It is: Rythmic. Starts with the neck sequence. One directional strokes, gentle, slow, lubrication free, pain free, and uses therapist’s hands only no extra tools, no blasting.
What It is not: Painful. Fast. Uses tools of any kind. Oily, deep pressure, and under no circumstances does it push fluid out of incisions which means reopening incision to do so .— these are NOT clinical MLD and beware. While there is time for sculpting down the road -like 6-12months down the road, this post-op time needs to be gentle and healing.
Clinical modalities of MLD include: Vodder, Chikly, Leduc, Foldi and Casey-Smith techniques. I am certified in the Vodder techniuque.
Feel free to scheudle a free phone consultation if you would like to learn more.
