Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)
Your lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump like your heart. It relies on muscle movement, breathing, and manual assistance to keep fluid flowing. When it slows down or backs up, you feel it — swelling, puffiness, heaviness, tightness that doesn’t resolve with rest.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a light, rhythmic technique that follows the natural direction of your lymphatic pathways to help clear that fluid and restore normal flow.
Who this helps
1
Recovery Support & Post Surgical Swelling (cosmetic or reconstructive)
MLD helps clear the fluid buildup that naturally follows surgery, easing tightness and supporting a smoother more comfortable recovery.
2
Lymphedema (primary or secondary, including post-cancer treatment)
MLD is a foundational tool for managing swelling long-term and keeping the affected limb or area as functional and comfortable.
3
Chronic Swelling (limbs, face, or trunk)
When swelling lingers without a clear cause, MLD encourages the fluid to reroute through pathways that are still working, often bringing visible relief.
4
Fluid Retention and Bloating, not explained by diet
If bloating isn’t a digestive issue, it may be a lymphatic one — MLD helps move that trapped fluid instead of waiting for it to resolve on its own.
Meet Carly
Carly is an Occupational Therapist and Certified Lymphedema Therapist (CLT) with a background in inpatient rehabilitation. Originally from Illinois, she brings a whole-body approach to every session, combining her OT training with specialized lymphatic expertise to help clients manage swelling, recover from surgery, and feel more comfortable in their bodies. Carly is passionate about patient education — helping clients understand not just what she’s doing, but why it works, so they can support their own recovery between sessions.
