What Comes Out During Lymphatic Drainage?

Usually, nothing visibly comes out of your skin during lymphatic drainage massage. The gentle movements are intended to help lymph fluid move through lymph vessels and lymph nodes, rather than push fluid, “toxins,” or anything else out through your pores.

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Lymph fluid eventually returns to your bloodstream, where your body continues its normal processes for managing fluid and waste. You may urinate as usual afterward, but extra urination is not a required sign that the massage worked, and you should not expect to see anything unusual in the toilet.

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If you began with mild puffiness, an area may feel less full or tight, though a single session may produce no obvious change. Gentle self-massage should not be painful; hard pressure, pronounced redness, or fluid leaking from the skin is not the intended result.

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Use light, comfortable pressure rather than trying to force fluid out, and stop if the movement causes pain or makes swelling worse. Our guide to gentle lymphatic self-massage at home offers a starting point, and our Lymphatic Drainage Massage at Home Ebook is a step-by-step self-massage guide if you prefer that format.

If swelling is new, unexplained, one-sided, or accompanied by pain, warmth, redness, fever, or shortness of breath, seek medical advice rather than trying to massage it away. If you have a diagnosed condition affecting your lymphatic system, our team recommends following your clinician’s instructions about whether self-massage is appropriate for you.

Check the product’s listed specifications when evaluating when is it better to ask a clinician first.