Plastic Surgery FAQ
Do you accept insurance?
No, we do not bill insurance. Medial massage and osteopathic manual therapy are usually billed under manual therapy codes, and it may be possible for you to receive reimbursement from your insurance provider if you have met your in-network and out-of-network deductibles. We have a form to walk you through calling your insurance provider on our Forms page. It is your responsibility to find out your eligibility and and file for re-imbursement. Payment in full is required at time of scheduling. We accept FSA and HSA cards.
When do I need to schedule?
You need to schedule your therapy when you schedule your surgery. We are often booked out several weeks to months in advance. It is important to be able to get you scheduled for your regular appointments, so call as soon as you have your surgery scheduled. Payment in full is required at time of scheduling.
Is lymphatic massage painful?
No, absolutely not. Maual lymphatic drainage as a part of plastic surgery recovery is very soothing, relaxing, and feels great to have done. If you have had painful “lymphatic massage,” it was not being done correctly. It was probably being performed by someone with improper or inadequate training --or worse-- no training or license to practice at all.
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If you have had plastic surgery in Miami or outside of the USA, you may gotten a package deal along with your recovery house. If so, you probably had one of these unpleasant and painful experiences. They may have even squeezed fluids from your incisions. That was NOT lymphatic work!
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It is ILLEGAL in the USA for a massage therapist to drain fluids from your incisions. It is also ILLEGAL for massage therapists to re-open incisions. Those are considered medical procedures and must be performed by properly licensed medical professionals.
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We strongly recommend that you seek licensed therapists who are certified in lymphatic drainage therapy from a reputable school (see below list) for post surgical work.
Outside of hubs for plastic surgery, qualified therapists are very rare. Be sure to ask LOTS of questions, and definitely ask about licensing and credentials. A poorly trained therapist can cause you more harm than good.
Who is a qualified lymphatic therapist?
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The minimum training for basic competence is 40 live (not online) hours. To be considered a Certified Lymphatic Therapist (trained for post surgical and cancer) is a minimum of 135 live hours. Most CLT's are physical and occupational therapists or nurses, and they usually work in cancer clinics. Very few massage therapists undergo the rigorous training it takes to become a CLT.
Our therapist holds numerous certifications. She has been in practice for almost 25 years and has 2,000 hours in advanced medical massage and manual therapy training. (This is equivalent to over 165 years of training for the average massage therapist who gets only the amount of training required by the state for continuing education!) Out of that, she has over 500 hours of training and over 10 years experience in lymphatics. She is a Vodder School certified lymphatic therapist and is also certified in combined de-congestive therapy. The Vodder School International is considered around the world to be the gold standard in lymphatic training. They offer the most extensive training in the world. Additonally, she is trained in the French osteopathic method of lymphatic drainage therapy. She has spent years studying directly with its developer, Dr. Bruno Chikly and his senior instructor, Molly Clark, PT.
What is a Lymphatic Massage?
Technically, it is NOT a massage at all, and the correct terminology is Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) or Lymphatic Drainage Therapy (LDT). It is an advanced manual therapy in which the therapist uses a range of specialized and gentle, rhythmic, pumping techniques to move the skin in the direction of lymph flow. This stimulates the lymphatic vessels which carry substances vital to the defense of the body, removes waste products, and excess fluid (swelling). This is a delicate and deeply relaxing therapy to receive.
How long does a session take?
Approximately 90 minutes.
How much do you charge and how many sessions do I need?
Pricing is $190 per session of therapy.
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The number of sessions you will need will vary based on the type of surgery and your unique healing process. Most people schedule 12 sessions at twice a week for six weeks.
All pricing shown is reflective of the discounted cash pricing. All purchases with cards (credit or debit) are subject to a 4% processing fee by the credit card processor. We accept HSA and FSA cards. Payment in full is expected at time of scheduling, and it is non-refundable. If you do not wish to pre-pay for all services to get the discounted price, each service will be full price.
Where are you located?
Advanced Massage Therapies is located at 306 Bankhead Hwy. at the intersection with Cedar St. We have a copper colored roof which helps many people identify us.
Are you certified to work with someone who has had cancer?
Absolutley! Our therapist is a Vodder School certified lymphatic therapist and is also certified in combined de-congestive therapy. The Vodder School is considered all around the world to be the gold standard in lymphatic training. During her studies, she had the privilege of studying under the world's leading physician in lymphedema diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, our therapist has studied extensively in the French osteopathic method of lymphatics with Dr. Bruno Chikly and his team.
What is the list of reputable schools?
Vodder School
Norton
Klose
Academy of Lymphatic Studies
Casley Smith
Foldi
Chikly Health Institute (does not certify to work with cancer, but does train to do lots of things the other schools do not)