HER STORY ⟡ Carrie Riley
Today, we are meeting Carrie Riley of node & needle.
Tell us about yourself!
I’m Carrie Riley, the founder of node & needle in Milford and Terrace Park. I specialize in two areas that work beautifully together: advanced lymphatic therapy and paramedical tattooing. My focus is on swelling, scars, stretch marks, and stress. I am also a licensed mental health clinician with a background in trauma, polyvagal theory, somatic therapies, and grief recovery.
That combination shapes everything I do at node & needle. I believe healing is never just skin deep. It is about creating safety in the body and restoring confidence in how we show up in the world.
How did you get started?
I have spent over 20 years working in wellness, from teaching breathwork and yoga to providing massage therapy and mental health therapy. Over the years, I noticed how much our bodies carry from stress, surgery, and life experiences. Lymphatic health became a passion because of the immediate difference it makes in how people feel.
I also saw how powerful paramedical tattooing can be for scars and stretch marks. These services give women the chance to feel lighter, stronger, and more at home in their own bodies.
What do you love most about what you do?
I love the transformations. A woman may come in feeling bloated, fatigued, or self-conscious about her skin.
After a lymphatic session or tattoo treatment, you can see the change not only in her body but in her energy. She stands taller. She smiles differently. She leaves feeling more like herself again. That shift is what drives me every day.
What sets node & needle apart?
I am one of only ten practitioners in the world with Double Diamond Certification in Brazilian Lymphatic Drainage, and I combine that with advanced training in post-surgical care, scar revision, and tattoo camouflage.
At the same time, I bring my perspective as a mental health clinician. My sessions are always informed by nervous system regulation, polyvagal work, and somatic awareness. node & needle also has a deep connection to Cincinnati’s veteran and first responder community, to which I have intimate ties. Supporting them and their families through swelling, scarring, and stress recovery is some of the most meaningful work we do.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I love slow mornings with coffee, time with my family and dogs, and being surrounded by books and plants in my office.
I also continue to facilitate grief support groups and find so much purpose in building connections with women in our community. Wellness is never something we do alone. It grows stronger when we share it together.
Any special offers for The Beauty Boost community?
Yes, we would love to welcome you into our studio. New Beauty Boost clients can enjoy $25 offyour first 90-minute lymphatic session or half off your first paramedical tattoo.
Contact Information
node & needle | Milford, OH
