Lymphatic drainage massage: what it really does — and why you can’t “flush out toxins”
Lymphatic drainage massage is promoted as a “detox,” a way to lose weight and a one-session fix for puffiness. We look at what it really is, who actually needs it, what it offers a healthy person, how to do lymphatic drainage on your face yourself — and where science ends and marketing begins.
Questions and answers
What is lymphatic drainage massage?
It’s a gentle, light-pressure massage that moves excess fluid from swollen tissue toward the lymph nodes. It was originally used for lymphedema — for example, after breast cancer surgery — and in spas it has become popular as a cosmetic procedure for puffiness.
Does lymphatic drainage massage help you lose weight?
No. It can temporarily reduce puffiness, and your body may look a little slimmer, but there’s no evidence that this massage reduces weight. The fat doesn’t go anywhere.
Can you do lymphatic drainage massage on yourself?
A gentle face and body self-massage usually doesn’t harm a healthy person if the pressure is light and there are no contraindications. If you have lymphedema, cancer, heart or kidney problems or blood clots, the technique — and whether massage is possible at all — needs to be discussed with your doctor.
Who shouldn’t have lymphatic drainage massage?
According to Cleveland Clinic, it’s avoided with blood clots and deep vein thrombosis, skin and soft tissue inflammation, fever and infections, heart disease, kidney failure and after a stroke. In these cases, only a doctor makes the decision.