Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Lakewood.

The hands-on part of lymphedema care. Slow, light strokes that move stalled fluid out of a swollen limb, so the heaviness lets go.

Swelling and heaviness Gentle by design Talk to a Specialist

What It Is

Light hands. Real movement.

Your lymphatic system carries fluid out of your tissue. When it’s damaged or overloaded, that fluid sits where it lands. The heaviness, the tightness, the sleeve that won’t roll up: that’s the backup you’re feeling.

Manual lymphatic drainage is a slow, light, hands-on technique for moving it. Barely more pressure than a hand resting on skin. The vessels that do the draining sit just under the surface, so your therapist opens a healthy route first, then guides fluid toward it.

It is not a deep-tissue massage, and pressing harder makes it work less. MLD is also one component of Complete Decongestive Therapy, not a standalone fix. Drainage moves the fluid. Compression, exercise and skin care are what keep it moved.

Licensed physical therapist using light manual lymphatic drainage strokes along a patient forearm One part of a four-part program

What It Helps

Swelling that stopped going down on its own.

You’re the one who keeps everyone else’s day running, which is why you’ve been ignoring an arm that aches by dinner. Fluid that sits gets harder to move.

Lymphedema Pre & Post Surgery The arm that’s heavy by the end of the day

What A Session Looks Like

Quiet room. Slow hands.

1

We map where your fluid can still drain.

2

Light strokes clear that route first.

3

Then we walk the swelling toward it.

Why It Works

Gentle is the whole point.

Fluid that moves instead of sitting.

An easier bend at the elbow or knee.

Relief that never needs deep pressure.

A simplified version you can do at home.

Pairs Well With

Drainage moves it. These keep it moved.

Complete Decongestive Therapy The full program MLD belongs to. Start here if you’re new to this. Short-Stretch Bandaging Compression that holds today’s reduction until the next visit.

Questions, Answered

Manual lymphatic drainage, no mystery.

No. The pressure is very light on purpose, because the vessels being worked sit just under the skin. Press hard and you flatten the very thing you’re trying to use. Most people find it calming. If a swollen area feels tender, tell your licensed physical therapist and the technique gets adjusted to your comfort.

It depends on how much swelling there is and what caused it. A general guideline is 2–3 visits a week for 4–6 weeks, with sessions running 30–60 minutes. Treat that as a guideline, never a guarantee. If your swelling comes from lymphedema, drainage is one part of Complete Decongestive Therapy, and the plan ends with a home routine you run yourself.

You can start without one. California Direct Access allows up to 45 days or 12 visits, whichever comes first, before a physician signs off. We’re a Medicare specialist, we accept 14 plans plus all PPOs, and we verify your exact benefits before your first session so the bill holds no surprises. Questions before then? Call us at (562) 512-3320.

Book Your Visit

Ready when you are.

Request a time and a real person calls you back during business hours. No phone tree. No ‘someone will reach out.’ Just a plan.

  • Hours Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM
  • (562) 512-3320 Prefer to talk now? Call us.
  • No doctor’s referral needed to start

We call back during business hours, Monday to Friday

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