What's really going on in lymphatic drainage beauty videos?
Social media trends promoting lymphatic drainage massages for weight loss and body sculpting are being questioned by experts. Psychologists warn that these results are often exaggerated through lighting, editing, or filters rather than physical changes.
Why it matters
It highlights the impact of social media beauty standards on body image and the potential for health misinformation to spread online.
Image source, Abbey Alexandra Image caption, Abbey Alexandra performs lymphatic drainage massages a couple of times a week
If she's ever feeling bloated, Abbey Alexandra has a go-to routine, using body oil and a wooden roller to perform stomach massages.
She shares before-and-after videos on TikTok, saying she feels the process leaves her depuffed and defined: "You definitely feel a lot better after, they are relaxing."
The technique is a form of lymphatic drainage massage, adapted from a medical treatment and shared as a beauty trend. Celebrity fans include Maya Jama, who shares her clinic sessions, and actress Hailey Bieber, who told Time magazine: "I swear by them."
Whether there is a physical change - or any need for one - is debatable, but fans of the massages claim they help "flatten" and "debloat" and give a "snatched waist" and "sculpted abs". But what's actually happening to their bodies?
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in