Lima 106
Manual Lymphatic Drainage — Dr. Vodder Method
Manual Lymphatic Drainage is one of the most gentle — and most powerful — treatments I offer, using feather-light strokes to wake up your body's own cleansing system. Whether you're healing, feeling puffy, or simply need to deeply unwind, this treatment will leave you feeling lighter from the inside out.
Book your Manual Lymphatic DrainageAbout this treatment
Let your body breathe again
Beneath the surface of your skin runs a quiet, vast network — your lymphatic system. It filters, protects and cleanses, carrying away waste and keeping your immune system strong. But unlike your heart, it has no pump. It relies on movement, breath, and the right kind of touch to keep flowing freely.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a specialised massage technique developed in the 1930s by Danish therapists Emil and Estrid Vodder. Using rhythmic, circular strokes that are barely more than a whisper against the skin, I guide your lymphatic fluid toward the lymph nodes — gently encouraging your body to do what it does best: heal and renew itself.
Here on Bonaire, surrounded by warm Caribbean air, this treatment feels especially profound. You arrive carrying whatever the day has brought — tension, travel fatigue, post-surgery stiffness — and you leave feeling as though something has quietly been lifted away.
Relaxing
Stimulation of blood circulation
Metabolism stimulation
Deep Serenity
Balance
Relieve stiffness
Faster recovery
Vacation recovery
Why choose this
The advantages of a Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Bonaire
Reduced swelling and puffiness
By gently stimulating the flow of lymphatic fluid, MLD effectively reduces edema and puffiness — whether from long flights, hormonal shifts, post-surgical recovery, or chronic lymphedema. Your body simply feels lighter.
Immune support and deep detox
Your lymphatic system is your body's primary filtration network, and MLD gives it a meaningful boost. Regular sessions support immune function, help clear metabolic waste, and leave you with that clear-headed, refreshed feeling from within.
Post-surgical recovery support
MLD is widely recommended after surgery — from cosmetic procedures to orthopaedic operations — because it reduces inflammation, speeds tissue healing, and helps prevent fibrosis. I work gently and always with awareness of your recovery stage.
A profoundly calming effect on the nervous system
The slow, rhythmic nature of MLD has a measurable sedative effect on the nervous system. Stress hormones ease, sleep quality improves, and many clients describe feeling more emotionally balanced after a course of treatments.
Pricing
*Prices may vary depending on the time / day / masseur selected.
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What happens during your Manual Lymphatic Drainage?
You lie comfortably on the treatment table as I begin with a series of light, rhythmic pumping and circular movements — starting at the lymph nodes in your neck, then slowly working across your body. The pressure is intentionally very light: the lymph vessels sit just millimetres below the skin surface, and they respond best to a gentle, steady rhythm rather than deep force. Many clients are surprised by how delicate the touch is — and equally surprised by how profoundly relaxing it feels.
Sessions typically move from the neck and décolleté, across the torso, and down through the limbs — following the natural pathways of your lymphatic system. There’s no oil required, and you’ll often drift into a deep, sleepy calm. That’s your nervous system shifting into its rest-and-repair mode — exactly where the healing happens.
Is this treatment right for you?
MLD is a wonderful choice if you’re experiencing swelling, puffiness or water retention, recovering from surgery or an injury, dealing with sinusitis or frequent colds, or simply craving a deeply restorative reset. It pairs beautifully with Deep Tissue Massage when tension and fluid retention appear together, and with Cupping Massage for a powerful detox combination. If you’re pregnant and dealing with swollen ankles or legs, my Pregnancy Massage incorporates lymphatic techniques, and those on a body-transformation journey often combine MLD with Slimming Massage for best results.
Our Specialists
Carolina
Relax, rejuvenate, and restore your body and mind with the healing power of massage. Treat yourself to the ultimate self-care experience today.
Jennifer
With calm presence and gentle guidance, Jennifer supports you through massage, yoga, breath and sound to find more ease, space and connection within.
Marjolijn
A skilled massage therapist has the power to soothe both body and mind, easing tension and promoting relaxation for a truly rejuvenating experience.
Want to know more?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Manual Lymphatic Drainage feel like?
MLD is the gentlest massage you will ever receive — and that is entirely intentional. The pressure is around 30 to 40 mmHg, comparable to the weight of a coin on your skin. The strokes are slow, rhythmic, and deeply soothing rather than intense. Most clients feel a pleasant warmth spreading through their body, growing lightness in their limbs, and a powerful urge to fall asleep. There is no soreness, no deep-tissue pressure, and no oil used — just precise, flowing contact on bare skin.
Is MLD safe after a long flight to Bonaire?
For most travelers, MLD is one of the best things you can do after a long flight — it actively counteracts the fluid retention and immune dip caused by prolonged sitting. However, one important contraindication for post-flight clients is deep vein thrombosis (DVT). If you have swelling in one leg only, leg pain, redness, or warmth after your flight, please seek medical evaluation before booking. We screen all clients and will always put your safety first.
Who should NOT receive Manual Lymphatic Drainage?
MLD is contraindicated for clients with active cancer, acute infection or fever, uncontrolled cardiac failure, kidney failure, or confirmed deep vein thrombosis. If you have a known medical condition, please consult your physician and inform us at the time of booking so our certified therapist can advise appropriately.
How is this different from a regular massage?
A regular massage primarily targets muscles using oil and moderate-to-firm pressure. MLD works on a completely different system — the lymphatic vessels, which sit just beneath the skin — using extremely light, directional strokes with no oil. The intention is not to relax muscle tension but to physically move lymphatic fluid toward drainage points. The result is a different kind of release: more internal, more cellular, and often more deeply calming than traditional massage.
How long is a session and how many do I need?
Sessions at Massage Bonaire run 45 or 90 minutes depending on your goals and the areas being treated. For general post-travel recovery, jet lag, or relaxation, a single 60-to-90-minute session produces excellent results. For lymphedema management, post-surgical recovery, or chronic conditions like fibromyalgia, a series of sessions yields the most sustained benefit. Your therapist will discuss your personal situation and recommend a plan during your consultation.
Do divers on Bonaire specifically benefit from MLD?
Absolutely — and this is one of the reasons MLD has become so popular among Bonaire’s diving community. Repeated diving, physical exertion in Caribbean heat, and the physiological demands of decompression all increase lymphatic and inflammatory load. MLD between dive days helps clear metabolic waste from muscles, reduce subtle tissue inflammation, support immune function, and restore the full-body lightness that keeps your diving sharp and enjoyable throughout your stay.
