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Lymphatic drainage has become enormously popular lately. The technique has gained traction to help combat bloating, bloating, constipation, muscle pain, and general feelings of heaviness. Rebecca Faria, who has 174,000 followers on Instagram, treats Hailey Bieber and traveled to Europe with Sofia Richie ahead of their wedding in 2023. In the UK, Guendalina Gennari (@guendalinatheskinsculpter), Flavia Morellato and Dimple Amani are also popular practitioners. In Claridge’s Spalymphatic drainage massage expert Luca Bagnara charges £350 for a 90-minute treatment, while Estelle Mansion incorporates the protocol into several facial treatments and one body treatment (£300 for 40 minutes).
morellatoa Brazilian therapist, brought her lymphatic treatments to the UK in 2016 and now practices at Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge and through home visits. She claims that massage first gained popularity in the 1930s, but has recently seen a rebound on social media. “It was developed by Emil Vodder and his wife Estrid to reduce swelling and lymphatic stagnation. [when lymph doesn’t move as it’s meant to]particularly in patients with chronic respiratory conditions.”
Lymph is a watery fluid (a mixture of white blood cells, nutrients, and other substances) found under the skin. Think of it as the body’s filtration system. “Lymphatic fluid moves through muscle contractions, movement of surrounding tissues and small one-way valves in the lymphatic vessels that prevent reflux,” explains the family doctor and esthetician. Dr. Priya Verma. “Lymphatic drainage massage techniques mimic these natural contractions, opening the one-way valves and pushing lymphatic fluid into larger vessels toward the heart and eventually into the bloodstream.”
Amani, who combines Ayurvedic elements in her lymphatic drainage massages, says the reasons people come to her are varied. Some “seek help with hormonal conditions such as menopause symptoms, pregnancy, and preparation for IVF,” Morellato says. Others look for “detoxification, reduction of inflammation, better digestion and less inflammation.” She believes that a course of treatments will yield the best results. “Regular treatments for 12 weeks are best for addressing inflammation.”
If you’re looking to reduce bloating, the results of a massage are convincing: it can help reshape your abs and work wonders on your gut, especially after busy weeks where your diet has been disrupted by too many overnight commitments or travel. However, as Dr Vikram MurthyMurthy Health, GP and co-founder of Harley Street clinic, Murthy Health, says: “While lymphatic drainage improves circulation, the direct impact this has on digestion is not well established. “In theory, it could help transport excess fluid from the digestive system to the heart, but it is not a specific digestive therapy.”
There are limits to what lymphatic drainage can do: no massage can actively eliminate cellulite or instigate weight loss. “Lymphatic drainage is very effective at removing fluid retention (known as lymphedema), but it does not target fat cells or cause fat loss,” says Murthy. A reduction in water weight may be beneficial for conditions that exacerbate fluid buildup, such as breast cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. After Morellato’s unexpected breast cancer diagnosis in 2021, lymphatic drainage became an “essential” part of her recovery from a mastectomy. “It helped prevent lymphedema (fluid retention) and supported my body’s healing process,” she says.
Dr. Verma agrees, saying it can be very helpful for people recovering from cancer and especially those with lymphedema. “However,” he cautions, “a 2021 study that looked at the effects of lymphatic drainage in breast cancer patients after surgery could not conclude a definitive benefit in reducing the risk of developing breast cancer-related lymphedema. However, this study found that there were benefits for patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer-related lymphedema in reducing their swelling.”
For brand consultant Sarah Guild, lymphatic drainage has been key to staying agile and healthy ahead of her third marathon; It can be hugely restorative when your legs feel lethargic after training. “I came away feeling like every single one of my muscles had been released, like I’d had the best stretch of my life,” he says of his date with Rebecca Trévalinet, co-founder of Trévalinet method in The French pharmacy in Marylebone (£180 for 60 minutes). However, don’t expect the long sweeps and knuckles of traditional massages: lymphatic drainage relies on undulating pressure movements.
There are also methods you can try at home, although giving yourself abdominal massages can be quite difficult. Do you own a trampoline? Repetitive jumping (known to those in the know as “bouncing”) is said to stimulate lymphatic fluid, as does a hot sauna, steam room, or bath. Or, skip the accessories and follow an online tutorial that shows you how to rub, massage, and press the skin like Faria or Amani would. Although, says Morellato, no home method can replace the benefits of going to a professional for whom the lymphatic pathways and the correct pressure and depth will be second nature.
“I found it to be the perfect balance of relaxation and functional benefits,” concludes Guild. “And in terms of drainage and deflation, when I left, my shorts were baggy.”