Why do legs swell after a long flight?

Blood returning from the legs depends on the calf squeezing with every step. Sitting still for hours stops that pump, and fluid settles by gravity in the ankles and feet.

How much does lymphatic drainage cost in Rio de Janeiro?

R$ 250 for 60 minutes, with travel included.

Swollen legs after a long flight to Rio de Janeiro

Why legs swell on a long flight

Blood coming back up from the legs depends heavily on the calf squeezing with every step. Sit still for ten hours and that pump stops working. Fluid settles by gravity in the ankles and the feet, and the swelling appears.

Heat then works in the same direction. It widens the blood vessels, which helps the body lose temperature through the skin, but it also makes it easier for fluid to leave the vessels into the surrounding tissue. A flight followed by a hot first day on your feet in Ipanema is the classic combination.

What helps in the room

Three simple things make a difference in most cases. Putting your legs above the height of your heart helps the fluid drain by gravity. Walking, or even just alternating between sitting and standing, gets the calf pump going again. And drinking water through the day helps more than drinking less.

Compression stockings help too, but only wear the ones a doctor recommended: the wrong compression for your degree of swelling can do more harm than good.

Where lymphatic drainage comes in

When the swelling does not go with those measures, or comes back stronger each day, lymphatic drainage helps the body move the fluid that has settled. I use the same slow, directed strokes I use in post-operative work: no firm pressure, always towards the lymph nodes. The session runs 60 minutes and costs R$ 250, with travel already in the price.

I also come to hotels and holiday apartments in the Zona Sul — the front desk just needs to be told in advance — so this is a session you can have on the evening you land, without going anywhere.

When swollen legs are a doctor's business, not a massage's

Some signs call for a medical assessment before any massage. In those cases do not book a session, see a doctor or an emergency department:

Swelling that appeared on one side only, not both
Strong pain in the leg, to the touch or when walking
Redness or hot skin over the swollen area
Shortness of breath along with the swelling

That set of signs can point to a clot, and massage is not advisable in those cases. Long flights are one of the situations where this matters most, which is why it is worth reading twice.

If none of those signs are there and the swelling is the ordinary tiredness of a flight and a hot day, drainage helps put that settled fluid back into motion.

I come to Barra da Tijuca, Joá, Itanhangá, Freguesia, Recreio, Zona Sul, Centro, Tijuca, Grajaú and Maracanã, 9am to 8pm. The full list of services and prices is on the services page, and how a visit works from start to finish is in a massage in your hotel room.

About swollen legs and lymphatic drainage

Does every swollen leg need lymphatic drainage?

No. If the swelling is mild and goes with your legs raised, or has passed by the next day, looking after it in the room is usually enough. Massage helps when the swelling is more persistent or still bothers you after those measures.

Does the drainage session hurt?

No. I use slow, light strokes towards the lymph nodes. It is not a firm-pressure massage.

Do I need a doctor's referral to book?

For ordinary swelling from a flight, heat or hours on your feet, no. For post-surgical swelling I ask what your doctor advised before we book.

When should I see a doctor instead of booking a massage?

If the swelling is on one side only, or comes with pain, redness, hot skin or shortness of breath, that can be a clot. Get medical help first, do not book a massage.

What does it cost and how long does it last?

60 minutes for R$ 250, with travel already in the price.