Quick answer
! Your surgeon's instructions come first. Massage doesn't replace follow-up visits, and if you've been told to wear compression garments, keep wearing them.
Self-pay lymphatic drainage at Circle Wellness
Circle Wellness offers lymphatic drainage massage and post-surgical massage in Melville for patients paying directly for their care
Ask about the current self-pay rate, session length and any separate charges before you book.
Call or text. Melville Corporate Plaza, 25 Melville Park Rd, Suite 200 B.
What lymphatic drainage massage is
Your lymphatic system collects fluid called lymph and returns it toward your heart through a network of vessels and nodes. When that process is disrupted, by surgery, illness or another medical treatment, fluid can collect and cause swelling. Cleveland Clinic describes lymphatic drainage massage as a gentle technique that moves this fluid from swollen tissue toward working lymph nodes.
It’s often called manual lymphatic drainage, or MLD. Healthcare providers mainly use it for lymphedema, the swelling that can follow breast cancer surgery when lymph nodes are removed.
Circle Wellness describes its lymphatic drainage massage as a gentle technique and lists it for post-surgical recovery and lymphedema. Post-surgical massage is listed separately. This is very different from the deeper work in our deep tissue vs myofascial release guide.
Normal swelling vs a problem
Swelling after surgery is expected. A 2025 review of swelling after aesthetic surgery describes postoperative edema as nearly universal and generally self-limiting, meaning it usually settles on its own.
The same review notes that persistent or disproportionate swelling may be an early sign of lymphedema. It lists extensive liposuction, body contouring and procedures that disrupt lymphatic vessels as risk factors.
Call your surgeon or doctor
When to start
There’s no single start date that applies to every surgery, so your surgeon decides. The research itself shows how much timing varies:
- In a pilot study of 20 women after abdominoplasty with liposuction, the MLD group started at 6 weeks after surgery, twice a week for 3 weeks with a certified lymphedema specialist, alongside a compression garment.
- In several studies of liposuction for lipedema, a different condition, MLD was used as an add-on typically starting 2 to 3 weeks after surgery.
Bring your surgeon’s written instructions to your first appointment, including any restrictions on pressure, positioning or areas to avoid.
Who should avoid it
Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding lymphatic drainage massage if you have:
Providers also won’t perform it directly over cancerous tissue or skin damaged by radiation therapy. If any of these apply to you, or you’re in active cancer treatment, talk to your doctor before booking.
What the research actually shows
MLD is widely used, but the evidence for it is mixed and depends on the condition. These are the studies we reviewed:
What a license doesn't tell you
| Situation | What the study found |
| After abdominoplasty with liposuction | A 2020 pilot of 20 women found MLD plus compression reduced swelling more than compression alone, but not by a statistically significant amount. |
| Breast cancer-related lymphedema (2022) | A meta-analysis of randomized trials found MLD helped with pain and reduced the incidence of lymphedema, but did not support it for reducing lymphedema volume or improving quality of life. |
| Breast cancer-related lymphedema (2020) | A meta-analysis of 12 randomized trials found MLD did not significantly reduce or prevent lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. |
| After knee replacement (2024) | A meta-analysis concluded that, based on current trials, MLD is not recommended for rehabilitation after total knee replacement. |
| Lymphedema after aesthetic surgery (2025) | A review listed MLD, compression and physical therapy as first-line conservative treatments, and called for more research to set evidence-based guidelines. |
Cleveland Clinic notes you might not see immediate results, and that if several sessions bring no noticeable improvement, you should ask your provider about other options.
What a session involves
According to Cleveland Clinic, a provider uses light pressure. The session usually begins by stimulating areas with lymph nodes, such as the neck, armpits and, with your consent, the groin, before gently moving fluid from swollen tissue toward those nodes.
Few people have negative reactions, but some notice fatigue, headaches or nausea afterward. If that happens, tell your provider.
Ask before you book
- What training does the therapist have in lymphatic drainage techniques?
- What does the team need to know about my surgery and my surgeon's instructions?
- What is the current self-pay rate and session length?
- Is there a separate charge for a first visit or assessment?
Paying for it
Paying directly doesn’t require any of the paperwork below. If you plan to use an FSA or HSA, two things matter:
- Cosmetic surgery is generally excluded. IRS Publication 502 says cosmetic surgery generally isn’t a medical expense when it’s aimed at improving appearance and doesn’t meaningfully promote proper body function or treat illness. There are exceptions, such as reconstruction after breast cancer surgery. Ask your administrator how it treats related aftercare.
- Documentation may be required. For massage connected to a medical condition such as lymphedema, your administrator may ask for a letter of medical necessity. See our guides to letters of medical necessity and FSA deadlines for medical massage.
What to expect at Circle Wellness
All medical massage services at Circle Wellness are performed by the licensed therapists at Enso Acupuncture and Massage, PLLC. Your visit starts with an assessment of your concerns and goals, and your therapist tailors the session to them and reviews your progress over time. Tell the team about your procedure, its date and any instructions from your surgeon.
We’re in Melville Corporate Plaza at 25 Melville Park Rd, Suite 200 B, near Route 110 and LIE Exit 49, open Monday to Friday 10 AM to 7 PM and Saturday 10 AM to 2 PM. Learn more on our medical massage page, or see how to check a New York massage therapist’s license.
FAQs
What is lymphatic drainage massage?
A gentle, light-pressure massage technique used to move excess fluid from swollen tissue toward working lymph nodes. It’s mainly used for lymphedema, and also after some surgeries.
When can I start lymphatic drainage after surgery?
Only when your surgeon says it’s appropriate. There is no single start date for every procedure, and studies have used different timing.
Does it reduce swelling after liposuction or a tummy tuck?
The evidence is limited. A small 2020 pilot after abdominoplasty with liposuction found more swelling reduction with MLD plus compression than compression alone, but the difference was not statistically significant.
Who shouldn't get lymphatic drainage massage?
Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding it with blood clots, deep vein thrombosis, cellulitis, infection, fever, heart disease, kidney failure or stroke. It isn’t done directly over cancerous tissue or radiation-damaged skin. Talk to your doctor if any of these apply.
Does lymphatic drainage massage hurt?
It uses light pressure. Tell your therapist about any tenderness from surgery so they can adjust.
Should I keep wearing my compression garment?
Follow your surgeon’s instructions. Cleveland Clinic says that if you wear compression garments to reduce fluid retention, you should keep wearing them alongside lymphatic massage.
How many sessions will I need?
There’s no standard number. If several sessions bring no noticeable improvement, ask your provider about other options.
Can I use my FSA or HSA for lymphatic drainage after surgery?
It depends on the purpose. Cosmetic surgery is generally not a medical expense under IRS rules, so ask your administrator how it treats related aftercare. For a medical condition such as lymphedema, your administrator may require a letter of medical necessity.
Can I book and pay directly at Circle Wellness?
Yes. Ask about the self-pay fee, session length and appointment requirements. We accept credit cards, debit cards, checks and cash, as well as HSA/FSA payments.
25 Melville Park Rd, Suite 200 B
Melville, NY 11747
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic, Lymphatic Drainage Massage. Medically reviewed; last updated September 19, 2024. Retrieved October 3, 2026.
- Circle Wellness, Medical Massage. Technique descriptions, visit process, location and provider disclosure.
- Beyond Swelling: A Review of Postoperative Lymphedema in Aesthetic Surgery (2025), via DOAJ.
- Maningas T, et al. Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Postoperative Abdominoplasty With Core Liposuction Patients. 2020.
- Safety and Efficacy of Surgical Techniques in Treating Lipedema: Systematic Review. Aesthetic Surgery Journal Open Forum.
- Lin Y, et al. Manual Lymphatic Drainage for Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Clinical Breast Cancer, 2022.
- Manual lymphatic drainage for lymphedema in patients after breast cancer surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Medicine, 2020.
- Effects of manual lymphatic drainage on total knee replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 2024.
- Internal Revenue Service, Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses. Cosmetic surgery rules.
- Circle Wellness, Insurance and Payments. Payment methods, hours and contact details.
Images: stock photography and a historical illustration from Unsplash, used under the Unsplash License. Credits are in each caption.
This article provides general information and is not medical advice. It does not determine whether lymphatic drainage massage is safe or appropriate for you, or when you can start after surgery. Follow your surgeon’s instructions and discuss treatment with a qualified healthcare provider. Confirm FSA or HSA eligibility with your plan administrator.
Does lymphatic drainage massage hurt?
It uses light pressure. Tell your therapist about any tenderness from surgery so they can adjust.
Should I keep wearing my compression garment?
Follow your surgeon’s instructions. Cleveland Clinic says that if you wear compression garments to reduce fluid retention, you should keep wearing them alongside lymphatic massage.
How many sessions will I need?
There’s no standard number. If several sessions bring no noticeable improvement, ask your provider about other options.
Can I use my FSA or HSA for lymphatic drainage after surgery?
It depends on the purpose. Cosmetic surgery is generally not a medical expense under IRS rules, so ask your administrator how it treats related aftercare. For a medical condition such as lymphedema, your administrator may require a letter of medical necessity.
Can I book and pay directly at Circle Wellness?
Yes. Ask about the self-pay fee, session length and appointment requirements. We accept credit cards, debit cards, checks and cash, as well as HSA/FSA payments.
Ask about a self-pay session
Call or text (631) 888-5957 to ask about deep tissue massage or myofascial release, current rates and session lengths at Circle Wellness in Melville.
