As with most other massage therapies, you will be laid on a massage table for your treatment. You will need to expose the areas to be massaged, but your dignity and respect will be maintained throughout, we have towels, gowns and plenty of cushioning support.

The amount of pressure your therapist applies when massaging you can vary, but it will be very gentle – you are in control of the pressure and speed. Most people say that having a massage is very relaxing and soothing. But you should let your therapist know if you feel uncomfortable and want them to stop or change speed or pressure at any time at any time.

You might be thirsty afterwards, and with this and because of the movement of lymph you must drink plenty of water.

Most people don’t have any side effects from having a massage. But you might feel a bit light headed, tired or thirsty afterwards. Some people can feel a bit emotional or tearful for a while.

Before your massage a very thorough assessment will be performed to ascertain your medical treatment and history.

Like many treatments there are contraindications for the therapy these include:

• Recent Incisions / open areas / bruises or sores must be avoided
• DVT, PE, areas of poor circulation and varicose veins or signs of, i.e. unexplained temperature change, discolouration of a limb, inflammation altered sensation, pain / tenderness
  Infection, (fevers, inflammation, erythema, heat, tenderness)
• Lymhodema
• Severely low white blood cell count - leucopoenia
• Severe thrombocytopenia (low platelets)
• Sites of active tumour or lymph node
• Areas of current radiotherapy treatment (after 1 month is acceptable)