Average cost of post-surgery lymphatic massage in each state of the USA (updated for 2025)

Lymphatic massage is a gentle, targeted technique that helps move lymph fluid through the body. After plastic surgery (such as liposuction, tummy tuck, BBL, breast surgery, arm or thigh lift), it can play a big role in reducing swelling, supporting healing and improving the final contour of your results.

How much does post-surgery lymphatic massage cost in 2025?

Based on a 2024–2025 economic and market analysis of lymphatic massage pricing across the United States, most 60 minute sessions fall into these ranges:

• Overall national range for a 60 minute session: about 75 to 227 USD

• National median for a 60 minute session: about 100 to 150 USD

• Typical price bands for different types of providers:

  • Volume or post-op recovery centers: roughly 75 to 100 USD per 60 minutes

  • Standard clinics and wellness spas: often 100 to 150 USD per 60 minutes

  • Mobile in-home services: commonly 139 to 149 USD per 60 minutes

  • Medical or hospital-based MLD: usually 150 to 250+ USD per 60 minutes

Where you fall in this spectrum depends on:

• Your city and state

• Whether your therapist is medical, cosmetic or wellness focused

• Whether you visit a clinic or book a mobile therapist

• The overall demand in your local post-op market

Even if your local price is on the lower end, costs add up quickly once you start multiplying by 6, 8 or 12 sessions.

What does a full series of lymphatic massages really cost?

Many surgeons recommend a series of lymphatic drainage sessions after procedures like lipo 360, tummy tuck or BBL.

If we use a conservative national average of 120 USD for a 60 minute session, a typical plan might look like this:

• 6 sessions: about 720 USD (6 x 120)

• 8 sessions: about 960 USD (8 x 120)

• 10 sessions: about 1,200 USD (10 x 120)

If your local prices are closer to the medical or mobile range, your total spend can easily go higher than that.

This is why it helps to think about your recovery in two layers:

1. Professional sessions for evaluation and critical work

2. Smart at-home maintenance between those visits

Here is a breakdown of the average cost of a lymphatic massage. Per each of the states in 2023:

How surgery type can influence lymphatic massage cost

Even within the same city and state, lymphatic massage pricing often depends on the type of procedure, complexity of your case and the length of the session.

Here is a general idea of typical per-session price ranges for post-surgical lymphatic massage:

Sessions after more extensive surgeries (360 lipo, multiple areas combined, tummy tuck + lipo, BBL, body lift) may sit at the upper end of these ranges or require longer appointment times, especially in large metro areas.

How to save on the cost of lymphatic massage

Professional lymphatic drainage is a real investment, but there are smart ways to reduce the total cost of your recovery without compromising safety.

1. Ask about packages and bundles

Many clinics offer lower per-session prices if you prepay for a package, for example:

• 5 or 10 session post-op packages

• Discounts for booking all early recovery sessions at once

Even a small discount per session can save you hundreds of dollars over a full recovery.

2. Look at timing and location

• Some therapists offer lower rates for weekday mornings or off-peak hours

• Prices can be higher in top-tier cosmetic surgery hubs and big coastal cities

• Smaller cities sometimes have better value, especially for wellness oriented treatments

3. Check for HSA / FSA or partial insurance support

In some cases, especially when lymphatic drainage is part of treatment for lymphedema or a medical condition, you may be able to use:

• Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

• Partial insurance reimbursement if your therapy is prescribed

Always check this with your provider and insurer before you start.

4. Use professional sessions for assessment and critical work

This is the key shift if you want to save money and still protect your results:

• Use your professional lymphatic sessions for assessment, fibrosis treatment and solving problems

• Ask your therapist to teach you simple self-massage techniques you can safely use at home between appointments

• Focus in-clinic time on areas that are more complex, painful, very hard or uneven

In other words:

Use professional sessions for assessment plus critical work.
Focus your in-clinic visits on evaluation, fibrosis treatment and problem solving, while handling simple, gentle maintenance at home.

This approach lets you benefit from expert eyes while avoiding clinic prices for every minor bit of swelling and tightness.

How to choose your lymphatic drainage specialist

Even if you plan to do most of your recovery at home, choosing the right specialist for check-ins and critical work is essential.

Look for:

1. Real post-surgery experience
Ask how many post-op patients they see, which surgeries they know best (lipo, tummy tuck, BBL, breast, body lifts), and whether local plastic surgeons regularly refer to them.

2. Proper training
For medical cases, prefer CLT-trained therapists or those certified in Manual Lymphatic Drainage. For cosmetic recovery, choose someone with specific post-op training and good referrals from surgeons or reputable recovery houses.

3. A clear plan for you
They should explain how many sessions they typically recommend for your procedure, how they divide early vs. late recovery, and what you can safely do at home between visits.

4. Good communication and safety
You should feel comfortable asking what is normal, what are warning signs, and when to stop self-massage and call your surgeon.

If a therapist cannot answer these questions clearly or does not respect your surgeon’s instructions, they are not the right fit.

At-home care that works together with professional sessions

Most patients get the best results from a combination:

Certified lymphatic drainage sessions plus smart, gentle at-home care between appointments.

That way, you are not paying clinic prices for every single bit of swelling and tightness, but you still have expert eyes on your recovery when it matters most.

We designed our post-surgery recovery bundle exactly for this at-home part of your routine. It includes a lymphatic massager, arnica massage oil, fibrosis cream and more, plus a free guide book to support you the whole way.

You use your therapist and surgeon for guidance, evaluation and critical work.
Then you use your at-home bundle in the safe windows they approve, to keep things moving, soft and comfortable between visits.

That is how you protect your surgical investment and give yourself the best chance for smooth, long lasting results.