MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE
Manual lymphatic drainage for lymphedema and post-surgical swelling.
Gentle, Vodder-method MLD from a registered massage therapist trained as a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. Available at our Lougheed and New Westminster studios.
OVERVIEW
What is manual lymphatic drainage?
Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a gentle, specialized massage technique. It stimulates the natural flow of lymph fluid through the body. The therapist applies slow, rhythmic movements to the skin, following the pathways of the lymphatic system. The goal is to move excess fluid, proteins and metabolic waste out of swollen tissue, toward areas where the lymphatic system works normally.
At Launch Rehab, MLD is delivered by a registered massage therapist (RMT) trained in the Dr. Vodder method. She also holds Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) training. Before any treatment, she reviews your health history, current concerns and goals. Some conditions need physician clearance first.
MLD is available at our Lougheed (Burnaby) and New Westminster studios. People book it for diagnosed lymphedema, swelling after surgery, post-injury swelling and fluid retention. Many also find the light, wave-like technique calming.
BENEFITS
What this work is for.
- Manage lymphedema as part of a broader treatment plan
- Help manage swelling and bruising after surgery
- Manage post-injury swelling and fluid retention
- Ease heaviness, tightness and puffiness
- Promote relaxation through light, rhythmic treatment
CONDITIONS WE TREAT
What we help with.
- Lymphedema (primary and secondary)
- Post-surgical swelling and bruising
- Post-injury swelling
- Fluid retention
- Heaviness or puffiness in a limb
WHAT TO EXPECT
Your session, step by step.
Health history first
Your first visit starts with a health history and an assessment of the areas of concern. The therapist confirms MLD is appropriate, or flags anything that needs medical clearance first.
Light, sequenced treatment
The therapist works with bare hands, without oil or lotion, using slow wave-like strokes. Treatment usually starts near the body's central pathways, then moves to the area of concern.
CDT when it is needed
For diagnosed lymphedema, MLD works best as one part of Combined Decongestive Therapy. That adds compression or bandaging, skin care and exercise to the manual work.
A plan between sessions
Your therapist may give you simple home-care steps and suggest a session frequency. Sessions run closer together while swelling is active, and further apart for maintenance.
Health history first
Your first visit starts with a health history and an assessment of the areas of concern. The therapist confirms MLD is appropriate, or flags anything that needs medical clearance first.
Light, sequenced treatment
The therapist works with bare hands, without oil or lotion, using slow wave-like strokes. Treatment usually starts near the body's central pathways, then moves to the area of concern.
CDT when it is needed
For diagnosed lymphedema, MLD works best as one part of Combined Decongestive Therapy. That adds compression or bandaging, skin care and exercise to the manual work.
A plan between sessions
Your therapist may give you simple home-care steps and suggest a session frequency. Sessions run closer together while swelling is active, and further apart for maintenance.
UNDERSTANDING MANUAL LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE
A plain-language guide to MLD and the lymphatic system.
HOW IT WORKS
What the lymphatic system does
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels, nodes and tissues. It keeps fluid in balance, supports immune function, and carries excess fluid and cellular waste away from the tissues. As blood circulates, some fluid moves out into the surrounding tissue. The lymphatic system collects that fluid, called lymph, and filters it through the nodes before returning it to the bloodstream.
The lymphatic system has no central pump like the heart. Lymph moves with help from muscle activity, breathing, pressure changes and the natural contractions of the vessels themselves. When the system is impaired or overloaded, fluid pools in the tissue. The area starts to feel heavy, tight or visibly swollen.
THE TECHNIQUE
How MLD supports lymph flow
During MLD, the therapist applies gentle movements to the skin in specific directions. The strokes follow the body's lymphatic pathways. Treatment runs in a deliberate sequence. It usually starts near the body's central pathways, then works toward the area of concern, so fluid has somewhere to go.
Lymphatic vessels sit close to the surface of the skin, so MLD does not use deep pressure. Deep pressure compresses these delicate vessels and interferes with flow. The therapist also works without oil or lotion. The technique relies on a precise stretch and release of the skin. Most people find the light, rhythmic work calming.
IS IT FOR YOU
Who benefits from MLD
MLD may help people dealing with swelling, fluid retention, or conditions that affect normal lymphatic flow. Suitability is individual. Every course of treatment starts with a health history.
Lymphedema
Chronic swelling caused by an impaired lymphatic system, most often in an arm or leg. It can follow certain surgeries or cancer treatments, arise from medical conditions, or be genetic. For diagnosed lymphedema, MLD works best as one part of Combined Decongestive Therapy, alongside compression, bandaging, skin care and exercise.
Post-surgical recovery
MLD can help manage expected swelling, bruising and discomfort after certain procedures. Timing depends on the procedure and your recovery. Treatment follows your post-operative instructions and any required medical clearance.
Swelling and fluid retention
Post-injury swelling and impaired lymphatic flow. Treatment is matched to the cause, severity and location of the swelling.
General wellness
Some clients book MLD to ease heaviness or puffiness, or because the treatment itself is calming.
SAFETY
When MLD should wait for medical clearance
MLD is generally safe when performed by a trained professional, but it is not appropriate in every situation. Do not book MLD during an acute infection such as cellulitis or a fever. The same applies to an untreated deep vein thrombosis (DVT), decompensated or untreated congestive heart failure, and active untreated metastatic cancer.
Some conditions call for extra caution, modified treatment or physician clearance first. These include a history of cancer, skin conditions, thyroid disorders, bronchial asthma and kidney disease.
This is not a complete list of contraindications. If you live with a chronic health condition, ask your physician before booking MLD. Your therapist reviews your health history before treatment. This page is general information and does not replace assessment by a regulated practitioner.
OUR TRAINING
The Vodder method and our therapist's training
There are several MLD approaches in use today. Ask which method your therapist trained in. Our RMT trained in the Dr. Vodder method of manual lymphatic drainage. Dr. Emil Vodder and Dr. Estrid Vodder developed the technique in the 1930s. It uses gentle, rhythmic pumping movements that follow the natural direction of lymph flow.
Our RMT is also a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT), with specialized training in lymphedema management and Combined Decongestive Therapy (CDT). Where appropriate, treatment can include compression or bandaging, exercise, skin care education and self-care strategies alongside the manual work.
In BC, registered massage therapists are regulated by the College of Complementary Health Professionals of BC (CCHPBC). MLD at Launch Rehab is delivered within RMT scope of practice, at our Lougheed and New Westminster studios.
THE MLD GUIDES
7 plain-language guides to lymphatic drainage.
Everything on this page, explained properly and without jargon: how the lymphatic system works, who MLD helps, what it costs, and who should check with a doctor first. Every guide ends with its sources.
Start here
What the lymphatic system does, and how MLD differs from a regular massage.
The lymphatic system
What lymph is, why it pools, and why the system needs movement to drain. The plain-language foundation for everything else in this hub.
READ
MLD vs regular massage
One works the lymph vessels under your skin with feather-light strokes. The other works muscle. How to pick the right appointment.
READ
Swelling and conditions
Lymphedema and post-surgical swelling, explained without the jargon.
Lymphedema
Chronic swelling from a damaged lymphatic system, most often after cancer treatment. What it is, how it is managed, and where MLD fits.
READ
Swelling after surgery
Post-surgical swelling is expected. MLD can help it settle, but timing and your surgeon's clearance decide when it is safe to start.
READ
Booking, cost and safety
What a session costs, what insurance covers, and who should check first.
Your first session
What actually happens in a first MLD appointment, minute by minute: the health history, the light-touch treatment, and the homework.
READ
Cost and insurance
What MLD costs at Launch Rehab, what extended health plans cover, and exactly how ICBC and MSP treat massage therapy in BC.
READSafety and who should wait
MLD is gentle, but gentle is not the same as harmless. The conditions that rule it out, the ones that need clearance first, and why.
READ
WHY LAUNCH REHAB
What you get with us.
One-on-one, always
The clinician who assesses you is the clinician who treats you and progresses your plan. No assistant hand-off.
Five Metro Vancouver studios
Lougheed, Coquitlam, Richmond, New Westminster and North Burnaby. Book at the studio nearest you.
Evenings and weekends
Appointments outside business hours so treatment fits around work, not the other way around.
Direct billing
ICBC, MSP, WorkSafeBC and most extended health plans billed directly by our client care coordinators.
Convenient parking
Free parking at our Lougheed, North Burnaby and Richmond studios; paid street and transit-station parking at Coquitlam and New Westminster.
Regulated practitioners
Every clinician is licensed by their BC college and held to its scope-of-practice and ethics standards.
OUR MLD THERAPIST
Meet the therapist behind the care.
Arra Younus
Registered Massage Therapist
Lougheed · New Westminster
Arra is a registered massage therapist trained in the Dr. Vodder method of manual lymphatic drainage. She is also a Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) with training in Combined Decongestive Therapy. She treats MLD clients at our Lougheed and New Westminster studios.
KIND WORDS
What our clients say.
"After seeing different physiotherapists and chiropractors for over 10 years, I can confidently say Byron is one of the best physiotherapists I’ve worked with. From my very first appointment, he established that the goal wasn’t just to treat my pain temporarily, but to build a strong foundation so my back could heal properly for the long term. He took the time to thoroughly assess my condition and explained everything in a way that was easy to understand. For the first time, I truly understood why I was experiencing my symptoms and what the recovery process would look like. What really sets Byron apart is how thoughtful and patient he is. He always explains the purpose behind every exercise and how each one fits into my recovery plan. If an exercise feels too difficult or aggravates my symptoms, he genuinely listens to my feedback and quickly modifies the exercises so I can continue progressing safely. I never feel like my concerns are dismissed, and I always leave each session feeling informed, heard, and supported. After just one month of following his treatment plan, I’ve noticed a significant improvement in my back pain, strength, and confidence with movement. Although recovery will still take time, it’s been incredibly encouraging to regain a sense of control and independence in my daily life. It’s reassuring to see real progress after struggling with recurring back issues for so many years. Another thing I really appreciate is the teamwork at the clinic. If I’m unable to see Byron for one of my appointments, he collaborates closely with the another physiotherapist (Harleen) and thoroughly communicates my condition, treatment progress, and goals. Because of this, I never feel like I’m starting over with someone new. It’s reassuring to know I’ll receive the same high quality of care regardless of who I see. Overall, I’ve had a positive experience at Launch Rehab. If you’re looking for a physiotherapist who takes the time to educate you, creates a personalized recovery plan, and genuinely invests in your recovery, I highly recommend Byron. The quality of care I’ve received has been exceptional, and I’m incredibly grateful for his help."
JOEY CHU · LOUGHEED
FIVE STUDIOS · METRO VANCOUVER
OUR LOCATIONS
EST. 2025
LAUNCH REHAB LOUGHEED
Located next to LifeLabs in the City of Lougheed.
EST. 2024
LAUNCH REHAB COQUITLAM
On the second floor of the Evergreen building at Pinetree Way and Glen Dr.
EST. 2023
LAUNCH REHAB RICHMOND
Northeast corner of Williams Rd and No. 3 Rd in Broadmoor.
EST. 2021
LAUNCH REHAB NEW WESTMINSTER
Second floor of the Shops at New West, inside the Skytrain Station.
EST. 2015
LAUNCH REHAB NORTH BURNABY
Kensington Square Shopping Centre at Kensington Ave and Hastings St.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
MLD uses light, rhythmic movements on the skin to support the natural movement of lymph fluid, targeting the lymphatic system rather than deep muscle tissue. Conventional massage typically uses moderate to deeper pressure on muscles and soft tissue to relieve tension and stiffness. If muscle tension is the main concern, a standard registered massage therapy session is usually the better fit.