FAQs
How do I buy a gift certificate to Massage by Stephanie?
Easy, just click this link.
Where can I find reviews of Massage by Stephanie?
I am widely reviewed on Yelp. This page includes reviews from my many years of private practice in Baltimore, as well as reviews from current patients in Arizona.
Are there any discounts available?
Massage by Stephanie offers a package discount. Purchase 9 massages at one time, and receive the 10th massage for free. This brings the cost down by 10%. It is also a substantial commitment and investment in your health.
For clients seeking post-surgical lymphatic massage, this is the best strategy, as 10 sessions get used up very quickly at 1-2/week for 4-6 weeks.
Tipping policy?
Tips: accepted, not expected.
One advantage of seeing a therapist in private practice is that there is no commission split for the fee, and you know your therapist is receiving the full amount, and fairly compensated.
In the bargain settings, for an hour of work, therapists typically receive $17-$40 of the fee (even if the fee is extremely high as is the case in luxury spas). In those settings, tipping is both expected and appropriate, because the therapists are underpaid.
The best tip is always you rebooking another appointment, or referring a friend!
Cancelation policy?
24 hour notice is requested for cancelations. A $40 fee will be charged to the card on file if the appointment is canceled with less than 24 hours.
That said, life happens, and there is no charge for the first cancelation, or in the event of a serious illness or accident.
What happens during a massage?
Each massage begins with a check-in, where I ask about your body, health, and any concerns. You will be given privacy to disrobe to the point of your comfort, and then lay between sheets on a heated cozy table.
Throughout the massage, I check-in with you throughout to assess your comfort, pressure level and effectiveness of the techniques. You will be properly draped, for your security and comfort. Depending our your pain and goals, we will work on your neck, back, arms, legs, hips/glutes, abdomen, scalp and face.
During the massage, it is your time. You do not have to talk, and you are encouraged to zone out and relax. You may even fall asleep. Of course, if you are on the chattier side, that is also ok – it is your decision!
At the end of the massage, I leave the room and give you space to get dressed. Then, you go home and drink PLENTY of water, and get a TERRIFIC night’s sleep!
How to prepare for a massage?
If this is your first massage with me, you will complete the forms sent out by my online booking system, before we meet. This gives me helpful information for best treating you.
The night before the massage, I support you getting an excellent night’s sleep. The day of the massage, please drink more water than normal, so that you are properly hydrated.
Please plan your exercise routine so that no weight lifting or intensive exercise is on your schedule after your massage, AND the day immediately following your massage.
How does lymphatic massage help after surgery?
Lymphatic massage is a must-have after surgical procedures. Joint replacements, cosmetic procedures, lipoma removals, and reconstruction after cancer are all instances that can benefit from post-surgical MLD. The gentle manual strokes helps reduce swelling and pain by stimulating the lymphatic system to move excess fluid out of the tissues. This process also aids in faster healing, reduces pain, prevents complications like fibrosis (scar tissue buildup), and can improve the final aesthetic results.
How soon can I get a lymphatic massage after surgery?
Every surgeon has her own instructions, so follow your surgeon’s recommendations first and foremost. Generally speaking, lymphatic drainage massage is safe as soon as the day after surgery.
I will wear gloves while your incisions are still leaking and healing, and there is time built into the session for you to get in and out of compression garments.
Optimal outcomes from surgery involve lymphatic drainage massage 2x/weekly for 6-8 weeks after procedures. This extra investment improves aesthetic results, and reduces swelling and fibrosis.
What are the benefits of massage?
Numerous studies link massage therapy with better health outcomes. Specific benefits include reducing stress and alleviating pain, improving sleep, and increasing flexibility. Massage can improve circulation, increase flexibility and range of motion, and aid in recovery from injuries by boosting blood flow and lymphatic drainage.
As we get older, our bodies require more and more specialized maintenance. Stephanie has experience working with complex medical cases including patients who are recovery from cancer (chemo, cancer surgeries, mastectomies, tumor and organ removals), recovery from joint replacements, recovery from other major surgery, and ongoing treatment of chronic illness.
Even for those in excellent health, having a specialist who provides relaxation experiences fully customized to your preference is an outstanding investment in your embodied experience and overall quality of life.
What are the benefits of abdominal massage?
Improved digestion, Reduced pain and discomfort, Enhanced lymphatic drainage, Improved blood circulation, Strengthened abdominal muscles, Helps resolve low back pain, Relaxation and stress reduction.
Can Stephanie do mobile massages for my family/office/bridal party/retreat?
Yes, I routinely work with couples and families in their homes for mobile service. It’s a fantastic way to get everyone in the home treated, relaxed, and feeling good.
I also work with bridal parties, which is an excellent way to set a calm and relaxed tone for the big day.
I’m happy to set up my table in a quiet space at your workplace, and treat your office staff. They will love it!
Does Stephanie offer prenatal/pregnancy massage?
No, Stephanie does not specialize in pre-natal massage.
Does Massage by Stephanie accomodate allergies or sensitive skin?
My linens are all laundered in hypoallergenic and unscented products.
I use Biotone massage cream, which is unscented, nut-free, and hypoallergenic.
Virgin organic coconut oil can be used instead of the lotion if necessary.
What if I am immunocompromised?
I work with several immunocompromised patients, mostly for home visits. It is no issue at all for me to wear gloves and a mask. For some patients, it is also necessary to use only their massage table, their linens, and their own oils that they know they can tolerate. I understand and accommodate skin and immune sensitivities.
Does Stephanie offer massage add-ons?
I use aromatherapy, cupping, hot stones, hot compresses, gua sha (scraping tools), Deep Blue, Biofreeze, and a massage gun as needed, and these tools are included in the price of the massage.
The only added charge is when a patient requests a full-body hot stone massage, which involves use of many hot stones throughout the massage rather than just a couple of helper stones on the back or shoulders.
Does Massage by Stephanie bill health insurance or work with insurance plans?
Massage by Stephanie is not contracted with any health insurance plan. Payment is due at time of service.
Sadly, health insurance rarely pays for massage therapy services, but in some cases, it does.
Stephanie has extensive experience charting for insurance, from her work in a medical massage setting. She can provide medical receipts (which will include CPT and ICD-10 codes) and superbills for you to submit to your insurance for reimbursement, upon request.
Why should I choose Stephanie over other bargain options?
There is a world of difference between a big box store “therapy mill” setting and a private massage studio.
In bargain settings, therapists are on a very strict schedule, table time advertised is not the true table time (ie, your “60 minute massage” is 45-50 minutes on the table at most), and the therapist working on you may be on her 7th or 8th body that day. I provide the full advertised time on the table and do not need to overwork, so each client gets the experience she deserves of my full energy and attention.
The therapist at the bargain shop is always underpaid, so she routinely overworks just to make ends meet. Because of this, most of the time, you are not getting her best work or full attention.
And to the big box store, you are first and foremost a chance to make money, ie: a lucrative membership contract that may seem impossible for you to leave, or a sale of a large, non-refundable package of massages that have to be used up even if you don’t like any of the therapists at the store.
Time and time again, I hear my clients describe that just as they find someone they like to use for the membership or massage package at these places, that therapist leaves the practice, which is typical due to the chronic high turnover in such establishments.
These businesses also aggressively push add-ons – special cream or massage tool upgrades, massage style upgrades – which can altogether eliminate your savings at the bargain shop. I include all of these tools at no additional cost, and I also do not charge more for deep tissue therapy.
There is value in choosing a boutique massage specialist over the big box options. The added value is for someone who cares, listens to your concerns, and closely fosters the relationship to become part of your health team in the long term. You – your body, your story – are important and remembered, and your massage is fully customized.
When I make a new connection with a patient, it is very often my experience that that relationship lasts for years.
