Very light. Your therapist stretches and releases the skin with flat hands rather than pressing into muscle, so there is no deep pressure and it should not hurt. Oil is often left off, because the technique needs grip on the skin. Most people find the slow rhythm relaxing and some fall asleep. Session length varies with how much of the body is treated. [CONFIRM: standard appointment lengths offered]

You need clearance from your surgeon or treating doctor first, and the right timing depends on the procedure you had. Once cleared, your therapist works away from the incision until it has fully closed, and treats the regions that drain the area instead. Bring details of your operation and any post-operative instructions to your first appointment.

It varies with the cause. Short-term swelling after surgery or injury often responds within a small block of sessions, with self-drainage carrying the rest. Ongoing conditions such as lymphoedema are usually managed long term, with a more frequent early phase followed by maintenance appointments. Your therapist gives you an expected pattern at your first visit and reviews it as your swelling responds.

The pressure and the target are different. A standard massage works muscle tissue with moderate to firm pressure. Lymphatic drainage uses very light, rhythmic, directional strokes over the skin, because the lymphatic vessels it works on sit just beneath the surface. It should not feel forceful, and it is not designed to release muscle tension; it is designed to encourage fluid movement.

Yes. It is not suitable during an active infection or fever, with an untreated deep vein thrombosis, or with unmanaged heart or kidney failure, because moving extra fluid into circulation can make these conditions worse. If you have a current cancer diagnosis, a heart condition or kidney disease, check with your doctor first, and tell your massage therapist before the session begins.

No referral is needed; you can book directly. If you are having lymphatic drainage as part of managing a medical condition such as lymphoedema, it works best coordinated with your treating doctor or lymphoedema therapist, and your massage therapist will ask about that care so the session fits what your medical team is doing.