Frequently Asked Questions

  • Meagen (she/her) is a nationally certified and New York state Licensed Massage Therapist of several years with a degree in Occupational Studies of Massage Therapy. She specializes in orthopedic massage therapy and is certified in manual lymphatic drainage (MLD). She considers her practice a safe space for people of all body types, nationalities, gender identities, and abilities.

  • In 2021 I received a 50-hour certification for MLD from the International Lymphedema & Wound Training Institute, which is approved for continuing education through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy and the American Occupational Therapy Association. 40% of the class is based on the science of the lymphatic system itself, as opposed to purely learning the techniques. You can see more about this program here https://www.ilwti.com/pages/modern-mld-certification

  • “Lymphatic drainage” is a treatment performed to move fluid into the lymph nodes of the body or to possibly prevent excess edema due to surgery, certain health conditions, or a sluggish lymphatic system.

    Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is when the treatment is performed using hands, as opposed to machinery or compression garments. When done correctly, it is very slow and gentle.

  • While it is also a form of manual manipulation of the body, technically no, because when done properly it addresses the lymphatic system and not the musculoskeletal system like massage does. This also explains why the pressure will be much lighter.

  • Yes, and there is no law in New York stating that licensed massage therapists must have any training to do so! Because of the great financial and time commitment it takes to become certified in this, most LMTs do not pursue full certification. Some may have brief training from their employer who may be self-taught, certified or have developed their ‘own’ form of MLD or a blend of MLD and massage.

    If they use the word “massage” after ‘lymphatic’, it is likely a combo technique being administered, which is not shown to be clinically effective.

  • Helpful for swelling caused by lymphedema, post-operative nodule reduction, prevention of post-surgical swelling, and prevention of lymphedema in those who are at a high risk for it

    Potentially helpful for brief water weight loss, brief reduction of the appearance of cellulite, system detox, bilateral swelling of unknown origin

    Not helpful for unilateral swelling, pain management, weight loss, or permanent cellulite reduction

  • People with the following conditions:

    any history of Deep Vein Thrombosis(DVT)

    Thyroid dysfunction

    Acute cellulitis

    Renal Failure

    Unstable hypertension

    Severe cardiac insufficiency including Congestive Heart Failure

    Hepatic Cirrhosis with ascites (abdominal fluid)

    Superior vena cava obstruction

    Untreated tuberculosis or malaria

    Edema following carcinoma treatment

  • It varies but I have had several people exclaim that they saw results immediately following their sessions! For those clients, they could see it in the mirror or feel it, and for others, their shoes or clothing fit better.

    It depends on why they are coming in, the severity of the issue, age, and their individual body's natural ability to clear lymphatic fluid.

    However, the most dramatic results you see on social media are likely edited! I would not come in expecting dramatic results in one session, but be pleasantly surprised if you do!

  • I have seen next-day results of 50-100% clearing of swelling on myself in 3-4 self-manual lymphatic drainage treatments while traveling (swollen feet and mid-arm). It is very reassuring because I know all these clients can’t be imagining excellent results if I too am seeing such outcomes from my own administered treatments!

  • I am one of the very few licensed massage therapists who have studied MLD in a class meant for healthcare providers in a medical setting, so you can trust that you will receive therapeutically appropriate treatment, as opposed to something that just ‘feels good’ but does nothing! But please remember, what your body does after our treatments is up to the body itself.

  • Due to lower expsenses, you’ll find our MLD treatments to be 15% less than the price of most spas in NYC offering MLD and nearly 50% of those done in a plastic surgeon’s office! When comparing the cost of a MLD session to that of a massage please consider that those of us who completed the most extensive MLD certification have spent somewhere between $1,300-$1,500 for it and 5-7 weeks learning the course material. You are paying for that expertise along with the amount of MLD experience of the individual therapist. So be wary if such treatment is cheaper than the cost of a massage for an equal treatment time.

  • It depends. If you receive this from an LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist) at a spa or office that accepts tips, a tip is expected and greatly appreciated. The national standard tip percentage for any spa or beauty service is in line with that of a restaurant server. In expensive New York City that is 20% of the full-service rate before discounts. Often, a $20 bill tip is far less than that. Due to the physical toll of the work we do, a full-time LMT sees 16-20 clients a week maximum (less if not fully booked & during slow seasons), and tips equate to 1/3 to nearly half of our annual salaries. So unless your experience is really unpleasant, please consider leaving at least 20% gratuity. Unless self-employed, we MTs cannot survive without adequate tips!

    However, if you receive this from a medical office tips are not allowed. And in the case of seeing massage therapists privately like you would me, we receive the full session cost less expenses, so tip is generally not expected or is included in treatment cost. Feel free to instead leave a positive review or refer a friend!

  • By booking a self-employed LMT, you can save on the 20% tip and possibly receive package rates that may not be offered at spas! You also get to support someone who would otherwise be making 25-40% of the cost of your treatment despite performing it themselves. If this is still too costly, see if you qualify for insurance reimbursement. (See Policies tab for more).

  • That is a discussion to be had in-person after a detailed assessment is taken. As a general idea, my post-operative cosmetic surgery clients are frequently told by their surgeons to have 2-3 sessions a week for 3 weeks after gaining their clearance. Still, it is best if a doctor advises you on this. I don’t want to push you to do any more of these costly sessions than your body needs!

    If you want my true recommendation of frequency it will be strictly based on our assessment and prior clients with similar chief complaints, and not the (high) associated costs.

  • 75% of my current and past MLD clientele is post-op cosmetic surgery clients. I also have experience performing MLD on patients with compromised immune systems including cancer survivors. Cancer patients should be in remission for 6 or more months and not undergoing chemo or radiation. Both should have doctor’s clearance for MLD specifically and no ports or drains in (if you are leaking fluid please wait!) Clients should be able to get on and off a massage table, lie face up comfortably, and receive light to medium pressure. No open wounds should be exposed at the time of treatment.

  • Learn about the lymphatic system in 7 minutes here.

    Start of an MLD session (very similar to my method) here.

  • After watching video 1 in the previous question, you should have a better understanding of why these are the two most important parts of the session. To be the most effective, we can’t shorten or skip them. Try to meditate during that time if you prefer.

  • I do offer short MLD treatments but only as a package that includes a massage treatment. The MLD part of the session will always be done first (without oil) and could be anywhere between 25-60 minutes. It is harder to specify an exact time frame than it is for massage for reasons that are complicated to explain, but things like the surface area of the body parts in question and my flow are the biggest factors.

    And the timing could slightly change each session because there is room for error so long as I am human. The only static timing will be the massage portion, which varies in duration depending on what you book.

  • While I am very open to the idea, I don’t drive, and carrying a massage table is quite taxing on the body without a car. So if you have a massage table or are open to purchasing one, I can create a package for you. The individual per-session cost would be higher due to travel time, but buying a package would save you money on that! My home rates are listed on the Services page. If you need help with the purchase of a quality table, please reach out!

  • Meagen speaks Spanish fluently, basic Portuguese and has an excellent sense of humor in native English! She has traveled extensively and is a foodie and audiophile. She also writes, bikes, and practices circus arts recreationally.