It claims to boost immunity, reveal glowing skin, drain your body of toxins, improve circulation and sculpt your body to reveal a more toned physique, but what is lymphatic drainage, and why do we need it? 

With recent Hollywood-A-listers spotted getting the treatment, from Hailey Bieber to Selena Gomez and Megan Markle, naturally, we want to know more. Instagram-famous massage therapists Flávia Lanini and Camila Perez both perform lymphatic drainage massage on celebrity clients, and boast some impressive before-and-after photos of contoured physiques. 

From the end of 2018 up to 2020, bookings for lymphatic drainage on spa treatment booking service, Treatwell, increased by 81.5% year-on-year, and cost on average from £50 for half an hour, right up to £400 for an hour-long treatment, but can it really boost our health and make us look more toned? 

First, we’ll explain the science behind it. 

WHAT IS LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE? 

The lymphatic system in your body lies under the skin and helps the body to drain toxins through lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are located all around the body, with the main four areas being the neck, abdomen, armpits, and groin areas. It also helps to absorb fats and vitamins from your digestive system into your bloodstream. It acts as a kind of waste disposal for our body. When you have swollen glands in your neck with a cough or cold, this is your lymph nodes. When an infection arises, your body produces extra infection-fighting cells as a means of protection. 

“The lymphatic system is part of the immune system and as such it helps the body to fight infections. It’s a large network of organs, tissues, and fluids that help to remove toxins from the body. Lymphatic drainage is a way of gently massaging the face and body to encourage movement of the lymph fluids and helps support the body to get rid of these toxins more quickly and effectively,” says celebrity facialist and natural skincare expert, Lisa Harris, who performs lymphatic drainage massage at her practice. 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE MASSAGE? 

“Lymphatic drainage helps to improve circulation, reduce water retention and boost the immune system. It’s believed it can help varicose veins and aid weight loss. It can help to reduce swelling and bloating as well as improve the appearance of the skin by reducing fine lines, wrinkles, and eye bags. It can also aid digestion and the metabolism and result in cleaner, healthier skin, and less scarring.” Some people also report in feeling less stiffness when the wake up in the morning after a lymphatic drainage massage. 

“The lymphatic fluid helps to remove waste and toxins from the tissues in the body. Some health conditions can cause this fluid to build up, however, and so drainage can be beneficial. It’s often used to relieve lymphedema after breast cancer surgery. It can also help people with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia,” says Harris. 

WHAT IS LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE MASSAGE USED FOR? 

In short, a clogged lymph system can cause lots of serious health conditions. Our body’s cells depend on the lymphatic system to transport messages between cells, and it’s packed-full of bacteria-fighting white blood cells, that help to keep us healthy. If your lymphatic drainage system isn’t working properly, you might be experiencing swelling, because the lymph fluid is building up instead of being drained. 

In a medical sense, it’s previously been used to treat people who have trouble draining their lymph nodes due to damage because of surgery, trauma, infection, or diseases like cancer or autoimmune disorders. So, what about healthy people? Can lymphatic drainage massage be beneficial for everyone? 

As massages tend to be a relaxing pastime, and naturally any massage will help to drain your body of toxins, it can only help towards you feeling less bloated and more relaxed. The ‘weight loss’ claims attached to lymphatic drainage are sketchy. While it can help to drain any weight from water retention, and result in a less bloated, and in some cases, more toned physique or depuffed face, that’s as far as it goes. The “contouring” effect is only temporary. It’s not really a fat loss, more of a reduction in bloating, although fewer toxins in the body do mean that your metabolic rate could be improved, which could support weight loss.  

HOW DO YOU DO LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE? 

“There are various methods of lymphatic drainage from massage, vacuuming, vibration to dry brushing, even moisturizing the skin in upward flowing movements towards the heart will help improve lymphatic flow. You can perform lymphatic drainage at home but if you have a chronic condition or suffer from lymphoedema it is best to visit a professional,” says massage therapist Karen White, of Phoenix Therapy Spa.  

“I often do this in the clinic to help patients who are suffering from bloating around the face but it is simple to perform on yourself at home too and just involves carrying out some simple face massage using your fingers. Put simply, you need to use the pads of your fingers and work upwards and from the middle of the face towards the lymph nodes around the neck and ears using gentle movements. This will help to drain the fluid from the face and reduce puffiness and bloating.” 

Lymphatic drainage massage at home can be performed as part of your self-care ritual, like dry brushing your body, or massaging your face with jade rollers or gua sha as part of your skincare routine. Both methods support lymphatic drainage to reveal a less puffy, more toned complexion. 

WHAT OTHER WAYS CAN YOU IMPROVE YOUR LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE SYSTEM? 

Aside from lymphatic massage, staying active, leading a healthy lifestyle, drinking water and deep breathing are key for boosting your body’s natural detoxification process and lymphatic drainage, so doing some exercise like running or swimming while focusing on your breathing can help, and although more studies need to be done, hydrotherapy is thought to help too – that’s moving between hot and cold water. Coldwater therapy, recently made famous by Wim Hof, can also support circulation, amongst a heap of other benefits. 

IS LYMPHATIC DRAINAGE WORTH TRYING? 

Reducing toxins in our body through lymphatic drainage is always going to be beneficial. Fewer toxins ultimately mean better overall health, from protection against coughs and colds to improved skin tone and texture with fewer breakouts, to an enhanced circulation and digestive system. A relaxing treatment that promises to improve skin and boost health? We won’t argue with that...