I had a £300 lymphatic massage – I lost two inches from my waist, but there’s a catch

Olivia Johnson has spent the morning with several celebrity clients, performing her signature Brazilian lymphatic drainage massage for them ahead of the Baftas. The goal is to help them look and feel their best on the red carpet – cheekbones and waistlines sharper, limbs free of any puffiness. Although I have no such pressing engagements to attend, later the same day, I’m on her massage table, enjoying the same treatment, hoping to reap some of the benefits I’ve seen claimed for it all over social media.

Although the practice of lymphatic drainage is not new, having first been developed by Danish physicians in the 1930s, it has undergone a renaissance in popularity recently, driven by celebrity enthusiasm and social media shout-outs for a newer iteration known as Brazilian lymphatic drainage massage. Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian and Dua Lipa are among the high-profile fans of this treatment.

Advocates say it aids everything from slimming and reducing swelling and cellulite to helping rid the body of “toxins”, and the hype for Brazilian lymphatic massage is so significant that certain practitioners – including Olivia and other big names in the field – have months-long waitlists for appointments.

At almost two hours and around £300 a session, this kind of self-care requires significant investment. So does it live up to the hype?

It certainly feels amazing. The treatment begins with a scented oil massaged onto my chest to open the lymphatic channels there, before moving onto the rest of my body – legs, arms, stomach, back and face are all treated with a variety of instruments, from featherlight touch to a rather more invigorating wooden roller used with particular enthusiasm on my thighs. There is no “standard” treatment and Olivia incorporates aspects of Chinese medicine into the methods she uses, using cupping on my back to ease tension there, as well as spending a lot of time using Brazilian and classic lymphatic techniques on my abdomen, where I can actually feel my digestive system responding with a few gurgling sensations (thankfully inaudible – if not, she didn’t let on). Afterwards, my legs, which had been feeling achy and tight, felt super light, while we were both amazed to note my waist measurement had reduced by 2.5 inches.

Losing two-and-a-half inches off my waist in less than two hours does sound impressive, but “slimming” is not the same as fat loss. These inches have been lost by moving fluid out of my tissues and back into my bloodstream, explains Olivia. Any fat on my body has not been magically massaged away (and no trustworthy masseuse would suggest it had, but it’s easy for these things to get lost in translation in a world of before-and-after online images). Essentially, lymphatic drainage massage reduces swelling – it doesn’t burn fat.

So what is the lymphatic system – and why might it need a drainage massage at all?

Lymphatic drainage was originally developed to treat a condition called lymphedema, where excess fluid becomes trapped in the tissues in the limbs. “The lymphatic system is a network of tiny vessels, lymph nodes, and organs whose main roles are keeping fluid levels balanced, removing waste and supporting your immune system,” explains Lorraine Brown, clinical lead for lymphoedema at the Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust and co-chair of the British Lymphology Society.

“The lymphatic system collects fluid from tissues in the body, along with waste products, bacteria, and damaged cells,” says Lorraine. “The fluid is filtered and checked by immune cells and eventually, returned back into the bloodstream.”

If the lymphatic system has been damaged or overloaded, say by surgery that removes or damages lymph nodes or vessels or cancer treatments such as radiotherapy, fluid can build up in the tissues and cause swelling – aka lymphoedema.

To a much lesser extent, those of us with healthy lymphatic systems can also suffer swelling or retain water for a variety of reasons – “from hormonal reasons to sitting on a long flight for hours,” says Olivia. The body will naturally shed this fluid in time, but a lymphatic drainage massage, Brazilian or otherwise, will help move fluid along those lymph channels and out of the body more quickly, giving that “slimming” or de-bloating effect.

“[Manual lymphatic drainage] helps redirect lymph fluid away from congested or damaged areas and towards healthy lymph vessels and lymph nodes where it can drain more easily,” says Brown. A Brazilian lymphatic drainage massage uses similar techniques, but alongside much more vigorous methods. The wooden tools used in my treatment as a healthy client, for example, would be far too rough to use on someone whose lymphatic system was truly compromised, such as a cancer patient with lymphoedema caused by damaged lymph nodes.

Of the studies that have been carried out on lymphatic drainage, the results are mixed, but a 2023 study conducted by Austrian medics showed the techniques had a significant impact on reducing lymphoedema in breast cancer patients.

Proponents of the new breed of lymphatic massages also claim they have a “detoxing” effect – removing toxins from our systems. But Lorraine says: “One of the biggest myths is that the lymphatic system needs to be regularly ‘detoxed’ in otherwise healthy people. The lymphatic system is already part of the body’s natural waste-removal and immune system, and in a healthy person, it works continuously without needing special cleansing treatments.”

The key takeaway? A lymphatic massage may de-bloat and de-puff you short-term, but it won’t do much for you for more than a few days if you’re very sedentary. “Many people are unaware of how important movement is for lymphatic health,” adds Lorraine. “Unlike the circulatory system, the lymphatic system does not have a pump like the heart, so it relies heavily on breathing, muscle movement, and activity to keep lymph flowing. Those with healthy lymphatic systems can support their bodies by taking regular walks, moving and stretching the body, and managing their weight well.”

Olivia ended my treatment by reminding me of exactly the same thing – urging me to drink lots of water and embrace exercise over the coming days to boost the effects of the treatment. I’ve had lots of massages, and this was one of the best I’ve experienced – but it’s not cheap, so for me it could only be an occasional treat. Many of Olivia’s clients come every four to six weeks, if not more frequently, a testament to her skill, but also to the fact that the effects of even the best lymphatic drainage massage – impressive as they can be – are temporary.