45 min
100 US dollars
Flush retained fluid, ease bloating, and define your natural silhouette.
1 hr
200 US dollars
The complete ritual: facial contouring plus head-to-toe drainage in one visit.
1 hr 30 min
300 US dollars
Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage Massage in Santa Barbara
What Brazilian lymphatic drainage massage does
Looking for lymphatic massage in Santa Barbara? Schwartz Lymphatic Sculpt brings Brazilian lymphatic drainage massage to Santa Barbara. Every session is performed by Amanda Schwartz, a California-licensed massage therapist (CAMTC license 93362) trained in the Brazilian method, at 4213 State Street, Suite 206. Amanda has run Schwartz Sports Massage and Manual Therapy in Santa Barbara since 2024. This is manual lymphatic drainage massage, a light, rhythmic technique that moves stagnant fluid toward the lymph nodes so the body can clear it naturally. No deep pressure, no bracing against pain.
Brazilian lymphatic drainage massage is used for post-surgical recovery and post-op swelling, postpartum recovery, bloating and water retention, and inflammation from hard training. Most clients notice less puffiness, a flatter midsection, lighter legs, and a more defined silhouette. Every session begins with a full intake, so the work fits what your body actually needs.
Every session that includes the face finishes with red light therapy under an LED panel, at no extra charge. The light comes after the drainage work, when circulation is already elevated — red, yellow and green wavelengths on skin that's just been cleared.
Brazilian lymphatic drainage in Santa Barbara is now booking. Choose your session above and reserve your appointment online. Coming from Montecito? See Brazilian lymphatic drainage in Montecito.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brazilian vs. regular lymphatic drainage
Regular manual lymphatic drainage — the Vodder-style method most American therapists are trained in — uses very slow, very light circular strokes, often held in one spot for several seconds. It was developed as clinical treatment for lymphedema, and it feels close to stillness. The Brazilian method moves faster. The strokes are quick, rhythmic and pumping rather than slow and static, the sequence is more structured, and it works the abdomen and the deeper nodes at the groin and armpit more assertively. It came out of Brazil's post-surgical world — liposuction and cosmetic recovery especially — where the job is clearing a large volume of fluid quickly and keeping fibrosis from setting in. Both are light. Neither is deep tissue work. But Brazilian drainage is noticeably more active, a session covers more ground, and most people see the change the same day rather than after a series. They also tend to be booked for different reasons. Classic Vodder drainage is usually prescribed care for a diagnosed condition. Brazilian drainage is most often booked for post-op recovery, postpartum swelling, bloating, and definition before an event. If you have diagnosed lymphedema or have had lymph nodes removed, you want a certified lymphedema therapist working with your medical team, not this. Tell me and I'll refer you to one.
Who it helps, and who should wait
Lymphatic drainage massage helps most with: Post-surgical swelling. After cosmetic or orthopedic surgery, once your surgeon has cleared you. This is the most common reason people book, and it is where consistency matters most. Postpartum recovery. Fluid retention and swelling in the weeks after birth, with your provider's go-ahead. Bloating, puffiness and water retention. The everyday kind — hormonal, dietary, travel, long flights, too much salt. Heaviness after hard training. Inflammation and that swollen, sluggish feeling at the end of a heavy block. Before an event. A wedding, a shoot, a reunion. Most people book two to three sessions in the ten days beforehand rather than one the day before. Wait, or talk to your doctor first, if you have: An active infection or fever — drainage can move an infection rather than clear it A blood clot, or a history of DVT Congestive heart failure or kidney disease — both change how your body handles fluid Swelling in one limb that came on suddenly or has no clear cause — get that evaluated before booking anything Had lymph nodes removed, or are in active cancer treatment — this needs a certified lymphedema therapist working with your oncology team, and I will refer you to one If you're pregnant, lymphatic drainage is often fine, but I need clearance from your OB or midwife before your first session. Every new client fills out an intake form and liability waiver before the appointment. If anything on it needs clearance, I'll tell you before we start rather than after you've arrived.
How many Brazilian lymphatic massage sessions do I need?
The number of sessions depends on your goals and individual needs. For general lymphatic wellness or body sculpting, some clients choose occasional treatments, while post-surgical clients may benefit from a series of sessions during the first several weeks of recovery. Your treatment plan can be adjusted as your body heals and changes.
More FAQs
How much does Brazilian lymphatic drainage cost in Santa Barbara? Sculpt Face is $100 for 45 minutes. Sculpt Body is $200 for an hour. Face & Body together is $300 for an hour and a half. All three are booked online, and new clients complete an intake form beforehand. Does lymphatic drainage massage hurt? No. This is the opposite of deep tissue work. The pressure is light and rhythmic, staying just under the skin where the lymphatic vessels sit. There is nothing to brace against, and most people find it relaxing rather than intense. Post-surgical recovery, week by week Your surgeon's protocol overrides anything on this page. Bring your procedure date and their clearance to your intake and we'll build the plan around it. What follows is the general shape of a recovery series, not a prescription. Week 1 — gentle support. Once you're cleared, early sessions are very light and often stay away from the surgical site itself, opening the drainage pathways around it instead. Sessions are short. Some surgeons clear patients in this window; plenty wait longer. Weeks 2–3 — managing swelling. This is usually when swelling peaks and when frequency does the most work. Two or three sessions a week is common at this stage. Weeks 4–6 — continued recovery. Swelling starts to settle and sessions typically drop to once or twice a week. We can usually work closer to the area as it tolerates it, still inside your surgeon's guidance. 6+ weeks — maintenance and final results. Most people taper to every other week, then monthly if they want to maintain. Firmness and fibrosis can keep changing for months after the swelling is gone. When to call your surgeon instead of booking. Increasing redness or heat, fever, or sudden swelling on one side only — those are for your surgical team, not a massage table. Is lymphatic drainage safe during pregnancy? Usually, with clearance from your OB or midwife. Positioning and pressure are adjusted accordingly. I'll ask for that clearance before your first session. What should I wear? You'll undress to your comfort level and stay draped throughout, the same as any massage. For a facial session, come without makeup if you can, or arrive a few minutes early to remove it. Will I lose weight or inches? You'll likely look and feel less puffy, and clothes can fit differently for a few days. That's fluid moving, not fat loss. Anyone promising permanent inch loss from lymphatic work is overselling it. How will I feel afterward? Lighter, and you'll need the bathroom more than usual for the rest of the day — that's the work doing its job. Drink water. Some people feel a little tired that evening. Where are you located? 4213 State Street, Suite 206, Santa Barbara, with parking on site. Open seven days. I see clients from Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, Carpinteria and the Eastern Goleta Valley.
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