“Lymphatic drainage massage” doesn’t sound sexy; the term is reminiscent of that videos of mud seeping from underground drains. But it seems to be everywhere. Stars like Selena Gomez, Jennifer Aniston And Sean “Diddy” Combs do it. A popular Los Angeles masseuse who specializes in lymphatic drainage reportedly has a waiting list of more than 2,300.
Lymphatic drainage massage has been used for years to treat conditions such as lymphedema and postoperative swelling. Athletes have used it to speed up their recovery process. So how did it become the massage therapy du jour? What does it really do? And why, when I tried, did the massage therapist repeatedly urge me to “stay near a toilet” for the rest of the day?
What is lymphatic drainage massage?
To understand lymphatic drainage, one must first understand the lymphatic system.
“You can think of the lymphatic system as a kind of mass highway throughout your body for fluid balance,” says Dr. Brendon Ross, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation medicine at the University of Chicago. The complex network of organs, blood vessels and tissues helps direct immune cells to where they are needed, flushing out toxins that build up as a result of injury or as a byproduct of the metabolic process.
Gentle massage techniques can help move lymphatic fluid, strengthen the immune system and help the body heal faster.
The key word in all of this, notes Sierra Velasquez, a certified massage therapist and certified manual lymphatic drainage therapist, is “gentle.” Velasquez says she recently saw lymphatic drainage massage on social media to describe deep tissue massages, which do nothing for the lymphatic system.
“The massage is very gentle,” she says. “The pressure is like the weight of a nickel. It’s an incredibly light touch.”
This is important because many of the lymphatic vessels are located just under the skin, she says. “If you put pressure on the ships, they will essentially stagnate,” Velasquez said. The correct technique is to lightly brush the lymphatic vessels – usually towards the lymph nodes, small organs that help filter lymphatic fluid. Lymph nodes are found throughout the body, but some of the largest clusters are in the neck, armpits, groin, and knees.
Although terms like lymphatic drainage massage, lymphatic massage, and manual lymphatic drainage are often used interchangeably online, they don’t necessarily always mean the same thing, Velasquez says. Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) is a “systematic approach to lymphatic drainage,” she explains. This can be a stand-alone treatment or part of a standard massage therapy.
For those seeking complete MLD treatment, she suggests working with a certified manual lymphatic drainage therapist (CMLDT).
“I’ve encountered many professionals who think lymphatic just means light pressure,” she says. “There is a lot more education involved than that.”
What are the benefits of lymphatic drainage massage?
Lymphatic drainage massage has long been used to help with lymphedema, a condition in which the lymphatic system becomes damaged and fluid builds up in the soft tissues of the body, usually around the arms or legs. Velasquez adds that it is also known to be effective in treating postoperative swelling, migraines and fibromyalgia.
Velasquez, who has worked in massage therapy for 20 years, says she saw a dramatic increase in interest in lymphatic drainage massage after the pandemic started. “Mainly because of the rise of plastic surgery, I think,” she says. The technique can help people recover faster from procedures such as breast augmentations and Brazilian butt lifts, she explains.
The technique is also popular in athletics circles. Ross, who is also team physician for the WNBA’s Chicago Sky, says the technique helps reduce swelling and inflammation that can occur at the site of an injury and helps promote “a faster and healthier healing response.”
He adds that the massage can also help with upper respiratory infections that tend to crop up while traveling.
Ross says the relief effects of lymphatic drainage can occur after minutes or hours, while a reduction in inflammation caused by injuries can take 24 to 48 hours; the length of time may vary depending on factors such as the person’s health and the condition being treated.
Can lymphatic drainage lead to weight loss?
Lymphatic drainage can be a powerful tool. But Velasquez says there’s a lot of misinformation about it online, especially when it comes to weight loss.
“Some people get the impression that it can shrink fat cells, and that’s not what happens,” she says. Photos on social media show people looking noticeably smaller after their treatments. Aside from the strong possibility of careful posing and photo editing magic, Velasquez says that any difference in appearance after a massage is not due to a change in body composition, but to the body processing fluids more quickly and expelling excess water. is lost through urination. .
“A dramatically different feeling or appearance” after a lymphatic drainage massage “would be very rare,” she says.
Is there anyone who shouldn’t do lymphatic massage?
Because lymphatic massages are so gentle, Ross and Velasquez say they are suitable for the vast majority of people. Ross advises caution and adjustments in technique when working with a more localized infection, such as an abscess, to prevent further worsening.
What does lymphatic massage feel like?
When I went for my first lymphatic massage, the massage therapist who treated me emphasized that this was no ordinary massage. “This isn’t for your muscles,” she said. “It’s much lighter. Superficial.”
I said I understood, and she smiled. “Luckily we are in a room close to the toilet!”
Despite this ominous warning, I was able to relax and enjoy my massage, which was nice. The therapist used long, light strokes to brush my skin toward the lymph nodes on my knees, groin, armpits, and neck. The whole process made me feel like a spoiled tube of toothpaste, and I didn’t have to run to the bathroom once.
Afterwards she told me again that I had to stay near a toilet for the rest of the day. I walked home nervously. What had I done to my body and possibly to my building’s plumbing system?
I asked this question to Ross, who was as polite as anyone could be when someone asked him if he was going to have a bathroom emergency soon.
“Because we’re working on fluid balance, and because you’re flushing out or trying to detox the body with these massages, you can urinate more often,” he says. He then assures me: “I found no significant gastrointestinal complaints.”
In the interest of transparency, I urinated regularly during the day and generally felt fine.
BOTTOM LINE
How much did it cost? $135 plus tip.
Did it work? I was not injured or constipated at the time, so I cannot speak to its healing properties.
Would I do it again? Yes. After years of asking massage therapists to grind me into dust, it turns out that I love a light massage!
Did it fix me? No, but I didn’t really need it at the time; I’m open to trying again if I have a minor injury or strain.
Overall rating: Three out of five trips to the toilet.