Manual lymphatic drainage massage

Lymphatic drainage massage

A gentle treatment designed to help you feel lighter, de-puffed and deeply relaxed.

From £54*

Spa-quality lymphatic drainage massage

The UK’s leading home massage app

Same-day appointments available

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*Price varies per city

A gentle push for your lymph system

Lymphatic drainage is massage in slow mo – no oils, no deep pressure, no kneading. Just gentle, wave-like movements to encourage your lymphatic system to get things moving again.

Supports circulation and immune health

By encouraging lymph flow, this treatment gives your body’s natural filtering system a helping hand.

Eases puffiness and fluid retention

Targets areas where your body tends to hold onto excess water like the face, legs and stomach to help reduce that heavy, bloated feeling – ideal before holiday.

Leaves you feeling lighter and more balanced

It’s not magic, just science – many people walk away feeling less weighed down and a lot more balanced.

After a quick consultation to assess your needs, your Urban pro will perform a full-body treatment using feather-light pressure to gently guide lymph fluid through your system.

During treatment expect slow, wave-like motions – no oil, no kneading, just carefully applied touch to help ease puffiness and support your body’s natural detox process.

You might need the loo after – that’s totally normal as your body gets to work flushing things out. A big glass of water post-treatment will help you feel better.

Looking for something firmer? Try our Brazilian lymphatic drainage massage for deeper work, or our sculpting massage for help with dimpling in the skin.

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CUSTOMISE YOUR TREATMENT

Treat yourself with add-ons

Neck massage

Heated blanket

Hand massage

CBD oil

Scalp massage

Foot massage

Hot stones

Warm oil

Extra stretch

Desk posture assessment

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REAL REVIEWS

What our customers say

WE PARTNER WITH THE BEST

Delivered by pre-vetted pros

Woman standing on Hackney street with massage table

Sevjan

Justyna

Urban pro Taiwo

Taiwo

Jodian

Ellie

Fabio

Zornitsa

Woman standing on Hackney street with massage table

Sevjan

Justyna

Urban pro Taiwo

Taiwo

Jodian

Ellie

Fabio

Zornitsa

Woman standing on Hackney street with massage table

Sevjan

Justyna

Urban pro Taiwo

Taiwo

Jodian

Ellie

Fabio

Zornitsa

Book a local therapist

FAQs

Learn more about lymphatic drainage massage

Your lymphatic system is part of your body’s natural detox process – it helps move out things you don’t need, like excess fluid and waste. But unlike your blood, lymph doesn’t move on its own.

That’s where this massage comes in: light, rhythmic strokes help get things flowing again, leaving you feeling less puffy, more sculpted and totally recharged.

Lymphatic drainage is a full-body treatment that pushes lymph fluid from all over the body towards lymph nodes. This includes treating the face, legs, arms, hands and feet.

Physical activity before and after your treatment is a great way to stimulate your lymphatic system to help support the drainage process.

Avoid caffeine, alcohol, fizzy drinks and/or eating a big meal before or after your treatment. And remember to drink plenty of water.

It may help reduce bloating or water retention, which can smooth the skin temporarily – but it’s not a sculpting or weight loss treatment.

Looking for something to help with cellulite? Try our sculpting massage instead.

Not this one. If you’ve recently had cosmetic surgery, you’ll need to book a Brazilian lymphatic drainage massage instead, which we also offer. Always check with your doctor before booking.

Both manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and Brazilian lymphatic drainage massage focus on stimulating the lymphatic system to reduce swelling, promote detoxification and improve circulation, but they differ in techniques, pressure, and results. You can book both on Urban in London and the South East.

Manual lymphatic drainage (MLD)

🔹 Developed by: Dr. Emil Vodder in the 1930s
🔹 Technique: Uses very light, rhythmic, and precise strokes to stimulate lymph flow
🔹 Purpose: Primarily used for medical and therapeutic reasons, such as post-surgery recovery, lymphedema, and chronic swelling
🔹 Pressure: Extremely light, gentle, and slow movements
🔹 Focus: Targets the deeper lymphatic system for long-term fluid movement and immune support
🔹 Results: Subtle, gradual reduction in swelling, often requiring multiple sessions

Brazilian lymphatic drainage massage

🔹 Developed by: Brazilian therapists, popularised by Renata França
🔹 Technique: Uses faster, deeper, and more vigorous strokes, often combined with sculpting movements
🔹 Purpose: Aesthetic and wellness benefits —reducing bloating, contouring the body and enhancing immediate results
🔹 Pressure: Stronger, more dynamic, and often includes kneading, pumping and sweeping motions
🔹 Focus: Encourages fluid elimination more quickly, leading to instant slimming effects
🔹 Results: More visible and immediate, especially for body contouring and reducing puffiness

Key differences in experience & results

  • MLD is slow, gentle, and medically oriented, while Brazilian lymphatic drainage is faster, more vigorous, and aesthetically focused.

  • MLD is ideal for medical conditions, whereas Brazilian techniques are popular for beauty treatments (reducing bloating, contouring, and enhancing muscle definition).

  • Brazilian massage shows more immediate results, while MLD works over time for deeper lymphatic healing.

Read more: Different types of lymphatic drainage massage – explained

To get the most out of your massage:

  • Stay hydrated (especially after)

  • Avoid caffeine, alcohol or big meals right before or after

  • Light movement, like walking, can help support the drainage process

A lymphatic drainage treatment can help a little with reducing the appearance of cellulite, but it’s more of a treatment for detoxing than toning up. A specialist anti-cellulite massage, like the sculpting massage available on Urban, would be more effective.

Our lymphatic drainage treatment isn't suitable if you've recently had cosmetic surgery – book a Brazilian lymphatic drainage treatment instead.

No, the techniques aren't suitable if you're pregnancy. Try booking our specialist pregnancy massage instead.

Yes, we offer fully customisable massage sessions. From massage type to pressure level and extras like aromatherapy, you can tailor your session to suit your needs. You’ll see all the options to customise your experience when you book.

Our prices reflect the cost of living in each area to make sure Urban pros earn fairly. They also vary by time of day/week:

Off-peak hours:

Monday to Friday: 7:00 AM to 6:59 PM

Peak hours:

Monday to Friday: 7:00 PM to 10:59 PM
Saturday and Sunday: All day (7:00 AM to 10:59 PM)

City:Off peak 60-minute massage Peak 60-minute massage
London£74£79
Manchester and Liverpool£54£62

Manual lymphatic drainage massage is available in London and the South East, Manchester and Liverpool.

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