Lymphatic Drainage
Lymphatic drainage —At Skin Revolution, we offer MLD as a stand-alone treatment, either for your full body or a targeted area. Our skilled therapists will also use the techniques in your facial treatments in any areas they see necessary.
What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage?
Manual lymphatic drainage or MLD massage uses very specialised gentle, rhythmic techniques with a soft touch to lightly stimulate your skin in the direction of healthy lymphatic flow.
This massage helps your lymphatic system to maintain your body’s fluid balance, immune system and circulatory system. A healthy lymphatic system also helps eliminate toxins from your body.
Developed by Dr Emil Vodder and his wife Estrid in the 1930s as a treatment for lymphedema, this treatment encourages lymph to move more freely around your body assisting in the reduction of swollen lymph nodes this also has a powerful relaxing and calming effect on your nervous system.
Why is your Lymphatic system important?
Your lymphatic system is an important part of your body’s immune system helping to defend you against infection. It transports lymph (a vital fluid containing infection-fighting white blood cells, among other things) throughout your body via a network of vessels, nodes, ducts and some of your glands (tonsils, adenoids, spleen, and thymus).
Amongst other functions, your lymphatic system is key for immunity, blood pressure regulation and digestion. The lymphatic system has no pump, and it is the pressure from your circulatory system and movement from your muscles that create lymphatic flow.
Why might I need MLD?
In our fast paced lives there can be many factors that contribute towards a clogged or sluggish lymphatic system and it is proven that a lymphatic system that is not functioning optimally can contribute to many health problems.
A sluggish Lymphatic system can often be seen causing areas of swelling in the body and face. Reliving this clogging with MLD is very beneficial to the skin and your general well-being and it is a remarkably detoxifying and relaxing to have.
Many people benefit from having MLD after illness or injury, before or after surgery or after a stressful period in their lives.
How does manual lymphatic drainage work?
MLD is a unique massage that uses a variety of specialised, gently stimulating movements to move the lymphatic fluid under your skin. This reduces any stagnation in your body and allows it to flow freely around your lymphatic system.
Where there are blockages or swelling (areas of lymph build up) these specialised techniques help stimulate the lymph nodes and increase the natural rhythmic contractions of the lymphatic vessels. In turn this encourages the lymph to find new pathways that enable healthy drainage away from the swollen area.
Free-flowing lymph and an optimally working lymphatic system help renew, nourish, strengthen and regenerate the cells of your body whilst also assisting with the removal of excess fluid from the system and waste products.
What can cause lymphatic swelling?
A blocked, compromised or sluggish lymphatic system is most commonly a side-effect of surgery, infection, trauma or certain diseases (such as autoimmune disorders or cancer).
When the lymph builds up in a particular area of the body, such as the arms or the legs, this is known as lymphedema.
Lymphedema symptoms can include swelling, skin discolouration, pain, weakness and feelings of heaviness in the affected arm or leg.
How will MLD massage help me?
It is deeply relaxing.
Promotes the healing of fractures, torn ligaments, sprains and lessens pain.
Improves many chronic conditions such as sinusitis, rheumatoid arthritis, acne and other skin conditions.
Strengthens the immune system and is great as part of a detox programe.
Relieves fluid congestion for example, swollen ankles, tired puffy eyes and swollen legs due to pregnancy.
Is an effective component of the treatment and control of lymphoedema and assists in conditions arising from venous insufficiency.
Promotes healing of wounds and burns and improves the appearance of old scars.
Minimises or reduces the formation of stretch marks.
Recommended as a pre-surgery treatment to prepare your body and tissue for the upcoming procedure and after surgery (especially cosmetic procedures) to speed recovery.
What Conditions can Manual Lymphatic Drainage Help With?
Manual lymphatic drainage may help with:
Lymphedema
Fibromyalgia – in fact authors of a 2015 systematic review concluded that MLD might be more effective that regular massage in relieving symptoms of stiffness and depressing in FM sufferers
Oedema (swelling)
Skin disorders
Fatigue
Insomnia
Stress
Digestive issues
Arthritis
Migraines & headaches
Sinus issues
Excess weight
Post trauma oedema
Post surgery recovery
Can everyone have MLD?
Mostly yes, this gentle, soothing massage is suitable for everyone. Its like an MOT for your body, it is a great treatment to have when you are feeling a little low or have been through a period of stress. MLD has a soothing effect on the sympathetic nervous system reducing anxiety and pain. There are just a few exceptions.
The conditions that prevent MLD include:
Congestive heart failure
Blood clots / DVT
Kidney problems / renal failure
Infections
“Before booking any course of treatment, we recommend you book a consultation.”
Why have a consultation with us?
Because without knowing what is going on with your skin how can you treat it correctly?
During your consultation we will ask you some questions and chat about your health, lifestyle, nutrition, and stress levels as well as how you feel about your skin. These external factors are important as they have a huge impact on the way your skin behaves. We can treat skin symptoms but in order to give you properly happy skin we must identify the causes of any problems.
Knowledge is power and we also think it is very important for you to understand how your skin functions. So, as well as offering you solutions in the form of a plan containing treatment and targeted homecare recommendations we will also share with you some skin education.
We offer two types of consultation that are conducted face to face in clinic as well as an online service via zoom or facetime for those of you who cannot come in to see us in person.
We recommend clients new to the clinic ideally start with a full Skin Consultation and Bespoke Treatment Plan Creation, this one includes a treatment too, a great way to get a feel of what we can do for you.
