Lymphatic Learning Centre
Plain-language guides to swelling, surgery recovery, lymphedema, lipedema and the quiet system that moves fluid through your body. Written by our lymphatic team, led by Meeghan Mackenzie, RMT, CLT.
Lymph · /limf/ · noun
From the Latin lympha. Clear water.
Your lymphatic system returns about 1.5 to 2 litres of clear fluid to your bloodstream every day, filtering it through 400 to 1,000 lymph nodes along the way. When surgery, illness or injury slows it down, you feel it as swelling, heaviness and tightness. These guides explain what is happening and what helps, one question at a time.
Plain words.Every guide opens with the short answer, then the detail.
CLT-written.Grounded in Vodder, Földi and Chikly training.
Honest limits.What we can help with, and when you need a doctor instead.
Nine guides
Follow the flow
Lymph moves one way, from the far reaches of the body toward the collarbones. These guides do the same. Start at the beginning, or go straight to what you are living through right now.
Ten recovery guides
Recovery guides by surgery
Every surgery drains differently. Our recovery guides give procedure-specific timelines, session plans and warning signs, each with a downloadable PDF. Here is when most clients start, and how many sessions they usually need. Your surgeon's timeline always comes first.
| Surgery | First session | Typical sessions | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 360 lipo | 5 to 7 days after surgery (some surgeons prefer 7 to 14) | 6 to 10 over 6 to 8 weeks, about 2 hours of lymphatic work per litre removed | Read · PDF |
| Tummy tuck | 1 to 2 days after your drains come out | 3 to 6; 8 to 12 with liposuction or a mommy makeover | Read · PDF |
| Breast surgery | Within 1 to 2 weeks, or once incisions close at about 2 to 3 weeks, per your surgeon | Augmentation 2 to 4; lift or reduction 4 to 6; explant 4 to 8 | Read · PDF |
| Mastectomy and reconstruction | Once drains are out and incisions have closed | Tailored to your history; complete decongestive therapy if lymphedema develops | Read · PDF |
| BBL | 5 to 10 days after surgery, on the liposuction areas only | 6 to 10 over 6 to 8 weeks | Read · PDF |
| Facelift, neck lift or eyelid surgery | 5 to 7 days after surgery (rhinoplasty often 7 to 10) | 3 to 5 over the first 6 weeks | Read · PDF |
| Knee or hip replacement | Once your incision has closed and a clot is ruled out; often 4 to 6 weeks or more | 4 to 8, alongside physio | Read · PDF |
| Fibrosis after liposuction | When firmness lasts or hardens past 4 to 6 weeks; it's never too late | Weekly, often over a couple of months for older fibrosis | Read · PDF |
| Chin and neck lipo | 5 to 7 days after surgery | 3 to 5 over the first 6 weeks | Read · PDF |
| Arm lipo | 5 to 7 days after surgery | 4 to 6; 6 to 8 after an arm lift | Read · PDF |
Questions
What people ask us first
Still unsure? Send us a note or call 403-270-2111.
Content reviewed September 27, 2026 by Meeghan Mackenzie, RMT, CLT
Does lymphatic drainage hurt?
It shouldn't. Manual lymphatic drainage uses flat hands and about five grams of pressure, roughly the weight of a nickel. After surgery, the first few minutes can feel tender, and that usually eases as the session goes on. If you're flinching, the pressure is wrong. Most people find it deeply relaxing, and many fall asleep.
How soon after surgery can I start?
For most liposuction and facial surgeries, about 5 to 7 days after surgery, once your surgeon clears you. After a tummy tuck, usually a day or two after your drains come out. Some breast surgeries wait until incisions close at about 2 to 3 weeks, and joint replacements often later. See Recovery guides by surgery for your procedure. We always follow your surgeon's timeline.
Why do I feel so relaxed, even sleepy, afterward?
Slow, light, rhythmic touch stimulates sensory nerve endings in the skin that calm the nervous system. It shifts you toward your "rest and digest" state, which is why many clients feel drowsy and some notice less pain after a session.
Do I need a doctor's referral?
You don't need a referral to book with our Registered Massage Therapists or our Certified Lymphedema Therapist. Many extended health plans cover massage therapy by a Registered Massage Therapist, and we provide RMT receipts. Some plans ask for a doctor's note, and some cover compression garments with a prescription, so check your plan.
What is the difference between an RMT and a CLT?
A Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) is trained in massage therapy. A Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) has completed additional specialized training, typically 135 hours or more, in lymphedema, post-surgical and oncology care, including complete decongestive therapy.
Can I book if I have lymphedema or lipedema?
Yes. Lymphedema, lipedema, post-surgical and oncology care are at the centre of what we do. We start with a full health history, and we may ask for medical clearance first if something needs a doctor's eyes.
West Hillhurst, NW Calgary
Questions about your recovery?
Send us your surgery date and we will map out your sessions, or call the clinic. Your surgeon's plan always comes first.
200, 209 19 St NW · Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 8:30 pm · Saturday and Sunday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm