Lymphatic drainage

Manual Lymphatic Drainage At Alex Horgan Physiotherapy Clontarf, Dublin

Feeling heavy, swollen, or holding onto fluid you can't shift?

You deserve care from someone who actually explains what they're doing to your body. Not another massage wearing a different label.

Manual lymphatic drainage by a physiotherapist

Post-surgery specialism

Correct, clinically grounded movements

Personalised sessions, planned around your body that day

A decade of clinical practice

Real manual lymphatic drainage, backed by 10+ years of clinical experience.

I'm a physiotherapist with over 10 years of experience, and I bring that clinical background into every drainage session. The right technique, movements, pressure, rhythm and direction. No watered-down version, no guesswork.

Real results

See the difference.

Drag the slider to compare. Photos from real sessions, added as they come in.

Before After

Placeholder photos — real before/after images coming soon.

Note: results may vary from person to person. Every body responds differently to treatment.

Why people come to me

Three reasons patients choose real clinical drainage.

They've never had drainage done properly.

So many people have only ever had a generic massage relabelled as “drainage.” The correct technique makes itself known from the first session: less swelling, real movement of fluid, a body that finally feels lighter.

They're recovering from surgery and want it done right.

Liposuction, abdominoplasty, breast lift, implants, facelift. Recovery calls for lymphatic work that respects each stage of healing, reduces swelling, and softens fibrosis instead of just being a pleasant hour.

They want to understand what's happening to their body.

No mystery, no vague hand gestures. You'll know why each movement is being done and what it's achieving.

What it supports

More than swelling.

Your immune system

The lymphatic system is a core part of how your body clears waste and supports immune function. Manual drainage helps stimulate that flow — part of why people often feel lighter and less sluggish, not just less swollen.

Swollen ankles after flying

Long flights mean hours of sitting still with reduced circulation, and fluid tends to pool in the lower legs and feet. If you land with tight, puffy ankles, drainage can help move that fluid on properly instead of just waiting it out.

Bloating and fluid retention

Not all abdominal bloating is digestive. Hormonal changes, prolonged sitting, and recovery from abdominal surgery can all lead to fluid sitting in the tissue. Targeted drainage here is done with the same precision as anywhere else on the body.

Lymphedema and lipedema

Manual lymphatic drainage is a recognised, evidence-based treatment for lymphedema, helping manage swelling long term. It also supports lipedema, easing heaviness and discomfort, though it works differently since lipedema involves fat tissue rather than lymph fluid alone.

What sets this apart

Clinical care, not a spa protocol.

Clinical technique, not a spa protocol

Every movement is grounded in physiotherapy training, not a beauty therapy shortcut.

Post-surgical focus

Sessions designed specifically to reduce swelling, soften fibrosis and protect your surgical results, respecting where you are in recovery.

Truly personalised care

Every body is different, and every session is planned around what you're feeling that day, not a fixed script.

Fits into your week

Straight from work, errands or your day — caring for your body shouldn't be another logistics headache.

Is this for you?

You might be a fit if…

You've had plastic surgery and want a safer, faster, more comfortable recovery

You're dealing with swelling, fluid retention or fibrosis post-op

Your ankles and heels swell up after flying

Your belly feels bloated and heavy, not just from food

You're managing lymphedema or lipedema and want proper technique

You've tried drainage before and felt like it did nothing

If any of that sounds familiar, this is exactly the kind of case I work with.