Lymphatic massage services
Lymphedema is caused by a disruption in lymphatic drainage, where lymphatic fluid doesn’t drain properly from your body and instead collects in the body’s soft tissues, usually in the arms or legs. It is a chronic (ongoing) condition seen mostly in people who have undergone cancer interventions including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.
Lymph is made of proteins, fats, glucose, salts, blood cell fragments and water. Lymphedema is a protein-rich swelling of the body and bacteria feeds on protein – which means a person with lymphedema is more likely to get infections. So avoiding cuts, scrapes or any trauma to the affected region is very important.
The lymphatic system is part of your immune system. It moves fluid through your body, picking up waste, bacteria, and viruses. Your lymph nodes filter out the waste and flush it from your body. When something goes wrong, the fluid backs up in your tissue. Most often, your lymph nodes got damaged. Sometimes the vessels get blocked. But lymphedema can also happen without a clear reason. It can happen anywhere in your body, including your chest, head, and genitals, but it's usually in just one arm or leg. The swelling might be so minor that you barely notice, or so severe it makes it hard to move that part of your body well. A limb that feels full or heavy, skin that seems tight, and jewelry and clothes that are suddenly snug can be from lymphedema. You could be achy or have hardened skin in the affected area.
Lymphedema can't be cured, but you can control the swelling and keep it from getting worse. Treatment of lymphedema includes treating swelling and prevention of infections. Exercise, compression garments and pumps, meticulous skin care, therapy and a healthy lifestyle and manual lymphatic drainage massage can all help control your swelling.
Our therapists have had extensive training in the lymphatic system and are certified lymphatic therapists. Click here to meet the team.
Lymphedema therapy
This special, light-handed type of massage is called manual lymph drainage.
Lymphatic drainage massage is a form of gentle massage that encourages the movement of lymph fluids around the body. A trained professional rubs, taps, and strokes your body to try to move fluid away from the swollen area. You can learn to do it yourself, too.
Lymphatic massage can reduce swelling and improve circulation throughout the lymphatic system. Lymphatic massage usually forms part of a treatment program called decongestive lymphatic therapy (DLT).
AWS
Axillary Web Syndrome (AWS) or cording can develop after a sentinel lymph node biopsy, axillary lymph node dissection or other surgery. The exact cause is unknown, but it is believed that surgery injures the lymphatic and venous vessels and they scar and harden, turning into cords. AWS often presents as a cord of tissue that runs from the armpit toward the elbow and sometimes to the wrist and hand. It can also occur on the chest wall and abdomen. These cords can cause pain and/or restriction upon movement.
post lipo therapy
Removing fat by liposuction causes damage to blood and lymphatic vessels as well as the destruction of cells and connective tissue. This has the double effect of causing blood and lymph fluids to accumulate, while also creating more space for it to pool.
Post-surgical pooling of blood and lymph fluid should be monitored for every liposuction patient, and when necessary, treated, as should tissue separation caused by the sweeping action of the suction tube. Without proper management of these side effects poor aesthetic outcomes can result, along with the possibility of longer recovery times, greater pain, and health complications.
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) massage is frequently recommended by plastic surgeons during the recovery phase following cosmetic liposuction. This specialized form of massage is generally believed to decrease recovery time and improve results, by reducing post-surgical swelling and fibrosis or scar tissue formation. We also perform this service for BBL, tummy tuck, mommy makeovers, breast augmentations & reductions.
Multiple sessions are recommended by surgeons for post lipo therapy so we’ve created packages of 6 treatments to take out the guess work. Since this is considered a medical therapy, don’t forget to use your HSA or FSA card when you book.
Scar taping & Fibrosis Therapy
To reduce scar tissue, the tape is applied in a manner that lifts the skin in directions that cause the scar tissue a little bit of stretch when a person is moving.
The direction that the tape is applied is unique to each scar and how the tissue around it is able to move. Over time this small amount of stretch causes remodeling of scar tissue which makes the scar less visible and less restrictive to movement.
Fibrosis is the thickening, hardening, or scarring of tissues in the body. Much attention in post op treatment is spent on preventing and controlling swelling, but unless the underlying and collateral fibrosis is addressed, tissues become denser. This can snowball into greater obstruction of lymphatic circulation, which in turn can worsen swelling.
Our therapists are specially trained in plastic surgery recovery and fibrosis massage.