E
ver wondered why celebrities always look so toned? Why their legs are free of cellulite and their cheekbones chiselled? It could be because they’re getting regular lymphatic drainage massages, the beauty hack taking over Hollywood.
While lymphatic drainage has long been used for athletes nursing injuries as well as for those recovering from surgery, it can also be a helpful tool for achieving a firm body free of bloat. This treatment works to stimulate the lymphatic system, a network of vessels, tissues and organs under the skin that help your body to drain unnecessary fluids. These are mainly around your neck, groin and armpits. Regular lymphatic drainage massages can help to manage puffiness and decrease your body’s inflammation overall.
One of the first formalised lymphatic drainage techniques was the Vodder method, initially developed by Dr Emil Vodder and his wife, Estrid, in France in the 1930s as a solution for swollen lymph nodes. The style of lymphatic drainage most commonly used today combines a light touch with pulsing and sweeping movements that can sometimes feel insignificant but done correctly can have a big impact. Other techniques apply deeper pressure, which can also help with getting rid of unwanted cellulite and loosening tight muscles. “Using lymphatic drainage may have a temporary trimming effect because it helps move fluid through the body, like spreading a stack of papers from one end of the counter across the entire surface,” explains the website of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA.
