Lymphatic drainage massage is a specific technique, and you can tell from the table whether you are getting it
Manual lymphatic drainage has rules. It is not simply a gentle massage, and the difference between the two is visible in the first five minutes of an appointment if you know what to watch for.
None of this is secret or technical. It is just rarely explained, which is why people leave unsure whether they had the treatment they booked.
Four things to notice, in order
- Where they start. Not on the swelling. Proper technique clears the route first — the nodes nearer the trunk, above the area — before anything is moved toward it. If the therapist begins on your puffy ankle, that is not the sequence.
- The pace. Slow and repetitive to the point of feeling monotonous. The rhythm is part of the mechanism, not a stylistic choice.
- The pressure. Very light. The vessels are just under the skin, so the hands stretch skin rather than press into muscle. If it feels like a normal massage, it is one.
- The direction. Consistent, one-way, toward the drainage point. Not back and forth.
Why starting away from the swelling is the whole point
Fluid has to go somewhere. Moving it toward a route that has not been opened is pushing traffic toward a closed road. Clearing the proximal section first is what makes the rest of the session do anything at all, and it is the step most easily skipped, because to the person on the table it looks like the therapist is working on the wrong place.
If that is explained to you at the start, you are in good hands. If it is not, ask — it is a reasonable question and any therapist trained in this will be glad to answer it.
What it should not feel like
Deep. Brisk. Painful. Kneading. Long gliding strokes with a lot of oil, because oil makes hands slide rather than stretch skin, and stretching skin is the technique.
A relaxing massage is a good thing to buy. It is just a different thing, at a different price, and you should know which one you are on the table for — as is the question of whether you want the facial version or the body version.
What it costs
| Service | Time | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual lymphatic drainage massage | 60 min | $135 | The technique described above |
| Standard massage, 60 minutes | 60 min | $115 | Pressure, and a perfectly good purchase |
| Massage at our Downtown clinic | — | — | 2365 rue Saint-Patrick, Unit A5 |
Prices are pre-tax. Massage therapy is a taxable supply in Québec rather than an exempt health service, so GST and QST are added at checkout.
Two questions worth asking when you book anywhere
Ask whether the therapist is trained specifically in manual lymphatic drainage, and ask what they will do in the first ten minutes. The answers tell you more than any description on a website, including this one.
What we will not do
- Sell a relaxation massage as lymphatic drainage.
- Call it a detox, a cleanse or a slimming treatment.
- Treat post-surgical swelling without your surgeon's clearance.
- Treat one-sided limb swelling a doctor has not seen.
When we will not treat you at all
Active infection, including cellulitis in the area; congestive heart failure; a known or suspected blood clot; untreated or active cancer; and over broken skin, an unhealed incision or an active skin condition in the area.
See a doctor if
One limb is swollen and the other is not, particularly if it came on quickly, feels hot or painful, or the skin is red or tight. That can be a clot or an infection and both are urgent. Persistent one-sided swelling can be lymphoedema, which is a medical diagnosis with a medical care pathway.
Where to find us
Downtown Montreal — 2365 rue Saint-Patrick, Unit A5
Laval — 1655 boulevard de l'Avenir
Saint-Léonard — 5045 rue Jean-Talon Est
West Island — 45 boulevard Brunswick, Dollard-des-Ormeaux
This page is general information and is not medical advice. Prices are current as of 3 September 2026 and can change. Massage prices are stated before tax; massage therapy is a taxable supply in Québec and GST and QST are added at checkout. The description of technique here is general and does not evaluate any other practitioner or clinic; approaches and training differ legitimately between therapists. Manual lymphatic drainage is a light-pressure technique and is not a detoxifying, cleansing, slimming, weight-loss or fat-reduction treatment, and no such effect is claimed. New Age Spa does not diagnose or treat lymphoedema or any other medical condition. Anyone who has had surgery, or who has had lymph nodes removed or irradiated, should obtain clearance from the treating physician or surgeon before booking. Treatment is not performed where there is active infection including cellulitis, congestive heart failure, a known or suspected blood clot, untreated or active cancer, or over broken skin, an unhealed incision or an active skin condition in the area. Swelling of one limb, particularly of rapid onset or with heat, pain, redness or tightness of the skin, requires urgent medical assessment.
