Lymphatic drainage facial massage: technique for doing it at home, before and after photos, reviews from cosmetologists

Rehabilitation after edema
Guasha massage on the face
Microcurrent therapy

Morning swelling sometimes changes the face beyond recognition. Almost everyone is familiar with the problem of edema, but few know why it appears, how swelling on the face can be prevented and what methods of eliminating edema are offered by cosmetology.

What is lymphatic drainage facial massage

Modeling, skin tightening effect - this is why everyone loves lymphatic drainage facial massage.
During the procedure, local activation of lymph flows occurs, metabolism accelerates, and toxins are removed from skin cells. This is important, because it is the disruption of the lymph flow that provokes the appearance on the face of those very problems that in the morning have to be masked with foundation. Lymphatic drainage massage returns facial skin freshness, even tone and elasticity. Excess fluid, thanks to a combination of pressing and vibrating massage movements, quickly leaves the intercellular space, so swelling in the treated areas goes away very quickly.

Indications for the procedure

Lymphatic drainage massage is worth trying if you do not like the condition of your facial skin (flabbiness, pastiness), expression lines have become more noticeable, and nasolabial folds and bruises under the eyes have become more pronounced. Ptosis (sagging facial contour, double chin, drooping eyelids) is also a good reason to master the technique of performing lymphatic drainage massage at home.

Contraindications to the procedure

Lymphatic drainage facial massage is strictly not recommended for serious diseases such as oncology, thrombophlevititis, and diabetes. The list of temporary contraindications includes dermatological problems, skin damage, pregnancy, and infections of the ENT organs.

How often to do

As a rule, two or three times a week is enough to keep the facial contour under control, maintain youthful and fresh skin, and stabilize the situation with morning swelling. Be sure to try lymphatic drainage massage the evening before an important event - you will be the most beautiful at the event.

Lip massage

How to do it at home, benefits and harm to the human body

Timing

The average time for a lymphatic drainage facial massage is 20–30 minutes. Do it in the morning and remove swelling that appears overnight. The evening procedure additionally removes the tension accumulated during the day: the muscles relax and the body rests.

Pros of massage

Lymphatic drainage facial massage is a non-invasive, painless technique that provides a visible rejuvenating effect and does not require a rehabilitation period after the procedure.

Normalizes the functioning of the lymphatic system, removes toxins.
Improves the quality of the skin, increases its tone.
Eliminates expression wrinkles.
Removes puffiness and bags under the eyes.
Normalizes complexion.
You can do it yourself at home.

Cons of massage

There are no obvious negative factors for lymphatic drainage facial massage - the procedure is safe and really improves the condition of the skin.

The disadvantages of this technique include two points:

Lymphatic drainage massage does not help with swelling caused by illness.
To consolidate lasting results, you must perform the procedure regularly.

Permitted work for lymphatic edema of the lower leg

Sedentary and monotonous work causes venous congestion, which is one of the causes of the pathological process. Permitted work for lymphatic edema of the lower leg is associated with moderate physical activity.

With this disease, work should not be associated with static loads and heavy lifting. During the consultation after the examination, specialists at the Yusupov Hospital determine the extent of tissue damage and develop a treatment program. For each patient, specialists at the Yusupov Hospital individually determine the permissible loads and the optimal type of activity.

Technique for performing lymphatic drainage facial massage at home

The lymphatic drainage technique of facial massage involves working from top to bottom: from the forehead to the chin and neck. Each procedure should begin the same way - with warming up the tissues with light stroking movements, and end with light pats.

Do not put too much pressure on the skin. The movements are confident, intense (pinching, pressing and vibration with fingers), but not traumatic to the skin.

There are quite a lot of schemes for performing lymphatic drainage facial massage. All algorithms involve step-by-step development of zones, taking into account massage lines.

Cleaning . Thorough make-up remover, ideally light peeling with fruit acids.
Improving glide . Apply cream so that your fingers glide better and the skin does not stretch.
We carry out lymphatic drainage . Frontal zone: place the fingers of both hands on the middle of the forehead, make light movements towards the temples. Area around the eyes: from the inner corners of the eyes we move to the temples (upper eyelid), slide from the inner corners of the eyes, going down (lower eyelid). Cheek and cheek area: circular movements from the center of the chin to the sides. Nasolabial zone: draw straight lines with your index fingers from the base of the nasolabial zone towards the nose.
Let's finish.

After the procedure, refresh your face with tonic and apply cream.

Indications

Loose, sagging skin on the hands.
Numbness, muscle weakness.
Presence of excess fatty tissue.
Swollen hands.
Excess fluid, cellulite.
Weakened immune system.
The skin is in poor condition.
Impaired blood circulation.

Photos before and after lymphatic drainage facial massage

Photos were taken after the first massage session. Courtesy: @kosmo_svetik

Contraindications

Lymphatic drainage massage is not possible for several reasons.

Pregnancy, menstruation;
Serious skin diseases - dermatitis, eczema, non-healing scars;
Infectious diseases, since the lymphatic system is already working more actively. If massage is performed during illness, the lymph nodes will be overloaded and inflammation may begin. Therefore, it is recommended to treat and only then choose lymphatic drainage massage;
Problems with blood clotting;
Cysts in the ovaries (if the front of the abdomen is massaged);
Oncological diseases;
Severe cardiovascular diseases.

Reviews from cosmetologists about lymphatic drainage facial massage

Ekaterina Taratynova, founder of the Honey and Oil massage studio:

Lymphatic drainage massage allows you to remove swelling and remove toxins from the intercellular space into the lymph nodes. Thus, we will improve the complexion and remove puffiness. If there are any small periodic inflammations, they will also pass, because the lymph will become clean and no toxins will be absorbed into the blood.

I recommend that girls over the age of 25 do this massage on a regular basis, because it is at this age that metabolism begins to slow down and the first signs of aging appear. This is the optimal age to start taking care of your face and skin.

If we are talking about home procedures, then I would advise doing a light five-minute drainage every day. For those who cannot devote time to massage every day, then ؅—2-3 times a week, for 20 minutes. This will be enough to support your existing skin condition. You can do it more often, for longer - there will be no harm from it. In principle, any facial massage can be considered partly drainage: any impact provokes the movement of lymph, therefore, no matter what kind of massage you do, a slight drainage effect will be present.

To the point

Massage: KP guide to types and techniques

Yulia Evgenievna Zakharova, cosmetologist:

I have a positive attitude towards lymphatic drainage massage. It improves microcirculation and tissue trophism, thanks to which we have a rested appearance and a fresh complexion. The name of the procedure itself suggests that you will get a decongestant result, and that’s already a lot! After all, more than 70% of patients come to the appointment complaining of swelling and bags under the eyes. Most Russian women have a tired (also called edematous) type of aging, many have an edema-deformation type. Accordingly, drainage procedures are indicated for almost everyone. And, thanks to lymphatic drainage massage, at the stage of problem formation there is indeed (hypothetically) a possibility of postponing a trip to a cosmetologist-injector for some time.

Exercises to prevent lymphostasis

Exercise therapy is performed from the first day after surgery. It includes breathing exercises and a simple load on the hand (clenching and unclenching the fist, flexing and extending the elbow joint). Then, from the second to the sixth day, exercises are added, performed on a chair with a fixed back and relaxed lower limbs:

Stretch your neck as high as possible, with your chin turned inward. Then turn your head to the sides. The gaze is directed “over the shoulder.” Then bend to the right and left, so that the ears touch the shoulders. The latter are in a fixed position;
as you inhale, simultaneously raise both shoulders up to your ears, the position is maintained for several seconds, then as you exhale, lower them down;
pull your shoulders back, fix this position, then relax the muscles;
back straight. Raise your shoulders up and move them as far back as possible with rotational movements, then lower them down;
Slowly raise straight arms at the elbows up (to the level of the shoulder girdle or until painful sensations appear), while relaxed fingers form a lock.

From the seventh day onwards the complex expands significantly:

Place your palms behind the back of your head, your elbows pointing in opposite directions. With each inhalation, press your elbows towards each other;
hands alternately rest on opposite shoulders;
both shoulders arch back, arms turn outward (shoulder blades join together), exhalation is delayed for several seconds. Then you need to exhale and relax your arms, placing them along your body;
a strong rope is used (its length should be 3 times the length of your arm). Make a knot at one end for easy fixation. Tie the other end to the handle of the closed door. The woman moves away about 1.5 meters and begins to rotate the rope with the hand of the operated side. Ideally, the elbow should be straight;
the ends of the rope are thrown over the open door, hanging freely. The woman takes them in her hands while sitting (the door is located between her knees). The forearm on the operated side is initially bent. The woman begins to alternately pull the rope in opposite directions (movements similar to the motion of a saw). The gaze is directed forward (in front of oneself);
the woman stands straight with her back to the wall. The shoulder girdle is fixed. Straight arms smoothly rise up to shoulder level and higher (ideally above the head), then just as slowly fall down;
a rope or stick is used. The woman holds it so that the distance between the hands exceeds the width of the body. Feet are shoulder-width apart. The stick is raised with outstretched arms forward and up above the head. Then it is wound behind the back of the head. Then the movements are performed in reverse order.

Classes are held daily, with a gradual increase in load and pace. Most exercises can be performed in a lying or sitting position. In the latter case, maintaining a strictly vertical body position is considered important.

In addition, proper deep breathing throughout the entire workout is of great importance. All movements must be performed carefully, without jerking. Each exercise is performed 10-15 times. If pain or discomfort occurs, stop the activity. If symptoms do not go away, a woman should definitely consult a doctor. [2], (pp. 16-19)

A program for the prevention of arm lymphostasis after mastectomy is always developed individually for each woman, taking into account the characteristics of her body and physical fitness. To avoid unpleasant consequences and complications, a qualified specialist must draw up a physical therapy program.

Lymphedema after circumcision

Lymphatic edema, circumcision of the foreskin is one of the causes of which, is rare in comparison with other types. When tissue is removed, damage occurs, causing swelling and hematomas. Traumatization of tissues can occur as a result of improper medical manipulations or concomitant diseases, as well as during fusion of the head and foreskin. If lymphedema appears and the condition worsens after circumcision, you should consult a specialist to identify the causes of the disorders.

Lymphatic edema of the legs, which is treated at a high level at the Yusupov Hospital, can cause irreversible changes. Timely treatment of lymphedema of the legs and face is aimed at eliminating both the underlying disease and associated disorders.

At the rehabilitation clinic you will be provided with highly qualified assistance for lymphedema. Pre-registration for an appointment with specialists is carried out by calling the Yusupov Hospital.

General recommendations

The optimal time interval between massage sessions is one day.

Subsequent courses should be carried out after three months. The best time for a massage is in the evening, two hours after dinner. Before the procedure, it is useful to cleanse the skin, for example, with a scrub. The room should be ventilated; it is important to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the session. In the evening, you should refrain from overeating and drinking excessively. Before the procedure, massage tissue is warmed up, intensifying lymph circulation. After the procedure, it is best to lie down in a relaxed state for about 10 minutes.

To enhance and maintain the effect:

stop smoking;
move more;
review the daily menu;
Avoid stress if possible.

Lymphatic drainage in the salon

Of course, performing the procedure in a beauty salon or massage parlor is much more pleasant and effective than doing it yourself at home. The therapeutic course of procedures is 5-8 sessions. At the same time, the master not only massages your problematic lymph nodes, but also massages the deep layers of the epidermis. In most cases, the body is also tightened with special elastic bandages.

This technique ensures not only the restoration of hydrobalance, but also the entire immune system in general; it is prescribed for elephantiasis, cellulite and to accelerate weight loss. Quite often, a special drainage apparatus is used for the procedure, but manual treatment is still considered more effective.

Regardless of which methods you choose, you need to remember the contraindications:

Lymphatic drainage should not be performed in case of blood clots or serious diseases of the cardiovascular system;
The procedure is strictly prohibited if you have inflammation of the lymph nodes in this area;
For individual contraindications.