It is an essential component of your body’s immune system. Through a network of hundreds of lymph nodes, the lymphatic system drains fluid, referred to as lymph, which is later reabsorbed into your bloodstream. It also removes bodily waste and carries white blood cells, which assist in preventing infections.
When there’s a problem or obstruction to your lymphatic system, the fluid may accumulate. This is the point at which specific massage therapy can help lymphatic drainage.
In the past, it was employed to treat lymphedema, which causes chronic swelling that can develop after removing lymph nodes.
However, in recent times, certain people have begun incorporating the drainage of facial lymphatics into their beauty regimens to combat dry, dull skin and skin irritation. Some have gone, as they call it, a non-surgical facelift.
However, does it meet the expectations? The evidence needs to be more solid. Find out more about what lymphatic drainage in your face can do and doesn’t accomplish.
Does it offer any medical advantages?
“Lymphatic drainage treatments accelerate the absorption and transportation of lymphatic fluids which contain toxins, bacteria, viruses, and proteins,” states the certified Lymphedema Therapist Lisa Levitt Gainsley.
This acceleration of the lymphatic system is an evidence-backed trusted Source game changer for people with lymphedema or other conditions involving the lymphatic system. It could even help lessen swelling following surgery like a 2007 study by Trusted Source on its application following wisdom tooth removal reveals.
Levitt Gainsley notes that the treatment can also benefit skin conditions like acne, eczema, and digestive problems.
What are its aesthetic advantages?
Massage therapists and bloggers alike frequently promote lymphatic drainage as an option to improve the appearance of your skin by diminishing wrinkles, lines, and bags under the eyes.
Research is limited
In 2015, the beauty firm Shiseido in collaboration with an academic at Osaka University, Japan, discovered a connection between the lymphatic vessels of the skin and the skin.
They concluded that the diminished functioning of dermal lymphatic vessels results in sagging skin. However, instead of the lymphatic drain, they suggested the extract of pine cones to treat.
Lymphatic drainage was the subject of a study conducted by researchers at the Australian Institution of Flinders University. The results were announced in 2012, but the findings regarding the effects of the procedure on the eye region still need to be published.
An aesthetically pleasing benefit of lymphatic drainage in the body was discovered in a 2010 study by the Trusted Source. The researchers found that lymphatic drainage decreased the thigh circumference and the thigh and abdominal fat thickness for those with cellulite.
This was a tiny study that involved around 60 participants. However, the results indicate that the lymphatic drain could possess firming properties.
Expert opinion of an expert
Specific experts aren’t persuaded by the claim of lymphatic drainage and improved appearance of the skin.
The article was published in The Journal of Clinical Investigative Trusted Source dermatologist George Cotsarelis questioned whether people might have issues with lymphatic drainage in their faces.
“If you do, you’re certainly not going to get a facial to solve them,” he explained. In addition, “A normal person does not have lymphatic problems on their face.” Remember that some people can develop lymphedema that affects the neck or head.
The dermatologist Michael Detmar admitted in the article that aging and sun-damaged skin result in fewer lymphatic vessels and a decline in the lymphatic system.
“You might be able argue that you can reduce the buildup of fluid by having a facial treatment to stimulate drainage if your skin is less lymphatic. Therefore, encouraging lymphatic flow could be beneficial,” he said. “Whether or not this is achieved with a facial is a different story.”
The verdict
Some therapists say face lymphatic drainage may yield results that resemble a miniature facelift, However, the evidence has been largely anecdotal, meaning it’s only from people who have tried the procedure (or those who provide it).
What is it?
A specialist usually performs lymphatic drainage. If you want to try it for cosmetic reasons, you should find an aesthetician certified in this procedure.
If you want to try it to treat medical reasons, seek one certified by the Lymphology Association of North America or an active member of the National Lymphedema Network.
They’ll begin by applying light pressurization and soft movements ranging from stroking and tapping to pushing and rubbing. After that, with fingertips that are flat and not squishy, you’ll stretch your skin along the direction of lymphatic flow to stimulate drainage.
Facial lymphatic drainage works similarly to facial lymphatic drainage. However, it can be characterized by soft brushing movements over the face.
Bodily lymphatic drainage typically lasts up to an hour, whereas facial lymphatic drainage is usually less. Deep breathing exercises that help improve lymphatic circulation are often coupled with both.
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