Massage and lymphatic drainage combination in Calgary
Massage and lymphatic drainage combination in Calgary: muscle work plus light manual lymphatic drainage in one RMT session. 60 min $130, 90 min $165.
By The Renu lymphatic and massage team · 5 min read
Yes, one appointment can do both. Renu's massage and lymphatic combination pairs therapeutic muscle work with manual lymphatic drainage in a single session with a Registered Massage Therapist: 60 minutes is $130 and 90 minutes is $165. It suits healthy adults who are both tight and puffy; after surgery, with lymphedema, or with an infection, fever, blood clot, heart or kidney condition, book differently or check with your doctor first.
A massage and lymphatic drainage combination in Calgary lets you have tight muscles worked and puffy, heavy areas drained in the same appointment. At Renu it is a set treatment on our massage menu, 60 minutes for $130 or 90 minutes for $165, given by a Registered Massage Therapist. This page is about booking it well: what you are paying for, how to plan the time, who to book, and when a different treatment is the better call.
What the combination costs, and what you get for it
The combination is priced between a regular massage and a dedicated lymphatic session, and it often costs less than booking both separately.
| Option | Length | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Massage and lymphatic combination | 60 min | $130 |
| Massage and lymphatic combination | 90 min | $165 |
| Massage on its own | 60 min / 90 min | $120 / $157 |
| Classic lymphatic drainage massage on its own | 45 min / 60 min | $105 / $130 |
Booking a 45-minute lymphatic drainage massage and a 45-minute massage as two appointments would be $205. The 90-minute combination covers both for $165, in one visit and one drive across town. The 60-minute combination costs the same as a 60-minute classic lymphatic drainage session, so the choice there is about what you need, not price.
The combination is delivered by Registered Massage Therapists, so you receive an RMT receipt; whether your plan pays for it depends on the plan.
Planning the time: which half leads
Tell your therapist which problem bothers you more, because that decides how the time is divided. Every session at Renu starts with a short conversation, and the split follows what you describe that day. A few common patterns:
- “My shoulders are locked and my ankles are puffy by evening.” More time on neck and shoulder muscle work, with lymphatic drainage for the legs.
- “I feel heavy and bloated, and my back is a bit tight.” Lymphatic drainage leads, with shorter muscle work on the back.
- “I want a reset after a long flight.” A more even split, with drainage for the legs and massage for a stiff neck and low back.
For two clear goals, 90 minutes gives each half enough time; 60 minutes works well when one side is minor.
Why the two halves feel so different
The two techniques use very different pressure, and that is intended. Muscle work uses firmer, slower pressure to reach tight tissue. Lymphatic drainage at Renu uses flat hands and about five grams of pressure, roughly the weight of a nickel, in slow, wave-like movements that stretch the skin toward the lymph nodes. Cleveland Clinic describes the same principle: light pressure and specific techniques to move excess fluid toward working lymph vessels and nodes, rather than targeting muscle tension.
Because the lymphatic strokes work by gently moving the skin, they work best on skin that is not slick with heavy lotion or oil, which is why we ask you to skip both before your visit. Our page on why lymphatic drainage pressure is so light explains the anatomy.
Many people also find the lymphatic part deeply calming. In a randomized trial of 66 healthy adults aged 40 to 65, 45 minutes of lymphatic drainage therapy reduced spinal reflex excitability compared with resting on the table, which the authors read as reduced autonomic activity and tension. It was a small study in healthy people, so we treat it as interesting rather than proof.
Who should book something else
The combination is designed for healthy adults with everyday tightness and puffiness. Other situations deserve a treatment built for them:
- After surgery: book post-op lymphatic drainage, where the whole session follows your surgeon’s instructions.
- Lymphedema or lipedema: these need assessment and a plan, usually with Meeghan Mackenzie, our Certified Lymphedema Therapist.
- Swelling is the only concern: a classic lymphatic drainage massage spends the whole time on drainage.
- Pregnancy: book a prenatal massage instead.
The comparison of the combination and a dedicated lymphatic session goes through this choice in more depth.
Medical reasons to hold off on the combination
Lymphatic drainage is gentle, but it is not right for everyone. Cleveland Clinic advises avoiding lymphatic drainage massage if you have blood clots, cellulitis, deep vein thrombosis, a fever, heart disease, an infection, kidney failure or a history of stroke, and notes that it is not performed directly over cancerous tissue or radiation-damaged skin. If any of these apply, speak with your doctor before booking.
Get same-day medical help rather than a massage if one leg suddenly becomes swollen, painful, red or darkened, and call 911 if that comes with chest pain or shortness of breath, since these can be signs of a blood clot. Afterwards, some people notice fatigue, headache or nausea; Cleveland Clinic recommends reporting these to your health care provider. Muscle soreness from the firmer half usually lasts a few hours to about a day and a half. Our list of who should not have lymphatic drainage massage has more detail.
Reserving a combination session
Book online through Jane: choose the massage and lymphatic combination and a length. Leah Buschau, RMT, who has completed Vodder Level One training in manual lymphatic drainage, has a direct booking link for the combination on our team page. If you are not sure the combination is right, call us and we will help you choose. You will find us in West Hillhurst on 19 Street NW, with free street parking and appointments seven days a week.
Questions people ask
Who can I book for the massage and lymphatic combination?
Leah Buschau, a Registered Massage Therapist with Vodder Level One training in manual lymphatic drainage, has a direct Jane booking link for the combination on our team page. You can also call the clinic and we will help you find a time with a therapist who offers it.
Is the combination cheaper than booking two treatments?
Usually, yes. A 90-minute combination is $165, while a 45-minute lymphatic drainage massage and a separate 45-minute massage would come to $205. The trade-off is that each half is shorter than a dedicated session.
Can I have the combination the week after liposuction or a tummy tuck?
No. After surgery, book post-op lymphatic drainage, which is designed around your surgeon's instructions and the stage of healing, and leave firmer muscle work until your surgeon clears it.
Will the combination help me lose weight?
No. Lymphatic drainage moves fluid, not fat, so any lighter or less puffy feeling is about fluid and comfort, not weight loss.
Sources
- Cleveland Clinic: Lymphatic drainage massage
- Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies (2021): Lymphatic drainage therapy and autonomic responses in healthy adults, randomized trial
- Cleveland Clinic: Why does my body feel worse after a massage?
- NCCIH: Massage therapy, what you need to know
- NHS: Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) symptoms
Page reviewed October 5, 2026. This page is education, not a diagnosis. For your own situation, talk to your doctor, surgeon or care team, or ask us.
Keep reading
Related pages
