If you’ve watched a lymphatic massage video and thought, ‘That looks painful,’ you’re not alone. Between the squeezing, scraping, and dramatic before-and-afters, it can be hard to know what a session is actually supposed to feel like.
What does “lymphatic massage” mean?
Social media often groups manual lymphatic drainage, body sculpting, and other massage techniques under the same label. This creates confusion and misinformation to be spread. The truth is, the term lymphatic massage can mean a few different things.
When used in a medical setting, typically therapists utilize manual lymphatic drainage or MLD. This is a specialized type of gentle massage designed to move fluid aways from the body’s tissue and towards working lymph nodes. It requires extra certification to offer MLD and is a very specialized and GENTLE treatment that has been recognized by medical establishments to help reduce the discomfort of conditions such as Lymphedema and Lipedema. The amount of pressure used in a Manual Lymphatic Drainage session is described as the weight of a quarter. MLD can also be very beneficial in reducing pain and inflammation for people with autoimmune and chronic illness.
Brazilian lymphatic drainage is another form of lymphatic drainage that is super popular on social media right now. It is a fast-paced fusion of traditional lymphatic drainage and body-sculpting/myofascial techniques based on traditional Brazilian massages. The pressure is moderate-to-firm using firm hand strokes, pumping motions, and oils or lotions. Brazilian lymphatic massage generally focuses on aesthetic results, body contouring, de-bloating. The main focus is reducing temporary water retention or the appearance of cellulite. It is designed to give an immediate, sculpted, and de-puffed look, especially around the abdomen and waist making it great for pre-event massages.
Personally, I like both methods and actually use both, sometimes in the same session! My belief is that there is no one size fits all treatment and sometimes what works for one body or even one body part isn’t right for another. That being said, I do not think lymphatic drainage should ever be painful. this is especially true after surgery when your body is already healing from a trauma, I do not see the benefit of further traumatizing the tissue.
Why more pressure isn’t always the goal
The vessels of your lymphatic system sit just under your skin which is why MLD uses such light pressure. Your lymph capillaries are extremely delicate, using too much pressure collapses them blocking lymph Instead of moving it. Unlike deep tissue massages that target muscles and fascia, MLD is focused strictly on the skin and sub-dermal level where lymph fluid collects.The gentle, rhythmic, skin-stretching motions of MLD mimic the body's natural pumping action. This encourages the tiny lymph vessels to contract and push fluid toward your lymph nodes.
This is especially important after a surgery or injury or for clients who have compromised or overwhelmed systems. Heavy, aggressive pressure on swollen, inflamed or post-surgical tissue can increase trauma, pain, and make inflammation worse. This in turn can lead to more scar tissue formation and issues down the road.
Brazilian Lymphatic Massage is focused more on the deeper structures of the lymphatic system as well as the aesthetic sculpting of the soft tissue and fluid within it. Brazillian lymphatic massage is generally contradicted in post surgical work until later healing stages but can be very beneficial in these later stages helping to encourage the body to heal smoothly, increase mobility and reduce scar tissue. Using the firmer pressure of the Brazilian method too early can disrupt internal stitches, increase inflammation, and damage fragile, regenerating lymphatic vessels. My goal is always to for my clients to have the smoothest recovery possible and part of that is knowing the benefits and drawbacks to each technique.
What to expect at NØDE
A conversation about goals, health history, and areas of concern.
An explanation of the techniques being used and why we chose them.
Space to ask questions and request pressure changes throughout the session.
Questions to ask before booking anywhere
What training do you have in lymphatic drainage?
Does this session include sculpting or deeper massage? (Its okay to want this too, if it is right for your current body!)
What should it feel like?
Is this appropriate for my health history and goals?
You don’t have to push through pain to deserve care. At NØDE, we start with a conversation about what brings you in and build your session from there. Curious about which appointment fits your needs? Reach out before booking I’m happy to help!