Swelling After Surgery
The swelling that follows an operation is your body's normal response to being disrupted, and for many clients it can be helped along. Gentle manual lymphatic drainage clears the fluid that pools while you heal, so the tightness eases and recovery feels more comfortable.
4.8 · 1,000+ reviews across Google, Yelp & More
Why a healing area stays swollen.
How We Treat Post-Surgical Swelling
We are a conservative lymphatic clinic. We do not perform surgery, we do not diagnose, and we do not do medical procedures. What we do is the gentle, hands-on drainage that helps your body clear the fluid a healing area holds onto. Every plan starts with an assessment, because there is not just one way to do lymph drainage, since everyone is different. Lymphatic work is never a substitute for your surgeon's care, and any swelling that turns hot, red, sharply painful, or one-sided can be a sign of something that needs medical attention right away.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (The Vogel Method)
A light, skin-level technique delivered as the Vogel Method, Sharon Vogel's approach built over decades of hands-on practice. Far gentler than a deep-tissue massage.
Post-Surgical Lymphatic Massage
Gentle drainage delivered around a healing surgical area and timed to where you are in recovery. NLC is a conservative clinic; we do not perform surgery or diagnose.
See the relief, in their words.
Real clients from our Hinsdale, Downers Grove, and Joliet clinics, in their own words. Choose a condition to see stories from clients like you.
- Lymphedema: Lymphedema relief with lymph drainage: Kim's story
- Lymphedema: Lymphedema after radiation: Joe's story
- Swelling & Water Retention: Reduce swelling and water retention: Elisavet's story
- Swelling & Water Retention: Visible results and less swelling: a client review
- Swelling & Water Retention: Swelling relief: a real client review
- Swelling & Water Retention: Recovery after serious infections and swollen joints: a client's journey
- Post-Surgical & Injury: Results from post-surgical swelling and injury
- Post-Surgical & Injury: Reduced knee swelling and pain after lymphatic massage
- Post-Surgical & Injury: Chronic swelling from sports and orthopedic injuries
- Post-Surgical & Injury: Ankle swelling years after a bicycle injury
- Pregnancy & Postpartum: Pregnancy swelling relief: a third-time mom's review
- Lyme Disease: Lyme disease recovery with manual lymph drainage
- Lyme Disease: Relief from Lyme disease symptoms with lymph drainage
- Client review: Audra Brown: a thoughtful, detailed review
- Client review: Rebin Roy: a fantastic experience with lymph drainage
- Client review: Does lymphatic drainage really work? Real results
- Client review: Janice: healing through lymphatic therapy
- Client review: Kary G. on Sharon Vogel's care
- Client review: Anita: ready to dance again after lymphatic drainage
- Client review: Michelle P.: lymph drainage relief
- Client review: Kathleen Heinz: a soothing, welcoming experience
- Client review: Thank you for the glowing five-star review!
Results from post-surgical swelling and injury
Reduced knee swelling and pain after lymphatic massage
Chronic swelling from sports and orthopedic injuries
Ankle swelling years after a bicycle injury
What clients tell us
4.8 across 1,000+ reviews on Google, Yelp & More
“The Vogel Method is the only manual lymphatic massage that has decreased my joint swelling and improved my quality of life. I am willing to drive over an hour to see Sharon and team. She keeps my vertigo and joint swelling at bay.”
“The swelling in my leg was reduced by an inch in circumference, from 19 inches to 18. Not as tight, not as heavy. Abdul made sure he explained the procedure and that I understood how the lymphatic system functions.”
“Had a post-op lymphatic massage with Sharon. It definitely helped my pain and recovery. Highly recommend for post-surgical needs. I've visited both the Downers Grove and Hinsdale locations and loved both places.”
Not sure where to start?
Start with what you notice.
You do not need to know which discipline treats your concern. We figure that out on your first visit.
Conditions & Concerns
Body & Recovery
General Wellness
Tap to learn moreBody & Recovery
General Wellness
Bloat, puffiness, heavy legs and swollen ankles, with no diagnosis needed. The reason most of our clients book.
Body & Recovery
Lymphedema
Tap to learn moreBody & Recovery
Lymphedema
Persistent swelling from a lymphatic system that cannot drain on its own, managed long term with complete decongestive therapy and manual lymphatic drainage.
Body & Recovery
Lipedema
Tap to learn moreBody & Recovery
Lipedema
A painful, disproportionate fat and swelling condition, eased with specialized drainage and compression as supportive care.
Body & Recovery
Post-Surgical Swelling
Tap to learn moreBody & Recovery
Post-Surgical Swelling
Swelling that lingers after a procedure, moved along with drainage timed to where you are in recovery.
Body & Recovery
Post-Mastectomy Lymphedema
Tap to learn moreBody & Recovery
Post-Mastectomy Lymphedema
Arm or chest swelling after breast surgery, managed gently and coordinated with your oncology care team.
Body & Recovery
Fibrosis After Liposuction
Tap to learn moreBody & Recovery
Fibrosis After Liposuction
Hardened, uneven tissue that can form after liposuction, softened over a course of tissue-directed drainage.
More on post-surgical swelling and lymphatic care.
Book post-surgical swelling care at the clinic nearest you.
No diagnosis and no referral needed. Choose Hinsdale, Downers Grove or Joliet, book a 70-minute session, and your therapist will go through your situation with you at the first visit. Self-pay, with HSA and FSA accepted.