Feeling bloated? There’s a massage for that - Financial Times

[Morgan Fargo]

Lymphatic drainage has become enormously popular of late. The technique has gained traction for helping combat puffiness, bloating, constipation, muscle soreness and feelings of general heaviness. Rebecca Faria, who has 174k Instagram followers, treats Hailey Bieber and travelled to Europe with Sofia Richie ahead of her wedding in 2023. In the UK, Guendalina Gennari (@guendalinatheskinsculpter), Flavia Morellato and Dimple Amani are also popular practitioners. At Claridge’s Spa, lymphatic drainage massage expert Luca Bagnara charges £350 for a 90-minute treatment, while Estelle Manor incorporates the protocol into several facials and one body treatment (£300 for 40 minutes).

Rebecca Faria performs a lymphatic drainage massage on a client © Eduardo Orelha

Morellato, a Brazilian therapist, brought her lymphatic treatments to the UK in 2016 and now practises out of Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge, and via home visits. She claims the massage first gained popularity in the 1930s, but has lately seen a bounce via social media. “It was developed by Emil Vodder and his wife Estrid to reduce swelling and lymphatic stagnation [when lymph doesn’t move as it’s meant to], particularly in patients with chronic respiratory conditions.”

Lymph is a watery liquid – a mix of white blood cells, nutrients and other substances – that sits beneath the skin. Think of it as the body’s filtration system. “Lymphatic fluid moves through muscle contractions, movement of surrounding tissues and little one-way valves in lymph vessels that prevent backflow,” explains GP and aesthetics doctor Dr Priya Verma. “Lymphatic drainage massage techniques mimic these natural contractions, opening the one-way valves and pushing lymphatic fluid to larger vessels towards the heart and, eventually, into the blood circulation.”

The Pink Room at Claridge’s Spa, where Luca Bagnara offers lymphatic drainage sessions at £350 for 90 minutes

Amani, who blends Ayurvedic elements into her lymphatic drainage massages, says the reasons people come to her are varied. Some are “looking for help with hormonal conditions such as menopause symptoms, pregnancy and preparation for IVF,” says Morellato. Others seek “detoxification, de-bloating, improved digestion and lower inflammation.” She believes a course of treatments will see the best results. “Regular treatments over 12 weeks are best for addressing inflammation.”

If you’re looking to de-bloat, the results of a massage are compelling: it can help resculpt the abdominals, and work wonders on one’s gut, particularly after busy weeks when one’s diet has been disturbed by lots of evening engagements or travel. However, as Dr Vikram Murthy, GP and co-founder of Harley Street clinic Murthy Health, says: “While lymphatic drainage improves circulation, the direct impact this has on digestion is not well established. In theory, it could help transport excess fluid away from the digestive system back to the heart, but it’s not a specific digestive therapy.”

There are limits to what lymphatic drainage can do: no massage can actively remove cellulite or instigate weight loss. “Lymphatic drainage is very effective at removing fluid retention (known as lymphoedema), but it doesn’t target fat cells or lead to fat loss,” says Murthy. A reduction in water weight can be beneficial for conditions that exacerbate the accumulation of fluid, like breast cancer and rheumatoid arthritis. After Morellato’s unexpected breast cancer diagnosis in 2021, lymphatic drainage became an “essential” part of her recovery from a mastectomy. “It helped prevent lymphoedema (fluid retention) and supported my body’s healing process,” she says.

Dr Verma agrees, saying that in individuals recovering from cancer and especially those with lymphoedema, it can be very helpful. “However,” she cautions, “a 2021 study looking at the effects of lymphatic drainage on breast cancer patients after surgery could not conclude a definitive benefit to reduce the risk of developing breast cancer-related lymphoedema. This study did however find there were benefits for patients with a diagnosis of breast cancer-related lymphoedema to reduce their swelling.”

Estelle Manor incorporates lymphatic drainage into facials and a body massage (£300 for 40 minutes) © Mark Anthony Fox

For brand consultant Sarah Guild, lymphatic drainage has been critical in staying limber and healthy ahead of her third marathon – it can be hugely restorative when the legs are feeling sluggish after training. “I came out feeling like every single one of my muscles had been released – as if I’d had the best stretch ever,” she says of her appointment with Rebecca Trévalinet, co-founder of Méthode Trévalinet at The French Pharmacy in Marylebone (£180 for 60 minutes). Don’t expect the long sweeps and knuckling of traditional massages though: lymphatic drainage relies on undulating pressing movements.

There are also methods one can try at home, although administrating abdominal massages to oneself can be rather challenging. Are you the owner of a trampoline? Repetitive jumping (known to insiders as “rebounding”) is said to spur on lymph fluid, as can a hot sauna, steam or bath. Or, go accoutrement-free and follow an online tutorial demonstrating how to rub, massage and press your skin the way Faria or Amani might. Although, says Morellato, no at-home method can ever replace the benefits of seeing a professional for whom the lymph pathways and the correct pressure and depth will be second nature.

“I found it to be the perfect balance of relaxing with functional benefits,” concludes Guild. “And in terms of drainage and depuffing – when I left, my shorts were baggy.”