In recent years, demand has only increased for the Brazilian body-shaping lymphatic drainage massages that many A-list celebrities swear by. The popular technique promises to have many benefits, from creating a more sculpted appearance to reducing puffiness and bloating to improving circulation to even boosting the immune system. The most well-known lymphatic drainage massage was developed in by Emil and Estrid Vodder , a Danish couple who originally worked as massage therapists in Cannes, France, in the s, and went on to develop and publish their research on the massage technique.
Perez predicts that the technique made its way to Brazil around the s, before popularizing in other Latin American countries like Colombia. Once people got wind of the benefits, people within varied Latinx communities started putting their own spins on the technique.
Guerra explains that her massages help clear unwanted toxins. Guerra notes that the lymphatic system works in tandem with the circulatory systems and helps the organs perform their natural detoxifying functions. The treatment has also become popular for its metabolism-boosting benefits. The stagnant toxin-filled fluids and inflammation that can live in the lymph nodes can cause blockages that can affect the immune system and even slow down metabolism.
Before people understood the overall health benefits of the lymphatic drainage technique, folks were sold on the aesthetic perks that come with getting these massages regularly.
These perks can look like a reduction in the appearance of cellulite and toned, tighter-looking skin for post-op patients who often develop bumps after liposuction. Valencia began studying, training, and offering lymphatic drainage massage treatments in Colombia for post-op patients in the early s. With these patients, I could actually see the fluids come out of them when I did the lymphatic drainage massages.
