Manual Lymphatic Drainage in Kansas City
What is Manual Lymphatic Drainage?
The Dr. Vodder Method of Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) is a gentle, therapeutic technique developed in the 1930s by Emil and Estrid Vodder to encourage the body’s natural lymphatic flow and support tissue health. It’s not a deep or traditional massage — rather, it’s a precise manual technique that uses slow, rhythmic, skin-focused strokes to stimulate lymphatic vessels and assist the movement of lymph fluid through the body. Unlike massage work that targets muscle tissue, MLD works with the skin and lymphatic system to support drainage and transport of fluid and cellular waste.Wikipedia+1
About
Because the lymphatic system has no central pump like the heart, it depends on breathing, movement, and external stimulation to move fluid. Dr. Vodder’s scientifically proven method enhances that movement by following the direction of lymph flow and rhythmically engaging superficial vessels, encouraging fluid to move toward functioning lymph nodes where it can reenter circulation.Vodder School
MLD is more than soothing — it has been studied and used worldwide as a stand-alone therapy and as part of broader clinical care, particularly for conditions like post-surgical swelling (including lymphedema), inflammatory congestion, and edema, but it also complements skincare treatments by reducing puffiness, supporting connective tissue, and calming the nervous system.Vodder School+1
It differs from many “lymphatic massages” because it requires specialized training, precise hand placement, and understanding of lymphatic anatomy; movements are intentional, slow, and applied in a specific sequence to optimize flow rather than to manipulate muscle or deeper layers.Center for Lymphatic Health Care+1
I can shrink this down if it’s too long but I wanted to make sure to provide education as to why MLD is different and (IMO) better than lymphatic massage as it is very specialized.
Practitioners
Tana Parry
Licensed Esthetician, Dr. Vodder Method Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist, Certified Acne Specialist, CNC™
Joined Your Wellness Connection in 2024
Specialties: Primarily focused on the face, head, scalp, and neck, Tana offers specialized facials, full-body manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) using plant medicine skin care, scalp massage, dermaplaning, acne programs (including chemical peels), waxing, brow and lash shaping/tinting/lamination, and TMJ relief techniques.
Read Full Bio
At Our Star Skin, care begins with the lymphatic system. I’m Tana Parry—Certified Dr. Vodder Manual Lymphatic Drainage Practitioner (full body and advanced Head & Brain/Post-Concussion support), Licensed Esthetician, Certified Acne Specialist, and Certified Nutritionist Consultant (CNC™). My work blends precise lymphatic technique with thoughtful skin treatments designed to support the body’s interconnected systems. Massage therapy will be joining my offerings in Spring 2026, further expanding how I support the body as a whole.
I specialize in Dr. Vodder Manual Lymphatic Drainage alongside facials and skin treatments using herbalist-created LAUREL Skin, TUEL’s time-tested botanical formulas, Face Reality for acne care, and TiZO Sunscreens—each chosen to work with the body and honor the planet that sustains us. Nothing here is random; every product and technique has a purpose.
More than twenty years of navigating chronic illness shaped how I understand the body, healing, and the quiet signals skin often sends when something deeper needs attention. That lived experience informs everything I do—combining mindful touch, lymphatic expertise, and plant-inspired care to support both skin and system.
I’m also a published author in Spa Diaries: InSPArational Stories of Spa & Beauty Professionals, sharing one chapter of the longer journey that led me here. Outside the treatment room, you’ll usually find me with my husband and our four English Bulldogs (any bulldog parent knows they’re a full-time skin and wellness education), playing bass guitar or a Hammond B3, or knee-deep in a home project that probably started as a “quick idea.”
Every session is intentionally crafted—to calm your systems, support your largest organ – the skin, and leave you feeling restored in a way that lingers. Taking time for yourself here should feel like a deep inhale after a long melody—steady, grounding, and exactly what you didn’t know you needed.