In this interview with professional lymphatic drainage practitioners, we answer questions frequently asked by our patients.
Could you explain the benefits of lymphatic drainage (whatever the technique), its effects on tissues and the areas concerned (body, face)?
Lymph is the interstitial liquid that circulates in our body, enabling exchanges between blood and cells. It is transported by lymphatic vessels and passes through lymph nodes, where it is filtered and cleansed. All this makes up the lymphatic system, a parallel and inseparable network to the blood system. The blood system is governed by the contraction of the heart (between 60 and 80 beats/min), whereas the lymphatic system is dependent on muscular contractions. Its flow is therefore much slower. A defect in this circulation leads to poor lymph filtration and an accumulation of waste products in the lymphatic system.A variety of pathologies can lead to lymphatic disorders: edema of neurological origin, lymphedema caused by traumatic or surgical lymphatic lesions, lymphedema caused by obstruction of lymphatic pathways (infectious and parasitic diseases and cancer).
Lymphatic drainage accelerates and increases the flow of the lymphatic system. It involves massaging one or more zones, depending on the technique and pathology. Pain-free, this treatment is overall soothing and pleasant to receive. By accelerating the flow of lymph, drainage eliminates toxins, improves the supply of nutrients to tissues, stimulates the circulation of hormones, evacuates excess water and enhances immunity. Depending on the technique used, the areas treated vary: lower limbs, abdomen, upper limbs, face…
Can you describe the benefits of lymphatic drainage for patients with lipedema before surgery? And after surgery?
Lymphedema, although primarily a disorder of adipose tissue, is a secondary consequence of lipedema. Drainage will therefore be of great benefit in the overall treatment of this pathology.
On the other hand, we know that surgery is synonymous with anesthesia, drug treatment, reduced physical activity and physical and psychological stress.
Stress generates high levels of cortisol in the blood, and chronic stress leads to sodium retention and edema. Eliminating this hormonal surplus helps prevent water retention and promotes physical and psychological relaxation.
In the pre-operative context, drainage helps prepare the body for an influx of toxins and organic waste. After drainage, capillaries will be drained, toxins eliminated, the body purified and therefore more efficient.The body will cope better with the operation and recover more quickly if it leaves “clean”.
As a general rule, we always recommend a healthy diet, limiting gluten, sugar, salt, fats and pro-inflammatory dairy products.
Lymphatic drainage is started after the operation, with the surgeon’s approval. This massage will help evacuate fluids and toxins accumulated during the operation, and prevent the appearance of edema, ecchymosis and fibrosis, the major surgical enemies.
In all cases, drainage remains a very gentle, relaxing treatment offering a sensation of well-being and lightness. The oxytocin released by the treatment helps to limit apprehension and the after-effects of the operation.
Which drainage techniques are you trained in (Renanta, Leduc, Vodder…), could you tell us more about them, with their positive and negative points?
We are trained in the Leduc technique and the method of Brazilian Renata França.
The precursors of lymphatic drainage, the Vodder and Leduc methods are known as “traditional”.
Regardless of the protocol used, it treats water retention, lymphedema, lipedema and post-operative edema, and is recommended for pregnant women.
The Renata França method is also highly acclaimed for combating cellulite, its effects on weight loss, slimming the body, restructuring the silhouette, and accelerating the metabolism.
Traditional methods target certain parts of the body to drain (one or two legs, one or two arms), whereas the Renata França method systematically drains the whole body, front and back!
The pressure exerted with traditional methods is very light, the rhythm very slow and it’s carried out without oil, unlike the Renata França method, which boasts medium pressure, a high rhythm and the use of massage oil.
The big difference lies in the appearance of the results. The Renata França method is the only technique currently available that delivers immediate results, right from the very first session!
How often do you recommend lymphatic drainage? How long does a drainage session last? The different stages involved? How many post-operative sessions are required?
As previously mentioned, the two types of method have different actions: targeted for the traditional method and global for the Renata França method. As a result, the duration of treatment is different: 20 min per limb for the traditional method versus 1h15 on average for the Brazilian method.
The Leduc method and the Renata França method are similar in many ways. We start from proximal to distal, stimulating the various lymph nodes and then draining the lymph towards them. In a Renata França session, we start with the lower limbs, then the abdomen, the upper limbs and finally the back of the body.
The number of post-operative sessions required always depends on the patient’s initial state, metabolism, reaction to the procedure and its complexity. We recommend a course of 5 sessions, starting with drainage and alternating with remodeling. This other Renata França protocol follows drainage, when excess water and waste products have been evacuated. It treats tissues, fat cells and fibrotic areas.
Although it’s possible to drain the body every day, we recommend one treatment a week for three weeks to “shock” the lymphatic system, then reassess the situation and space out subsequent sessions as needed.
Lymphatic disorders are often chronic and require long-term maintenance.
Do you know of any other techniques that can be combined with lymphatic drainage (such as celluM6 pressotherapy, ultrasound cryotherapy, etc.)?
The Renata França method does not include any techniques associated with its treatments, as it stimulates the lymphatic system entirely. However, there are other parallel techniques to lymphatic drainage, such as pressotherapy or cryotherapy (analgesic and vasoconstrictor). These techniques are not a substitute for manual drainage, but can be an ally in the fight against edema.
CelluM6 sometimes has the disadvantage of a rebound effect. This can occur when sessions are stopped, causing fat cells to reappear in the treated areas.
Are lymphatic drainage sessions reimbursed?
Social security reimburses the cost of traditional manual lymph drainage only in three situations:
- True lymphedema” (after surgery and/or radiotherapy, congenital lymphedema),
- Venous insufficiency of the lower limbs, provided there is a “joint impact and/or trophic disorders”,
- Upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer treatment.
Outside these conditions, whatever the method, lymphatic drainage is not covered by social security.In such cases, fees are charged outside the nomenclature.
We would like to thank Mme Baccarin and Mme Gérard for answering our questions about lymphatic drainage and the Renata technique in particular. If you’d like to share your experience of lymphatic drainage, don’t hesitate to follow us on our Facebook group.
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