Does lymphatic massage work for cellulite?

Lymphatic massage and cellulite: the myths and the facts

• Lymphatic massage only offers some temporary improvement in the appearance (not structure) of cellulite - and only in some women

• Exercise and healthy eating for natural lymphatic drainage and cellulite prevention

• Manual lymphatic drainage massage vs other massages for people with lymphoedema and the general population

• Lymphatic massage vs cellulite treatments that work on all 4 aspects of cellulite

• Have a skin tightening/cellulite treatment with London’s cellulite experts

• Advanced, infrared / blue / red light therapy treatments in London at LipoTherapeia

• The Cellulite School™: Get advanced training in cellulite reduction and skin tightening

Lymphatic massage only offers some temporary improvement in the appearance (not structure) of cellulite - and only in some women

Lymphatic massage must be the most overhyped proposed cellulite treatment, together with the pathetic dry brushing (😂) and coffee been scrubbing (😂😂), which, of course, don’t work.

True, impaired microcirculation / lymphatic drainage is part of the cellulite problem, together with excessive hypodermal adipose tissue accumulation, skin laxity and connective tissue fibrosis.

However, manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) massage does NOT do ANYTHING for existing fibrosis, skin laxity or fat accumulation, the other three important structural aspects of cellulite. And when it comes to circulation / lymphatic drainage it only improves it temporarily, for a few hours or days.

So you need to do lymphatic drainage massage forever just to stay at the same level. Lymphatic massage does not improve your circulation / natural lymphatic drainage in the future - just temporarily.

Exercise and healthy eating for natural lymphatic drainage and cellulite prevention

For long-term circulation / natural lymphatic drainage improvement exercise, healthy eating and even some supplements can be equally or more helpful.

And lymphatic massage mainly helps in terms of water retention, not necessarily in terms of cellulite. If you overeat and do not exercise your cellulite will still increase despite the lymphatic massages.

All in all, by reducing water retention, lymphatic massage makes cellulite look better (temporarily) but only in women who have a lot of water retention. In cases where water retention is not an important part of the cellulite problem, manual lymphatic drainage massage does not work for cellulite.

Manual lymphatic drainage massage vs other massages for people with lymphoedema and the general population

Don’t get me wrong, manual lymphatic drainage massage (MLD) is a precious treatment, in fact the only massage treatment, suitable for the 1.33% of people suffering from lymphoedema / medical water retention, especially after surgery.

But MLD has only a moderate and temporary effect in most women’s cellulite and no effect in women without much water retention.

In fact, with the exception of this 1.33% of the population, any other more vigorous massage - or even pressotherapy - will do the same or better job for lymphatic drainage and circulation improvement than the meek and mild lymphatic drainage massage.

For cellulite prevention, strong massage (not just lymphatic massage) can possibly help but more important are healthy nutrition, exercise and an overall wholesome lifestyle - more than 100 tips here.

Lymphatic massage vs cellulite treatments that work on all 4 aspects of cellulite

And for cellulite reduction, the above prevention measures are essential - in addition to treatments that can actually help break down fibrosis, reduce hypodermal fat accumulation, tighten up the skin and boost circulation too.

At the moment, the best such treatments are deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency and deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation, ideally combined, if possible, with high-power LED phototherapy, for maximum results.

In fact, if you receive such a treatment, lymphatic or other massage is superfluous, as both deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency and deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation boost significantly circulation and lymphatic drainage.

Of course, if you love massage, by all means do it - every little helps - but it is not adding much to the main treatment.

For those who do not receive such a treatment, then a strong, lymphatic stimulation massage (as opposed to a soft lymphatic drainage massage) will do a great job for cellulite prevention and some reduction - in addition to healthy eating, exercise etc.

All in all, soft lymphatic massage does very little for cellulite and is very temporary in its effects and it has been way overhyped for the last 30 years - since a tabloid decided to promote it for cellulite and blow its importance for cellulite out of all proportion.

Have a skin tightening/cellulite treatment in London with the experts

At LipoTherapeia we have specialised 100% in skin tightening and cellulite reduction for more than two decades and 20,000+ sessions.

This is all we study and practise every day and have researched and tried hands-on all the important skin tightening equipment and their manufacturers.

As strong, deep acting radiofrequency and deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation are the technologies of choice for skin tightening and cellulite reduction, we have invested in the best RF/ultrasound technologies in the world.

Furthermore, over the last two decades we have developed advanced RF and cavitation treatment protocols in order to make the most of our technologies, for maximum results, naturally and safely.

And for even better, faster results, we now combine our RF/ultrasound treatments with high-power red/infrared light LED treatment.

Our radiofrequency/ultrasound/LED treatments are comfortable, pain-free, downtime-free, injection-free, microneedling-free, 99.5%+ safe and always non-invasive.

And our focus is on honest, realistic, science-based treatment, combined with caring, professional service, with a smile.

We will be pleased to see you, assess your cellulite, skin laxity or fibrosis, listen to your story, discuss your case and offer you the best possible treatment.

Learn more, check prices and book an expert cellulite / skin tightening treatment at our London clinic.

Advanced, infrared / blue / red light therapy treatments in London at LipoTherapeia

At LipoTherapeia we are passionate about phototherapy (also known as photobiomodulation/PBM, red light therapy, infrared light therapy, blue light therapy, LED light therapy etc) and we use the most powerful equipment available today (up to 200mW/cm2), for best results and treatment of large body areas.

We use specialised therapy protocols for skin rejuvenation / anti-ageing, pigmentation / post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), moderate/severe acne, skin redness, sensitive/inflamed/irritated skin, wound healing, sports injuries / musculoskeletal pain and overall wellness / well-being.

Our LED phototherapy sessions are comfortable, deeply relaxing and super-safe and are great to enhance our radiofrequency/ultrasound treatments for skin tightening / cellulite reduction.

On our booking page you can book stand-alone phototherapy sessions or combine them with our other treatments, as an add-on.

Learn more or check prices and book an expert LED phototherapy treatment at our London clinic.

The Cellulite School™: Get advanced training in cellulite reduction and skin tightening

Do you want to deeply understand radiofrequency, ultrasound cavitation, LED phototherapy, cellulite and skin tightening?

Attend a half-day, 1-day, 2-day or 3-day one-to-one masterclass and confidently offer your clients the safest, strongest and most effective treatment possible.

Service available via Zoom or at our central London practice.

Learn more or check prices and book training at our London clinic or via Zoom.