LYMPHOLOGY • POSTOPERATIVE REHABILITATION • LIPEDEMA • LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE

Recovery is a method,
not luck.

I am Neiva Cimini , founder of the Maison Ipanema Institute in Belgium. My work is dedicated to applied lymphology, integrating postoperative rehabilitation in plastic surgery, conservative treatment of lipedema, management of lymphatic disorders and functional lymphatic drainage, always grounded in the physiology of the body.

10+
Years of practice
Thousands
Of people
Meise
Maasmechelen
Neiva Cimini
Neiva Cimini
ISAPS BODY MASTERS · BARCELONA 2026MARIE CLAIRE BELGIUMLYMPHATIC DYSFUNCTION SPECIALISTSHISEIDO GINZA TOKYO INSTITUTEESTÉTICA IN SÃO PAULOBEYOND THE SCALPELDERMATIS
WHAT NO ONE TELLS YOU

The surgery ends. The result begins.

Unrelenting swelling, fibrosis, seroma, skin that won't settle. And the feeling that something is wrong, but nobody knows how to explain what.

Many people undergo surgery, sometimes on the other side of the world, and return without anyone qualified to care for what comes next. Without protocol, without method, without someone who understands what happens inside the body at each healing stage.

It's then, in the weeks no one photographs, that the result is either won or lost.

"Surgery is science. Postoperative care must be too."

THE DIFFERENCE

The Neiva Cimini® Method

Postoperative recovery based on the biology of healing, lymphology and mechanobiology.

Recovery after plastic surgery depends on the interplay between inflammation, lymphatic drainage, tissue perfusion, extracellular matrix remodeling, mechanobiology and nervous system adaptation. The Método Neiva Cimini® integrates these principles to choose the most appropriate intervention at each stage of healing, respecting the biology of the tissue instead of applying standardized protocols.

Each intervention is defined by the biology of the tissue, not by the surgery's calendar.

Lymphatic Anatomy & Tissue Precision

Every maneuver respects the pathway of the lymphatic system, the vascularization and the anatomical changes produced by the surgery. The direction of movement is determined by physiology, never by a fixed protocol.

Mechanobiology & Fascial Remodeling

Connective tissue remodeling depends on the right mechanical stimulus. The goal is not to “break fibrosis”, but to promote gliding between tissue planes and guide an organized healing process.

Neurophysiology of Recovery

Pain, stress, sleep quality and autonomic nervous system activity directly influence tissue recovery. Treatment considers the body as an integrated system.

"The Brazilian recovery technique, with European scientific rigor."

Understand the full Method →
VERIFIABLE AUTHORITY

The trust of those who operate. And of those who recognize.

ISAPS Body Masters 2026

Invited speaker at the elite plastic-surgery course, in Barcelona.

Marie Claire Belgium

The Method among the treatments that “really work”.

Shiseido Ginza Tokyo Institute

Adopted the drainage she developed, and she trained the whole team.

International congresses

Beyond The Scalpel, Dermatis and Estética in São Paulo.

THE VOICE OF THOSE WHO OPERATE

The trust of those who have no need for pretty words.

Plastic Surgeon

Dr Alan Rwigemera

Belgium

In body contouring surgery, the final result is not determined by the operation alone. It begins with careful planning, continues through precise surgical execution and develops throughout recovery. Healing is an active part of treatment. Swelling, lymphatic function, tissue remodeling, scar maturation and patient education all influence the final outcome. For this reason, postoperative care should be entrusted to therapists with a deep understanding of surgery, tissue healing and the specific requirements of each procedure. This level of expertise cannot be improvised. It is built through dedicated training, clinical experience and close communication with the surgical team. Through her commitment to education, knowledge sharing and specialized postoperative care, Neiva Cimini is helping raise the standards of postoperative recovery in Belgium. Professionals who invest in education and encourage collaboration between surgeons and specialized therapists ultimately contribute to better patient care and better long-term outcomes. The operation is a moment. The result is a process.
Dr Alan Rwigemera
Plastic Surgeon

Dr Stefan Danilla

Santiago, Chile

I had the pleasure of meeting Neiva at the ISAPS Body Masters course in Barcelona. I was truly impressed not only by her professionalism, but also by the genuine care and compassion she shows to every one of her patients. I wholeheartedly recommend her both as a professional and as an educator. She has a remarkable ability to make the entire plastic surgery journey a truly unforgettable experience.
Dr Stefan Danilla
Plastic Surgeon

Dr Jamil Hayek

New Image Europe · United Kingdom

I had the pleasure of meeting Neiva at the Beyond the Scalpel congress and at ISAPS in Barcelona, where her session on wound healing and post-operative care stood out as one of the highlights of the programme. She combines real clinical rigour with a genuinely warm, patient-first approach, the kind of aftercare presence every surgical journey benefits from. It's rare to find someone who bridges the technical and the human sides of recovery so naturally. I'd recommend her without hesitation.
Dr Jamil Hayek
Plastic Surgeon

Dr Ahmad Saad

Barcelona, Spain

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of postoperative therapy in optimizing patient outcomes following both body contouring and facial aesthetic surgery. While the surgical procedure establishes the foundation for the final result, the quality of postoperative care often determines how efficiently patients heal and how successfully those results are achieved and maintained. Neiva's approach to postoperative therapy is truly unique because it is firmly grounded in scientific principles rather than empirical practice alone. Her protocols are designed around the physiological changes that occur during the different phases of the healing process, allowing therapy to be tailored to the patient's evolving postoperative needs. By understanding and addressing these biological processes, her approach helps minimize edema, enhance tissue recovery, reduce complications, and accelerate the healing process, ultimately contributing to more predictable and superior aesthetic outcomes.
Dr Ahmad Saad
Plastic Surgeon

Dr Andre Cervantes

São Paulo, Brazil

As a plastic surgeon, I consider dermatofunctional physiotherapy a fundamental part of my patients' postoperative care. Procedures such as abdominoplasty, liposuction, and breast surgery cause swelling, fibrosis, and changes in lymphatic drainage that, without proper follow-up, can compromise the result we planned together for the surgery. That is why I advise my patients to begin manual lymphatic drainage at the right time, reducing swelling and discomfort, as well as preventing seromas. Techniques such as therapeutic ultrasound, taping, and tissue mobilization help prevent fibrosis and adhesions, preserving the quality of scar healing. The physiotherapist also provides guidance on positioning, proper use of the compression garment, and a gradual return to activities. I work in constant communication with the physiotherapy team, which allows me to closely monitor each stage of recovery and identify any changes early. This integration ensures my patients a faster, more comfortable, and safer recovery — and superior, long-lasting results.
Dr Andre Cervantes
Neiva Cimini
WHO CARES FOR YOU

“What is happening to my body?”

Before getting to know my work, many people come to me asking exactly that question.

Some feel constantly swollen. Others live with leg pain, fluid retention, a feeling of heaviness or changes that began after surgery, an illness, a pregnancy or simply with the passing years.

Some have received a diagnosis of lipedema or lymphedema and don't know where to start. Some have had plastic surgery and are worried about edema, tissue hardening, scars or a recovery slower than they imagined. And there are also those who simply feel they have lost their body's balance: they sleep poorly, live under stress, feel less energy and no longer recognize themselves the same way.

Despite their different stories, almost all of them share the same doubt: “Is it still possible to get better?”

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It was in search of an answer to that question that I built my entire professional journey.

When I arrived in Belgium, in 2015, I had to start over from scratch. To practice legally, I completed my training in Massage Therapy, recognized by the Belgian Federation of Massage Therapy. At the same time, I kept investing in my scientific education, completing a postgraduate degree in Dermatofunctional Physiotherapy in Brazil and deepening my studies in lymphology, the physiology of healing, mechanobiology and the functioning of the lymphatic system.

I started with home visits and a single portable table. Each person I cared for reinforced the same perception: behind seemingly different complaints there was one thing in common. The lymphatic system took part in tissue recovery, edema control, the inflammatory response and the body's balance.

It was this understanding that gave rise to the Método Neiva Cimini®.

Today I dedicate my work to recovery after plastic surgery, to the conservative treatment of lipedema in partnership with a multidisciplinary network of doctors, to the care of people with lymphatic disorders and to the development of my own approach to functional lymphatic drainage, based on the body's physiology and respect for each person's individuality.

I am the founder of the Maison Ipanema Institute, with locations in Maasmechelen and Meise, Belgium, currently expanding. I also share this knowledge through the Neiva Cimini Academy, training professionals and taking part in international scientific events.

Along this journey, my method has also come to be recognized outside the healthcare field, being adopted by luxury hotels and highlighted by Marie Claire magazine as a wellbeing experience based on a deep understanding of human physiology.

But above any recognition, there is something that continues to guide every session.

I believe that caring for the lymphatic system does not just mean reducing swelling. It means understanding how the body responds to inflammation, surgery, stress, hormonal changes and the conditions that affect quality of life.

Because, in the end, my work has never been just about lymphatic drainage.

It has always been about helping people understand their own body and creating the best conditions for it to find its balance again.

Read my full journey →

You are here to…

Recover safely after surgery.

Postoperative care for lipo, abdominoplasty, BBL, facelift, lipedema, lymphedema, and more. With the specialist trusted by Belgian surgeons.

See how it works →

Learn a science-based method.

The Neiva Cimini Academy trains professionals who want to understand the physiology of healing, applied lymphology and postoperative recovery beyond traditional techniques. A hands-on training grounded in scientific evidence and applicable to everyday professional practice.

Discover the Academy →

Ready to care, or learn to care, the right way.