+971 50 800 3206

Treatment

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Hands-on treatment to move fluid and settle swelling, at our clinic in Dubai Hills. For lymphoedema, swelling after surgery or liposuction, and lipoedema symptoms.

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) uses slow, rhythmic strokes that stretch the skin to help lymph fluid move towards working lymph nodes. At KINETIKA, every course starts with an assessment: we check why you are swollen, screen for anything that makes MLD unsafe, measure the area, and build MLD into a plan with compression, exercise and self-care, because that combination is what the evidence supports. Our clinic sits in Park Heights Square 1, Dubai Hills, a short drive from Dubai Hills Estate, Al Barsha, Arabian Ranches and Mohammed Bin Rashid City.

Start with an assessment

Swelling Has a Cause

Your first visit finds out why you are swollen and whether MLD is right for you, then maps a plan with your surgeon or doctor where needed.

Book Your Assessment

Assessment-led, no obligation

Hand + machine
MLD and pressotherapy
Screened
for safety first
45 to 60 min
per session
Female
therapists available

How MLD works at KINETIKA

Your Lymphatic Drainage Pathway

01

Assessment and Screening

We take your history, check for red flags such as a blood clot or infection, look at the skin and tissue, and measure the swollen area so progress is objective.

02

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Rhythmic strokes that start near the neck and trunk to clear the pathway, then work towards the swollen area. Most people find it very relaxing.

03

Compression and Movement

MLD works best alongside compression and exercise. We advise on garments, add pressotherapy where it helps, and give you simple exercises that pump fluid.

04

Self-Care and Review

We teach you self-drainage and skin care, re-measure at review, and space sessions out as you improve, so you are not dependent on the clinic.

Who it helps

When Manual Lymphatic Drainage Can Help

MLD is a medical technique, not a spa treatment. It helps most when swelling comes from a lymphatic problem or recent surgery. We will tell you honestly if it is unlikely to help you.

Lymphoedema

Arm or leg swelling after cancer treatment, lymph node removal or radiotherapy, and primary lymphoedema. MLD is one part of decongestive therapy with compression, skin care and exercise.

After Liposuction and Body Contouring

Swelling and firmness after liposuction, tummy tuck, BBL, arm or thigh lift. We follow your surgeon's protocol and timing, and work around drains and wounds.

After Breast Surgery

Breast reduction, augmentation, reconstruction and mastectomy. Drainage for swelling and comfort, with shoulder movement rehab where needed.

After Orthopaedic Surgery or Injury

Knee or hip replacement, ACL reconstruction, ankle sprains and fractures. MLD can ease swelling and comfort alongside your rehab exercises.

Lipoedema

Painful, heavy legs or arms from lipoedema. MLD with compression and exercise can ease pain and heaviness. It does not remove lipoedema fat.

Swelling in Pregnancy

Heavy, swollen legs and ankles in pregnancy, once your obstetrician has cleared you and a blood clot or pre-eclampsia has been ruled out.

Lymphatic drainage in Dubai Hills

Many of our MLD patients come to us straight from surgery at hospitals in and around Dubai Hills, so we keep appointments flexible in the first weeks after an operation, when swelling changes fastest. Park Heights Square 1 has parking at the door, which matters when you are sore and wearing a compression garment. Patients also travel from Al Barsha, Arabian Ranches, Mohammed Bin Rashid City and Dubai Marina.

When MLD is not safe

We do not treat, or we pause and refer, if you have a suspected or recent deep vein thrombosis (DVT), an active infection such as cellulitis, a fever, uncontrolled heart failure, acute kidney failure, or active cancer without your oncologist's clearance. We never treat directly over an open wound or a tumour. This is why every course starts with an assessment.

Hand or machine

Manual Drainage, Pressotherapy and Slimming Massage

Lymphatic drainage by hand or by machine: what is the difference?

At KINETIKA, lymphatic care can be delivered in two ways: manual lymphatic drainage by hand, and pressotherapy using a machine. They work towards the same goal, helping fluid move out of swollen or congested tissue, but they do it differently and are often used together.

Manual lymphatic drainage (by hand) uses rhythmic strokes such as stationary circles, scoop, pump and rotary strokes, with the focus on direction and precision. Because a therapist's hands are doing the work, the technique can be adapted moment to moment: working around a scar, starting near the lymph nodes to clear the way first, or treating areas a machine cannot reach, such as the face, neck, trunk and abdomen.

Pressotherapy (by machine), also called intermittent pneumatic compression, uses inflatable garments on the legs or arms. The garment inflates in segments, starting at the foot or hand and moving towards the trunk, creating a wave of graduated pressure that mimics and amplifies the body's natural lymphatic pumping. Our system has adjustable compression pressure and customisable chambers that fit all sizes, so both upper and lower limbs can be treated. Sessions typically last 30 to 45 minutes, and most people find the rhythmic compression relaxing.

When each is used

  • Manual drainage is usually the starting point when swelling is around a surgical site, on the face, neck or trunk, when tissue is tender or healing, or when the treatment needs to be carefully guided by hand.
  • Pressotherapy suits swelling or heaviness through the legs or arms, sports recovery between training sessions, and cases that need extra help on top of manual work.
  • Combined, manual drainage prepares and directs the pathway, and pressotherapy adds consistent, sequential compression along the limb. This pairing is common in post-surgical recovery and in lymphoedema care, where pressotherapy forms part of complex decongestive therapy alongside manual drainage, compression and exercise.

Your therapist will recommend manual drainage, pressotherapy or a combination based on your condition, where the swelling is, and how your body responds. Between sessions, simple movement such as daily walks and gentle mobility exercises helps keep lymph moving.

Lymphatic drainage vs slimming massage

Lymphatic drainage and slimming massage are sometimes advertised as the same thing. At KINETIKA they are two separate services with different purposes.

Lymphatic drainage is a structured technique used for clinical reasons: swelling after surgery or injury, lymphoedema, and pregnancy and postpartum recovery. It is precise, and it can be combined with pressotherapy and physiotherapy as part of a treatment plan.

Slimming massage is a wellness massage. It is brisker and firmer, and people choose it for how it makes their body feel, such as lighter legs and less temporary puffiness. It is not a fat-loss treatment and it is not designed to treat swelling from a medical cause.

If you have swelling after surgery, including cosmetic surgery, swelling in one limb, or a diagnosed lymphatic condition, lymphatic drainage is the appropriate choice. If you are simply looking for a wellness massage to help you feel lighter and more comfortable, you can read more about our slimming massage.

Who you will see

Manual lymphatic drainage at KINETIKA is with Katrine Gayle Ignacio, our Massage Therapist. Pressotherapy is delivered by our whole team. After surgery, including cosmetic surgery, we ask for your doctor's clearance before you start. If anything you mention suggests you need a clinical view, Katrine will suggest you speak with one of our physiotherapists first.

Take the next step

Get Your Swelling Under Control

Your assessment finds the cause, screens for safety, and sets out how many sessions you are likely to need.

Lymphoedema · After surgery · Lipoedema · Pregnancy

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

A hands-on technique that uses rhythmic skin stretching to help lymph fluid move away from a swollen area towards lymph nodes that are working well.

It should not be painful. After surgery the area can be tender, so we adjust pressure and position around your comfort, drains and incisions.

When your surgeon says so. Many surgeons allow MLD within the first week or two, but timing depends on the procedure and on you. Lymphatic drainage after surgery, including cosmetic surgery, always needs your doctor's clearance. Bring your surgeon's instructions to your first visit and we will follow them.

It depends on the cause. After surgery, people often come one to three times a week for a few weeks. Lymphoedema can need a more intensive block of treatment, then a self-management plan. We give you a realistic estimate after your assessment.

Usually 45 to 60 minutes. Your first visit includes the assessment and measurements, so it can run a little longer.

No. Every course starts with an assessment. We screen for conditions that make MLD unsafe, measure your swelling, work with your surgeon or doctor, and combine MLD with compression and exercise. A spa treatment does not include that medical assessment.

MLD is a recognised part of lymphoedema care, used with compression bandaging or garments, skin care and exercise. It helps control swelling and symptoms. It does not cure lymphoedema, so we also teach you how to manage it at home.

No. There is no good evidence that MLD removes toxins, burns fat or treats cellulite, and we do not offer it for those reasons. It is a treatment for swelling.

MLD can ease heavy, swollen legs in pregnancy, but only once your obstetrician has cleared you. New or one-sided leg swelling, pain or a sudden increase in swelling needs a doctor first, to rule out a blood clot or pre-eclampsia.

People with a suspected or recent blood clot (DVT), an active infection such as cellulitis, a fever, uncontrolled heart failure, acute kidney failure, or active cancer without their oncologist's clearance. Our assessment screens for all of these.

Manual lymphatic drainage at KINETIKA is with Katrine Gayle Ignacio, our Massage Therapist. Pressotherapy is delivered by our whole team. We have private treatment rooms.

Neither is better in every case. Manual drainage can be precisely guided by hand and used on the face, trunk and around surgical sites, while pressotherapy delivers consistent sequential compression along the arms or legs. Many people benefit from a combination, and your therapist will recommend what suits your situation.

No. Lymphatic drainage is a clinical technique used for swelling after surgery or injury, lymphoedema and postpartum recovery. Slimming massage is a firmer wellness massage focused on comfort and temporary puffiness, and it is not a fat-loss treatment.