Lymphatic Drainage + Post-Op
Light hands. Real training. Done right.
Lymphatic drainage is one of the most requested services at Blackbird, and one of the most misunderstood. It's slow, light, rhythmic work that follows the pathways of your lymphatic system. Whether you're recovering from surgery, need to reset your central nervous system, or just want to feel lighter, every session is done by a certified manual lymph drainage specialist.
Pricing
Single sessions
Massage members pay the member rate. Booking a series? Ask us about 3 and 6-session packages.
Recovery and skin care members pay $110 / $160 for Lymphatic and $120 / $165 / $210 for Post-Op.
Which one is for me?
Same technique. Two reasons to book.
Both use manual lymphatic drainage. The difference is why you're here and how the session is planned.
Lymphatic Drainage · 50 or 80 min
For feeling lighter and calmer
Light, precise strokes that follow the natural pathways of your lymphatic system. Gentle, rhythmic, and deeply relaxing, it's a reset for your central nervous system as much as your body.
- You feel puffy, heavy, or sluggish
- You're stressed, wired, or can't switch off and need a central nervous system reset
- Chronic swelling you're managing with your doctor
- After long flights or long weeks on your feet
- You want a regular reset, not a deep tissue session
Post-Op · 50, 80 or 110 min
For after surgery
Manual lymphatic drainage adapted for surgical recovery. Planned around your procedure, your surgeon's instructions, and how you're actually healing, and always done by a certified manual lymph drainage specialist.
- Liposuction, tummy tuck, BBL, and breast surgery
- Orthopedic surgery and C-sections
- Any procedure that leaves persistent swelling
- Usually booked as a series. Packages of 3 or 6 save you money
What to expect
Your first session, start to finish.
01
Intake
Post-op clients: bring your surgeon's clearance, your procedure date, what was done, and any restrictions you've been given.
02
Light, slow work
We start away from the surgical site, at the neck, armpits, or groin, to make room before working closer. Going too deep or too fast actually makes it work worse.
03
Around your recovery
We work around drains, incisions, and compression garments. Wear or bring your garment; you'll want it back on right after.
04
After
You may need the restroom more often afterward. That's normal. Hydrate well before and after your session.
Post-op care, stage by stage
Your sessions change as you heal.
Recovery isn't one long stretch of the same thing. We build your plan around your procedure and adjust it session by session.
Early recovery
Gentle and protective
Once your surgeon clears you, usually somewhere between a few days and two weeks after surgery. Very light lymphatic work that respects fresh incisions, drains, and tender tissue. Many clients come two to three times a week here.
As swelling settles
Softening hard spots
After liposuction especially, tissue can harden in places as it heals. When we find those areas, we may bring in a warming device, cupping, and firmer, more direct pressure. We'll always tell you what we're doing and check in on pressure.
Later recovery
Tapering off
Sessions space out as swelling resolves and tissue moves more freely. We'll talk about how often to come back, and when you're ready to switch to regular lymphatic drainage or stop altogether.
Always follow your surgeon's timeline. Every procedure and every body heals differently.
Who does the work
Specialized training. Not a modified massage.
Lymphatic drainage requires specific training and a thorough understanding of lymphatic anatomy. At Blackbird, only certified manual lymph drainage specialists book these sessions.
- Certified manual lymph drainage specialists, trained in the Vodder method through Klose Training
- Years of experience with post-surgical clients
- Licensed massage therapists through the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation
- Every session is planned around you, not a one-size-fits-all routine
For surgeons and referring offices
Sending us a client?
We'd love to be part of your recovery plan.
- A certified manual lymph drainage specialist on every post-op session
- We ask for your written clearance before the first session
- 50, 80, and 110-minute sessions to fit your protocol
- Packages that make a full series affordable.
FAQ
Questions people ask at the front desk
We'd rather you read it here than find it out later.
How soon after surgery can I come in?
Most surgeons clear patients for lymphatic work somewhere between a few days and two weeks after surgery, depending on the procedure. Always follow your surgeon's timeline. We'll ask for their clearance before your first session.
How many sessions will I need?
Post-op recovery generally responds best to a series. A common starting point is two to three sessions a week for the first few weeks, tapering as swelling resolves. We'll build a plan around your procedure and how you're actually healing. That's why we offer 3 and 6-session packages.
Does it hurt?
Lymphatic drainage uses very light pressure and shouldn't hurt. Post-op areas can be tender, and if we're working on hardened areas after lipo, the pressure gets firmer. We'll always tell you what we're doing and check in as we go.
What should I bring and wear?
Loose, easy-on clothing. Post-op clients: wear or bring your compression garment so it can go right back on after. Bring your surgeon's clearance and any restrictions you've been given.
Is it really a nervous system reset?
That's how a lot of clients describe it. Lymphatic drainage is slow, light, and repetitive, and research has found it nudges the body into "rest and digest" mode: a slower heart rate and a calmer, less wired feeling. It's not a cure for stress or anxiety, but it's one of the most relaxing hours you can book.
What's the difference between Lymphatic and Post-Op?
Same core technique. Post-Op is adapted for surgical recovery: planned around your procedure, worked around incisions and drains, and may include tools like warming and cupping on hardened areas. It also comes in a 110-minute option.
Can I add cupping, CBD, or aromatherapy?
Add-ons aren't sold on these sessions. If your post-op plan calls for cupping or warming on hardened areas, your therapist includes it as part of the session.
Can I use my massage membership?
Yes. Members pay the member rate, and Momentum members can use their monthly credit toward an 80-minute Lymphatic or Post-Op session with a $15 upgrade fee.
I have a medical condition. Is this for me?
Every guest fills out an intake form before their first session. Some conditions mean we can't provide lymphatic work, and some just need a note from your doctor or surgeon first. These are safety limits, not a judgment about your health. Once a note is on file, you won't need it again unless something changes.
Tap a service to see its list. If you're not sure, ask your doctor. If they're comfortable with it, we'd love to have you.
Lymphatic Drainage
We can't provide it if you have
- An active infection, including cellulitis, or a fever that day
- A known or suspected blood clot or deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Congestive heart failure, or swelling caused by a heart condition
- Acute kidney failure
- Active, untreated cancer
- Severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Being under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or any impairing substance
Doctor's note needed first
- Current cancer treatment, or a history of cancer
- Any heart condition, including controlled heart failure or arrhythmia
- Chronic kidney disease
- A history of blood clots
- Diagnosed lymphedema
- A thyroid disorder
- Asthma
- Low blood pressure
- Diabetes, particularly with peripheral neuropathy
- A chronic or recurring infection
- Pregnancy, especially in the first trimester
Post-Op
We can't provide it if you have
- Not yet been cleared by your surgeon
- Signs of infection at the surgical site: redness, heat, pus, or a fever
- A known or suspected blood clot, DVT, or pulmonary embolism
- An unresolved seroma or hematoma your surgeon hasn't cleared
- An open, separating, or draining incision (we never work on an open wound)
- Congestive heart failure or an unstable heart condition
- Severe or uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Being under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or any impairing substance
Surgeon's note needed first
- Surgical drains still in place
- Current use of blood thinners
- A history of blood clots
- A seroma that has been drained
- Any complication since your surgery
- Any condition on the Lymphatic Drainage note list
Call your surgeon right away, or 911
- Pain, warmth, or swelling in one calf or leg
- Shortness of breath or chest pain
- A fever, or redness and heat spreading around an incision
