Manual lymphatic drainage is a type of body massage done with your hands or with your own devices that helps eliminate excess fluids and toxins from the body, facilitating the treatment of cellulitis, swelling or lymphedema, and can be used in post- operative of plastic surgery.
Lymphatic drainage thin because it decreases body swelling but better results are obtained when it is done by a clinician. Lymphatic drainage should always be done towards the gullet and applying only a slight pressure with both hands on the skin, as excess pressure may inhibit lymphatic circulation and drainage no longer results.
Steps to do manual lymphatic drainage
1. Stimulation of the lymphatic system
Lymphatic drainage should always be initiated with maneuvers that stimulate the emptying of lymph nodes, located in the groin area and supraclavicular region. This stimulation in these regions should be done at least 3 times throughout the lymphatic drainage to ensure their results.
Then follow the following order:
2. Lymphatic drainage on face
To do drainage on the face watch:
3. Manual lymphatic drainage in the belly
To do manual lymphatic drainage on the belly you should first lie on your belly up and pass a little moisturizer on the belly. Then you should:
- Make circular movements all over the belly, clockwise, starting at the belly button.
- Make movements from the outside in and from top to bottom towards the groin, pressing the belly, as shown in the picture 2. Repeat between 5 to 10 times;
- Massage the side of the belly up and down, gently pressing the skin until it reaches the hip, as shown in the picture 3. Repeat 5 to 10 times.
4. Manual lymphatic drainage in the arms
To drain the arms, you should lie on your stomach with your arms stretched out along your body. Then you should:
- Make sliding movements from the wrist to the elbow. Repeat 3 to 5 times;
- Make the sliding movement from the elbow to the armpit region. Repeat 5 to 7 times.
5. Manual lymphatic drainage in the legs
To do manual lymphatic drainage on the legs you should preferably be lying down, and pass a little moisturizer on the leg. Then you should:
- Make movements from the ankle to the back of the knees, pressing the hands against the skin as if wearing a pair of pantyhose, as shown in Figure 1. Repeat 5-10 times;
- Place your hands behind the knee fold and climb up to the groin, past the butt, as shown in picture 2. Repeat 5 to 10 times.
Does Drainage Work?
Lymphatic drainage works because the fluids that cause swelling and cellulitis are redirected into the blood, filtered through the kidneys and then eliminated from the body through the urine. However, the results are more easily seen when associating healthy eating and regular exercise. Learn about other benefits of lymphatic drainage.
Prices
The price of lymphatic drainage ranges from 80 to 100 reais per session, depending on the region of the body to be treated and the clinic chosen.
