Post-Operative Lymphatic Drainage Programme

Post-Operative Lymphatic Drainage Practitioner

IN-PERSON - Accredited by the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT)

A Personal Welcome

Hi, I'm Sasha and I am so glad you've chosen to specialise in post-operative care.

This is the area that first made me fall completely in love with lymphatic drainage therapy. Seeing a client come to you after surgery, anxious, uncomfortable, unsure of what to expect and watching them leave feeling lighter, less swollen and genuinely cared for... there's nothing quite like it. It's such meaningful work.

This programme is packed with clinical knowledge, practical technique and real-world guidance. I've designed it to give you everything you need to work in this space with confidence and professionalism and to make a genuine difference to your clients when they need it most.

What This Course is All About

Post-operative care is one of the fastest-growing areas in the wellness and aesthetics industry right now, and therapists who are properly trained in this area are in real demand.

This programme takes you deep into the post-surgical landscape, you'll learn about the most common procedures your clients are likely to have had, how the body responds during recovery and how to safely and effectively deliver lymphatic drainage to support healing, reduce swelling and bruising, manage scar formation and prevent fibrosis.

This is a blended learning programme, you'll complete your theory online at your own pace, then join me for 2 in-person training days to put it all into practice. You'll also gain the clinical knowledge to work responsibly alongside surgeons and medical teams which is so important in this field.

Course at a Glance

Accreditation Accredited by the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT)

Theory Fully online via The Lymph Clinic Academy - study at your own pace

Practical 2 in-person training days - dates provided separately

Format Video lessons, written content, downloadable PDFs, end-of-module quizzes

Assessment Multiple-choice quizzes per module - no time limits, retakes permitted

Prerequisites Level 3 Anatomy & Physiology plus a foundational lymphatic drainage qualification (minimum 2 days)

Certificate Issued upon successful completion of online theory and practical training days

How Your Learning Works

This is a blended programme, your theory is online and entirely self-paced and then you'll join us in person to practise your skills and build your confidence. Here's how it all works:

First things first, go to Lesson 1 and download your Post-Operative Practitioner Manual before you do anything else. This is your go-to reference for the entire course, so keep it close!
Work through all 9 online modules completely at your own pace - no deadlines, no live sessions, study whenever suits you.
Each module follows the same four-step structure: video lesson, written content, downloadable PDFs, then a short quiz. It's a rhythm that works really well, you'll settle into it quickly.
Please use the pause button! These videos are designed to be stopped and started. Watch a section, digest what I've shown you, rewind if you need to, then carry on when you're ready. There is absolutely no rush.
The quizzes are there to check your own understanding, you can retake them as many times as you need - with no time pressure at all.
When you reach the end of the online modules, make sure you download the course appendix from the final lesson: consultation forms, contraindication guides and clinical reference documents you'll use every day in practice.
Then you'll join me for your 2 in-person training days, this is where it all comes to life. Hands-on practice, real scenarios and everything you need to work confidently with post-operative clients. Dates will be provided separately.
Your FHT certificate is issued once both your online theory and practical training days are successfully completed and your case study has been completed.

What You'll Need to Buy

Post-operative work does require a little more thought around your kit, particularly around hygiene and skin sensitivity. Here's what I recommend having in place before you start seeing clients:

Item	Notes
Massage couch or treatment table	Needs to be fully flat and height-adjustable - positioning is everything in post-op work
Couch roll and fresh linen	Hygiene standards in post-operative work need to be impeccable - fresh linen every time, no exceptions
Unscented, hypoallergenic massage medium	Post-op skin is often very sensitive - please avoid anything fragranced or nut-based. A simple hypoallergenic gel or balm is ideal - only needed working with fibrotic tissue
Soft bolsters and wedge supports	You'll often need to work around dressings, drains, or tender areas - good positioning props are really helpful
Compression garments (reference set)	Not required for every treatment, but it's worth getting familiar with different garment types as part of your learning
Anatomy & Physiology textbook	Useful for reference, particularly around surgical anatomy
Professional indemnity insurance	This is essential and please make sure your policy specifically covers post-operative and cosmetic recovery work before you start seeing clients
GP / surgeon referral template	A template is included in your course resources - I'd recommend printing this off and keeping it to hand

Your Course Modules

Here's everything we cover across the 9 modules. I've built this course to take you from the foundations right through to confident, safe, professional practice:

The Lymphatic System

How the lymphatic system works and its role in the body

The Healing Process

Tissue repair, inflammation, stages of wound healing

Lymphoedema

Causes, presentation, management in the post-op context

Types of Surgery

Overview of cosmetic and reconstructive surgical procedures

MLD and Surgery

How lymphatic drainage supports post-surgical recovery

Compression Therapy

Garments, bandaging, application in post-op care

Getting Ready for your Clients

Consultation, preparation, treatment planning

Building a Successful Post-Op Practice

Marketing, pricing, working with surgeons and clinics

Special Populations & Clinical Case Studies

Real-world client scenarios and treatment outcomes

Set your intention

Before you begin, take a moment to set your intention for this training.

Consider why you chose this course and what you want to gain from it. This might be developing new skills, improving your confidence, expanding your treatment offering or deepening your understanding of the body.

Be clear on what you want to achieve and how you plan to apply what you learn.

This course will give you the tools, but your results will come from your level of engagement, practice and consistency.

Take a moment now to reflect:

What do I want to achieve from this course?
How will I apply this in my work?
What standard do I want to hold myself to as a practitioner?

Write this down or keep it in mind as you move through the training.

The more intention you bring to this process, the more you will take from it.

Reading List

Recommended Reading – Anatomy & Lymphatics

“The Book of Lymph” by Lisa Levitt Gainsley
A practical guide to understanding and applying lymphatic drainage techniques.

2. “Trail Guide to the Body” by Andrew Biel
A manual of musculoskeletal anatomy, helpful for mapping drainage areas.

3. “Dr Vodder’s Manual Lymph Drainage” by Hildegard Wittlinger
A foundational guide to clinical lymphatic drainage, including post-op indications.