Lately, both my TikTok FYP and Instagram Explore pages have been inundated with a certain wellness trend: lymphatic drainage massages. A lymphatic drainage treatment is not your average massage, however. These typically involve masseuses yielding wooden sculpting tools and performing vigorous massage movements with their hands, with the intention of de-puffing, sculpting and boosting the body's lymphatic system, which comes with its own set of benefits. And they tend to showcase some very impressive before-and-after results.
Hailey Bieber, Jennifer Aniston and Kendall Jenner are all reported to love lymphatic drainage treatments, so naturally, I wanted in. To find out what all the fuss is about, I visited lymphatic drainage expert
Dimple Amani to experience it for myself and find out if these massages are really worth it. I've already seen her before to try her buccal facial and was seriously impressed, so I couldn't wait to see what her full lymphatic drainage massage could do. Scroll ahead for my review.
What Is lymphatic drainage?
Before-and-after results from Dimple Amani's lymphatic drainage massage.
"The lymphatic system is a network of delicate, thin vessels throughout the body and face," Amani tells me. "It drains fluid which sits below the skin called the lymph that has leaked from the blood vessels into the tissues, and empties it back into the bloodstream," she says. In short, it supports the body’s immunity and detoxification process. Lymphatic drainage massage can support this, along with having a de-puffing effect on water retention, helping to achieve a sculpted look.
"Lymphatic draining massage [also known as manual lymphatic drainage or MLD] is performed manually with gentle yet firm techniques, almost pushing the fluids into lymph nodes to help reduce water retention and flush toxins, providing stimulation of the lymph vessels under the skin to move and filter the lymphatic system," she says. "It encourages the [lymphatic system] to work harder and find new pathways to drain away the lymph, the fluid full of toxins, away from the swollen areas."
What Are the Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage?
Benefits of Lymphatic Drainage Massage:
- Reduces water retention
- Boosts immune system
- Helps with bloating
- Leaves the body looking defined
- Improves fatigue
- Relaxes the body
- Improves skin texture
Amani tells me that her lymphatic drainage massages are very popular with her celebrity clients, who often book ahead of photoshoots and events to look and feel their best. Apart from leaving her clientele looking visibly sculpted and defined, lymphatic drainage massage comes with a tonne of health and wellbeing benefits too.
"Overall benefits of lymphatic drainage are countless as it makes you feel lighter, it reduces water retention and de-bloats, boosts immunity, improves health and relaxes you mentally whilst improving skin texture and reducing fatigue," says Amani. She also tells me that it helps enhance the results you see from exercise, as it helps to de-puff the entire body from head to toe. "It's like a lazy workout," she says.
What's more, the results are easy to maintain at home too. With such a long list of benefits, I was keen to try it out for myself, so I made my way to Amani's treatment room at Define London to try it.
What to Expect During a lymphatic drainage massage
Dimple Amani uses a wooden body tool to help stimulate the lymphatic system.
When I went for my massage back in December, I was experiencing some PMS bloating and generally felt rather sluggish from the festive season. My immune system was in need of a helping hand so it was an optimum time to put this treatment to the test. Once I had hopped onto the treatment bed, Amani warmed her Lymph Body Drain and Navel Oil (£85) before applying it onto my skin. She began the massage at my ankles, using upward, sweeping motions towards the heart. This is the general rule of thumb wherever you are massaging, as we have lymph nodes in our groin, armpits and around our neck.
She then used her Lymph Body Tool—a bevelled wooden tool—to further drain the lymph in my legs, working from the ankles up. The treatment is in no way painful, but you can feel your circulation kicking in with the vigorous movements of the massage. She treated my right leg first so I could compare with the left, and I was amazed at how different they felt. My legs often feel heavy and puffy when I've been on my feet all day, but this was completely alleviated by the massage. My leg felt lighter—tingling with circulation—and my calves and thighs were left looking more toned and defined too.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage Before and After
Beauty editor Eleanor Vousden before and after her lymphatic drainage massage with Dimple Amani.
Next, Amani moved onto my stomach and used firm yet gentle massage movements around the area, this time working towards the lymph nodes in the groin. My stomach did rumble a bit here, which Amani tells me is to be expected when working around this area.
"Lymphatic drainage benefits the full body all over as it drains all the toxins out from our body, in particular when you have a focused abs treatment," she says. "I use Ayurveda elements such as navel oil [which is applied in the belly button and massaged all over the stomach area] which helps melt any congestion in the intestine to clear and flush away toxins from the stomach, completely de-bloating and releasing trapped air bubbles which in turn helps with digestion, inflammation and constipation," says Amani.
I saw the visible results on my torso from the lymphatic drainage massage, and was amazed that my bloating had subsided, leaving my stomach looking flatter too. After treating my torso, she then moved onto my arms, using massage movements and working up towards my armpits to complete the treatment.
The Results
It's safe to say that by the time I'd finished the treatment, I felt like I was walking on air. A massage always leaves you feeling great, of course, but this felt on another level. I felt lighter, less puffy and my bloating had practically disappeared. I could feel my blood circulation pumping and I had an overall sense of wellbeing and relaxation. As I zipped up my knee-high boots, I noticed my calves felt more slender and I could see in my body that I looked more toned. Needless to say, I slept like a baby that night and continued to reap the benefits days afterwards too.
Amani tells me that someone could have a lymphatic drainage massage weekly. If money were no object I'd be booking in on the regular, but thankfully it's easy to maintain the results at home after a massage, and you'll typically see the benefits for up to a week afterwards. Keen to keep up the effects at home, I asked Amani for her tips to maintain the results.
Aftercare
Dimple Amani encouraged Eleanor to drink herbal tea after her treatment to further aid the detoxification process.
As the massage helps to flush out toxins, she told me I might find myself going to the loo more post-treatment, and to drink plenty of water to support the lymphatic drainage process. She handed me a cup of her Miracle Tea, a cocktail of Ayurvedic herbs that helps to de-bloat, support hormones, reduce stress and soothe the mind.
"Post-massage, you should drink lots of fluids, such as herbal teas with ginger and calendula, and add foods with high water content like cucumber and lettuce into your diet," says Amani. To maintain the results of the lymphatic drainage she advises exercising regularly (which also helps to pump the lymph around the body) and using a massage oil daily. Scroll ahead for her guide to doing lymphatic drainage massage at home.
How to Do a Lymphatic Drainage Massage at Home
Step 1: Apply a Body Oil
First up, you'll want to apply a body oil all over to help your hands or body tool glide over the skin. You can use any oil you have already, or look for ones that have further de-puffing ingredients like punarnava that helps to support the lymphatic system.
Step 2: Massage
You can use your hands for this, however, you may find it easier to use a body tool at home to better reach each area and achieve even pressure. Whilst I'm a big fan of body brushing, Amani tells me that the bristles are actually too superficial to affect the lymphatic system, so you're better off using your hands or a tool for a little more pressure. Just remember to move slowly and gently.
"Massage upwards towards the lymph nodes—which are located in your underarms, groin and behind the knees and ears—to help drain the lymph," she says. She recommends starting at the ankles, moving towards the knees, and then going up to the groin, applying gentle pressure as you sweep upwards. Repeat six to 10 times.
Then, move to the arms, sweeping upwards from the elbows to the armpits, repeating each stroke six to 10 times. Lastly, you can move to the sides of the waist, moving from the sides of the hips towards the armpits, repeating six to 10 times.
3. Hydrate and Detox
To support your lymphatic system afterwards, you'll want to drink plenty of water and herbal teas and eat lots of water-rich vegetables and fruit to maintain the results. Think cucumbers, lettuce, melon and tomatoes.
Lymphatic Drainage Massage Side Effects
There are few side effects to lymphatic drainage massage, however, there are a couple of health conditions that mean it's best avoided. "MLD is contraindicated in the presence of cellulitis, radiation dermatitis, venous thrombosis and directly over cancerous tissue," says Amani. "MLD is not believed to cause metastases in cases of lymphedema appearing after cancer therapy or in the case of malignant lymphedema." If you have any concerns, seek medical advice before booking in for a lymphatic drainage massage.
If you're doing a lymphatic drainage massage at home, remember to go gently, making sweeping movements towards the heart to enjoy all the benefits that this treatment has to give.
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