What is Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage massage?
Brazilian Lymphatic Massage is a form of massage that involves stimulating the lymphatic drainage system of the body for the removal of toxins and excess fluids. This therapy is specifically suitable for eliminating excess body fluids that tend to accumulate in the deeper tissues of the skin and muscles.
About the service:
The lymphatic system is the body’s main defense system. It consists of lymph nodes (lymph nodes), that is, a complex network of vessels, responsible for transporting lymph from tissues to the circulatory system.
It works in conjunction with various organs and elements of the organism. This is how it manages to reach all parts of the body to filter the tissue fluid that it nourished, oxygenated the blood capillaries and left carrying carbon dioxide and excretions.
Unlike blood that is propelled by the force of the heart, lymph in the lymphatic system moves slowly and with low pressure. It depends on the compression of muscle movements to press on the fluid.
It is from the contraction performed by the movement of the muscles that the fluid is transported to the lymphatic vessels.
How can we help our lymphatic system?
One of the ways we can help our body perform this function is with lymphatic drainage. Drainage is a massage technique that aims to stimulate the lymphatic system to work faster.
The technique is manual.
In addition to helping the lymphatic system, among the main benefits of the method are
- Speeds up surgery recovery and optimize outcomes
- Boosts the immune system
- Reduces the appearance of cellulite
- Helps with hormonal imbalance (menopause, PMS and pregnancy)
- Helps with constipation
- Improves circulation & metabolism
- Eliminates toxins from the body
- Decreases water retention
- Improves bowel functionality
- Contours the body & Abdominal circumference reduction!
In order to be efficient, lymphatic drainage must be carried out along the path of the lymphatic vessels, towards the lymph node. When done manually, the movements are light, with pressure on the bracelet.
Each region of the body asks for different movements, always ending in some lymph node. In the legs, the movements are ascending: from the leg to the popliteal fossa (back of the knee), from the thigh to the groin. In the belly the movement should be made to the groin. In the arms and chest, the movements go to the armpit.
What to Expect During the B.L.D.M:
The massage is an all-over body experience not dissimilar to regular massage, with some exceptions. Expect gentle stomach manipulation and some breast massage, but you’ll feel relaxed, just like during a standard massage. You should not expect it to be painful at all unless your treatment is straight after surgery. Even post-surgery it shouldn’t be unbearable; it feels a bit like touching a numb area, but it is very important to bring the sensitivity back and to increase the blood perfusion.
Relaxing the abdominal muscles and having an empty bladder helps to make your experience more pleasant and leads to better results!
How To Prepare For Your Brazilian Lymphatic Massage:
1- Take a shower prior.
2- Stay Hydrated –
You should always stay hydrated in general, but it’s extra-important to drink enough water before getting a Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage Massage. Experts suggest that you should drink about 8 8-ounce glasses of water every day. This can also apply to the amount of water you should have before going to your appointment.
There are several reasons you need to stay hydrated before the massage. Having plenty of water in your system will allow the detoxification process to flow more smoothly. If you’re dehydrated, the process will take longer and might not be as effective.
Either way, the detox process will still be underway by the time you get home, but you’ll be much more likely to fight off any illnesses that can stem from detoxification if you’ve had your daily fill of water.
3 – Don’t Eat a Big Meal
While you need lots of water before your lymphatic massage, it’s also best to have as little food beforehand as possible. If you’re unable to fast before your appointment, then you should try to eat only small snacks or small portions.
The reason you shouldn’t have a full stomach is that it can make the lymphatic massage uncomfortable.
A full stomach will make it more difficult to drain the toxins from your abdomen and the organs around that area.
Although it can be difficult not to eat before an appointment, the health benefits you’ll receive from your lymphatic massage will make the fasting worth it.
4. Wear Proper Clothing
While it’s customary to remove your clothing during a massage so it doesn’t get in the way, not everyone is comfortable doing that, which is understandable.
If you’d rather keep your clothing on, then you should wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing that will make it easier for the masseuse to work on the areas that need to be massaged.
Don’t worry if you don’t have the right clothing. You could also ask for the professional to do their work using a sheet.
Professionals are there to help you and make you comfortable so all you need to do is communicate with them about your needs.
5. Certain Drugs Will Be Metabolized
In lymphatic massage side effects, it’s important to know that specific drugs will be metabolized, which will cause them to drain out of your body at a faster rate.
If you don’t take any medications, then you don’t have to worry about that at all.
However, if you’re taking certain post-surgical drugs or pain medications, then you might have to adjust your dosage to compensate for the drainage.
Before scheduling an appointment, it’s best to consult with your doctor first.
6. Be Ready to Move Your Body Afterward
To make sure the detoxification process goes smoothly, you should be prepared to get the body moving a little afterward.
We recommend about 10 to 15 minutes of increased breathing and. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be an intense workout.
You could go for a little walk outside of the place where you got your massage before going to your car. Other options include going to the gym, going home to give your dog a nice walk, or even practicing some low-key yoga.
Whichever way you get your heart going, you should not skip this important step.
7. Be Ready to Rest and Relax
After you’ve done about 15 minutes of gentle movement, then you should plan on relaxing and resting for the remainder of the day.
It’s common to feel worn out after your lymphatic massage because getting the toxins out of your body can take a bit of a toll at first. The following day you should feel good as new, though.
With this in mind, you can pick out a movie or two to watch while you cuddle up on the couch or choose one of your favorite books to reread while you’re snuggled in bed.
It’s rest that you need and have earned.
8. What to Avoid
Avoid alcohol before your session, and avoid carbs, alcohol, and sugar after your session; consume very clean meals afterward.
9. Call If You’re Sick
Getting sick happens to the best of us. If you’re feeling under the weather as your appointment is coming up, then you should call.
You can shorten the length of your lymphatic massage appointment or you might have to cancel altogether. The first couple of days of illness are definitely not the time to have lymphatic drainage therapy.
That you’re sick could be a sign that your lymphatic system is not working properly, so be sure to reschedule your appointment after you’re feeling better.
Aftercare:
As with any massage, light-headedness is likely the most common side effect, because you are increasing blood flow, but again—that can happen with any massage. Typically, people feel thirsty and need to rehydrate heavily after the massage.
Taking care of the body after a Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage massage is a lot like taking care of the body before—continue drinking water and eating clean, to make sure the results really stay and last as long as possible. Dry brushing is also recommended.
The massage results can last up to 10 days, but it really depends on the individual’s metabolism, health, and lifestyle. However, incorporating lymphatic drainage massage into your regular routine will make the results last longer while boosting the other aforementioned benefits, so it’s absolutely worth a try if you’re looking to make a commitment.
How often is a Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage Massage recommended?
Each session of Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage Massage lasts for about 60 minutes.
Ideally, we recommend having 1-3 treatments done weekly to address symptoms of fluid retention, bloating, swelling and cellulite. Some patients may require more frequent treatments and many often choose to integrate regular Brazilian Lymphatic Massage treatments into their routine to help eliminate toxins, promote a healthy complexion, support digestion and contour and sculpt the body.
This treatment is also recommended in the post-partum and post-operative period to improve recovery. Post-surgically it is most often recommended for those who have undergone cosmetic procedures such as liposuction, Brazilian butt lift, breast lift/implant/reduction and abdominoplasty but can be beneficial following a number of other surgeries.
Contraindications:
For the most part lymphatic drainage massage is safe. With such a light touch, the danger of causing damage to the tissue is slim. However, there are a few conditions that are contraindicated, and these happen when an increase of lymph flow would be detrimental. It is a good idea to get clearance from their doctor if you ever feel uncertain about working on someone. Acute inflammation, Malignant tumors, Thrombosis and major heart problems are all contraindications to lymphatic drainage massage.