Lymphatic Massage for San Luis Obispo and the Central Coast
Gentle lymphatic drainage from a licensed physical therapist, for swelling after surgery, lipedema, and lymphedema.
Your body is doing a lot of work right now
You did the hard part. The surgery is behind you, or the diagnosis finally has a name. And now your body feels tight, heavy, and swollen in ways nobody fully prepared you for.
Maybe your surgeon told you to find someone for lymphatic massage and handed you a list of names you know nothing about. Maybe you had a knee or hip replaced, and the swelling is outlasting everyone's timeline. Maybe you have lipedema and are tired of being told to diet away a condition that does not work that way. Maybe you live with lymphedema and want skilled, gentle hands alongside everything else you are managing.
You do not want a spa appointment. You want someone who knows anatomy, understands what a healing incision can and cannot handle, and will treat your recovering body with real care.
I'm Dianna Powers, a licensed physical therapist offering lymphatic massage near San Luis Obispo
I have been doing hands-on clinical work since 2000. I started in outpatient orthopedics, trained in manual therapy, and spent years in home health on the Central Coast. I trained in lymphatic drainage through the California Holistic Institute, and I bring that training together with more than twenty years of watching how bodies heal.
That combination matters. As a physical therapist, I know the difference between ordinary post-surgical swelling and something that needs a call to your doctor. I know how to work around fresh surgical sites. And if your recovery needs more than drainage, such as help getting your knee to bend again or your shoulder to lift, I can see that too.
My office is in Cayucos, about 15 minutes from San Luis Obispo. I see people from SLO, Morro Bay, Los Osos, and across the Central Coast.
Who lymphatic drainage can help
Recovery after orthopedic surgery
Knee and hip replacements, ACL repairs, shoulder surgeries, and foot and ankle procedures often come with swelling that limits motion and makes rehab harder than it needs to be. Lymphatic drainage can be a gentle addition to your recovery, and because I am a PT, I can pay attention to how you are moving as well.
Recovery after plastic surgery
Liposuction, tummy tucks, BBLs, breast surgery, and facial procedures all leave the body with fluid to clear. Many surgeons recommend lymphatic massage during recovery to help ease swelling, firmness, and that tight, overfilled feeling. I follow your surgeon's post-op instructions and work gently around healing areas.
Lipedema
Lipedema is a chronic, often painful condition in which fat builds up in a specific pattern, usually in the legs and sometimes the arms. It mostly affects women and is frequently dismissed as ordinary weight gain. This particular condition is understudied and the research is emerging. Lymphatic drainage does not remove lipedema fat, and anyone who promises that is overselling. Many people find it helps with heaviness, tenderness, and day-to-day comfort.
Lymphedema
Lymphedema happens when the lymphatic system cannot move fluid well, often after cancer treatment, lymph node removal, or injury. I offer gentle manual drainage for mild lymphedema and for ongoing maintenance. I do not do compression bandaging or garment fitting. If you need full decongestive therapy, I will point you toward a certified lymphedema therapist, and I am happy to work alongside your care team.
What a session is like
Lymphatic drainage is not deep tissue massage. Most of your lymphatic system sits just under the skin, so the work is light, slow, and rhythmic. I gently stretch the skin in specific directions to encourage fluid toward the lymph nodes that clear it. Most people find it deeply calming, and plenty of them doze off.
We start with a conversation about your surgery or diagnosis, your timeline, what your medical team has told you, and what you are feeling in your body right now. Then we get to work.
A note on scars: I do not do any scar work until your incision is completely closed. Until then, I work around it. Once it has fully healed, gentle scar mobilization can become part of your sessions.
An honest word about the evidence
Here is what I can promise you. I am licensed, I am careful, and I will not do anything you have not agreed to. If something I see or feel needs your doctor's attention, I will tell you.
Here is what I cannot promise. The research on manual lymphatic drainage is mixed. It is a standard part of lymphedema care alongside compression, and some studies show benefit for swelling after certain surgeries. Others find little difference compared with standard care, and the evidence for lipedema is still thin.
Come in
Lymphatic massage in Cayucos, about 15 minutes from San Luis Obispo, serving Morro Bay and the Central Coast. Click here to book. You do not need a referral. Your body is working hard to heal, and you do not have to do it alone.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lymphatic Massage in San Luis Obispo and on the Central Coast
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Yes, and it is work Dianna is deeply experienced in. She spent years in home health treating older adults after falls, hospitalizations, and significant health events. She understands what aging bodies need, what they are capable of, and how to meet someone where they actually are. If you are an older adult, or if you are helping an older parent find care, this is a practice that takes that population seriously.
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Craniosacral therapy is generally not covered by insurance and Dianna does not work directly with insurance. However, she does provide medical services that are appropriate for using HSA or FSA accounts.
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Dianna's practice is located on the Central Coast of California, serving the Cayucos and Morro Bay area. Her office is located in Cayucos, CA. Craniosacral therapy is hands-on work and cannot be replicated remotely, so sessions are in person. If you are traveling to the area or relocating, feel free to reach out about scheduling.
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Reach out. A brief conversation is enough to get a sense of whether Dianna's approach matches what you are looking for. She would rather you ask questions and feel confident than wonder from a distance. You can contact her at 805-900-0104 or through physicaltherapymorrobay.com/contact.
