Lymphatic drainage: the gentle beauty trend transforming skincare routines
The delicate massage technique boosts circulation, reduces puffiness and supports detoxification – but do its benefits live up to the hype?
One of the least understood parts of our physiology, the lymphatic system is actually the body’s ultimate clean-up crew, pushing lymph – a clear, immune-boosting fluid – through a network of vessels and nodes to dispose of waste and toxins. “Our lymphatic system doesn’t move like our circulatory system. It doesn’t have a pump like the heart to cause circulation,” explains Cameran Battley, licensed clinical massage therapist and owner of Honee B. Beauty in the US state of Indiana. “Instead, it moves when we move, breathe, or with external stimulation such as lymphatic massage.”
Lymphatic drainage “works by creating slight pressure gradients that help move interstitial fluid into lymph vessels”, explains Dr Ahmad Chaudhry, certified dermatologist at Copenhagen-based Scandinavian Biolabs. Specific light touch encourages fluid movement, reduces swelling and gives the body’s detoxification system a modest boost. When functioning well, the lymphatic system helps maintain fluid balance, remove waste and support immune health.
So what about lymphatic drainage massage? It’s all about gently guiding lymph fluid along using delicate, rhythmic pressure to move it towards the lymph nodes where it can be filtered. Unlike typical massages that work deep into muscles, lymphatic drainage is a surface-level technique. “Pressure is usually about a one or two on a 10-point scale,” explains Chaudhry, emphasising that lymphatic drainage is more of a gentle nudge than a deep-tissue treatment.
Indeed, deeper pressure can temporarily collapse the lymphatic vessels. “[Lymphatic drainage] is very rhythmic and methodical. The therapist will use a sequence of strokes on an area multiple times to achieve the desired effect,” Battley explains.
As you might expect, myths around lymphatic drainage abound. While it can help reduce fluid retention, making you feel temporarily lighter after a session, it does not magically dissolve fat. “Lymph is different from fat or cellulite, which shapes the appearance of skin,” clarifies Stacey Tapping, founder and CEO of Beauty Sculpting Room in the English county of Dorset. “Lymph carries fat, among other substances processed in the body,” she explains.
New York-based Kopelman Aesthetic Surgery, explains that while “this technique can help reduce swelling and temporarily enhance the skin’s glow, it won’t transform skin firmness or significantly address deep-seated conditions like acne”. So while regular sessions can keep things looking fresh, lymphatic drainage is more gentle facelift than fairy godmother.