Nicole is a God send!! Visited Great Lakes post op for a lymphatic massage and was not disappointed. While these massages can be a little painful/uncomfortable in general, Nicole really helped to ease the pain with a little bit of conversation, explaining the process, and hands that work like magic. I've been visiting on the regular for months as this is what is required for my post surgery plan and definitely want to continue even after all is said and done. I walk out every time feeling 100% better then when I walked in. What a great way to start a day or finish read more

Always an excellent experience here. I've been going for massages for well over 2 years ... Always professional, thorough, and timely. The owner, Colleen, is informative and most helpful. I see Patty F for my massages- she is excellent! She always takes the time to inquire about my specific needs at each appointment. Her technique is great, and she is always thorough, informative, and respectful. I have no want to go anywhere else. I highly recommend them! read more

A very relaxing environment with very friendly staff. I had a BBL+Lipo about 3 weeks ago and I started coming here about 1 week post op for lymphatic massage and I'm happy I did I've been seeing really good results. I would recommend to anyone who needs a good massage. read more

I love coming here. I respect that others may have had bad experiences but I've never seen a misuse of my no-fault information or privacy with the therapists or the owners. I also recognize that this practice has no control over the treatment schedule/options due to the nature of no-fault cases. Colleen has always been very professional and reliable with my case, helping me with what I needed to give her so that she can abide by the rules as well as ensure I receive the treatment I needed. I've had almost every therapist and they're all very receptive to what I need/like and I feel comfortable telling them if I do not like something. I've been a regular client for about 3 years now and probably will be for life! read more

I have been going to great lakes for about 8 weeks now for post op lymphatic drainage massages. Colleen is very knowledgeable about her work and knows exactly how to work out my target areas. I always leave out feeling so much better than when I came in. read more

I read with interest the negative reviews. I have to say I had no such experience. This therapist group was recommended by my chiropractor, so this was my first time with them. I found the scheduling easy, my therapist communicative, pleasant and effective. I asked for deep tissue massage that was done really well. As I stated, I am no way affiliated with this group other than being a new client. Based on my experience I would recommend my therapist and have plans to utilize her services again. read more

Hands down the most professional and caring staff at this well run massage facility. I have never had a negative interaction and have been a client for 3 plus years now. The ambiance at the facility is clean and there is attention to detail. They have always catered to any specific areas that I was having issues with, made helpful suggestions, and I wouldn't consider going anywhere else! I did ask about the name change too, and was told that you can no longer file for a name that elevates you among your peers...ie..excellent, wonderful, better, etc. Not sure what issue any negative former client may have, this place is relaxing, effective and wonderful! read more

I recently had BBL and lipo 360 surgery, which lymphatic drainage massages were encouraged for during my recovery. (lymphatic drainage is a very different type of massage than a standard massage and requires a licensed specialist to do it correctly). Great Lakes was one of the very few licensed specialists I found in the Buffalo area and all the positive reviews helped me make my decision. Colleen (the owner) is SO sweet and does a great job with her massage technique. Her massages are better than the ones I was receiving in Miami and I actually look forward to them! Lymphatic massages aren't meant to be relaxing but she does a very good job at making you feel comfortable and as relaxed as she possibly can during the process, and my body feels so much better every time I walk out of her building. I'm very pleased with my decision on choosing Great Lakes and highly recommend it to anyone in need of a massage- lymphatic or therapeutic. read more

I'm a breast cancer survivor, and have been suffering with lymphedema of my right arm for the past six years, I have tried physical therapy I have tried exercise I have tried compression sleeves compression gloves, elevation etc. you name it I've tried it. I have had no relief, the pain is chronic, I have some good days and some bad days and some really bad days. I was living on ibuprofen, so I took my friends advice gave Colleen a call made an appointment, and I'm so very happy that I did. Finally happy that somebody is helping me get some sort of relief. I cannot thank Colleen enough. Although I know I still have a way to go, I know I'm on the right track. I highly recommend you go see them you will not be disappointed. read more

Now in a different location, Elite Massage Therapy has (for whatever reason) changed its name to Great Lakes Therapeutic Massage Therapy & Bodywork Practitioners. Why the name change? What's this owner hiding? I tried this place for (as advertised) medical massage. If the owner massages you, she stops massaging when she talks & WOW, does she EVER talk! Was she vaccinated with a phonograph needle? I've never had a "stop n' go" massage like that before, & that was DEFINITELY the last 'session' I made with her! Another 'therapist' left me in pain at my shoulder blades that lasted for a few hours DESPITE my taking a 500mg Naproxin when I got home! Another's massage was ultra-light/useless, & she cut the session by 15 mins., telling me that was all the time she had for me that day! That 'therapist' was always texting or had her cell phone constantly glued to her ear! Appt. mistakes were never ending, per this office's inept use of the Vagaro texting appt. system & wrong time/days written on appt. cards! Per the owner's arrogance, I wouldn't be surprised if HIPAA has very little meaning here. This has got to be the most unprofessional 'healthcare office' of I've any kind that I've ever come across! The entire place (when you enter) is VERY dark & VERY smelly from being overly scented with candles & whatever else the owner can come up with. If you have allergies, take your allergy meds before coming here! If you've ever sat behind someone at a play or a concert who has doused themselves in perfume or cologne, this office will definitely bring back those memories, as your sinuses clog & your eyes tear-up! The massage beds are lukewarm & the rooms are all ICY COLD in (what is now) winter! Make sure the door doesn't pop open in whatever room you're in while you're undressing OR getting up to dress, & would someone PLEASE empty the waste baskets! It's important to reiterate the fact that the owner advertises as a place to receive "medical massage", which is her main claim to fame. I've tried several 'therapists' here for medical massage (per my insurance's no-fault policy), giving this place much more of a chance than it (& the owner) deserved. Only one massage therapist seemed to know what she was doing, but she's rarely there. Although I began to agree with her, her constant complaining about the owner & staff became tiresome & intrusive. She does her own massage therapy out of her husband's chiropractic office, but doesn't take insurance. She comes here once in awhile to work, & you (or your insurance company) pay $$$$ "middleman" prices to see her. I assume that if you get a type of "by the numbers" medical massage degree the way the owner seems to have done, there's really nothing to stop you from staffing your place with just about anybody. Who's to know who's properly trained & competent? Certainly NOT the insurance companies, who're constantly being billed through their client's no-fault & other medical insurance policies. I was STUNNED to find out (after seeing how the owner operates) that all one needs to do to make BIG bucks is to simply pack in the appointments the way this 'massage' factory does, run your staff ragged, bill the insurance companies & get paid. This is just more proof of why our medical insurance rates keep going up! You wouldn't BELIEVE what this place bills the various (& clueless) insurance companies! I don't think there's any sexual "hanky-panky" going on here, but I would assume clients get "sweet-talked" (like they tried to do with me) into a false sense that they're being helped. As the owner told me during that incredible headache-inducing, "stop n' go" on & off again over talking massage I'd had from her, some people are lonely & feel the need to be touched, because they're not getting any (or enough) physical contact in their relationships. If that's what the owner believes & when you put this & other things she's said together, I think this owner knows how to exploit a client's weaknesses to keep them coming back. If you've ever been in a bad car accident (I was hit in the back of my car by a large pick-up truck doing 65 in a 35 while I was stopped), there are (as I've now found out) many other options to choose from. What the owner takes advantage of, is that when a person is hurting from a car accident (or has other injuries/ailments), we usually don't want to start looking for another place &/or therapist all over again. Now that I'm out of the clutches of that owner & her minions, I couldn't be happier! I feel much like the main guy in the movie THX1138, when he came out into the sunshine. In my opinion, this place is absolutely detrimental to a client's health for medical massage & a real rip-off to the insurance companies who pay for it. Paying out of pocket for a regular massage? Then please do yourself a favor & go elsewhere. Have you also been maltreated by a massage business or therapist in NYS? Then call the NYS OFFICE OF PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINE at 800-442-8106. read more

I was referred by a co worker, My massage therapist Laura ,did a phenomenal job. I can't say enough great things about her work at reliving my pain. Thank you. read more