Unlock a Sculpted & Serene You with This Groundbreaking Wellness Treatment

When it comes to trending treatments, there’s nothing I won’t try at least once – after all, being Vogue Arabia’s beauty and wellness editor means signing up to be a lab rat of sorts, ever-ready to be the first to test out the latest creams, gadgets and rituals to share my verdict with the world. For this month’s issue, the treatment in question was one that’s as mysterious as it is controversial, promising visible results in just one session. Cynical but curious, I had to know: could it really live up to the hype? Amid the wave of new wellness trends, lymphatic drainage has recently emerged as a standout practice. Once considered niche, it is now one of the Middle East’s most sought-after therapies, prized not only for its visible results but also for its internal benefits. A quick Google search told me that long before celebrity endorsements and viral sculpting videos, lymphatic drainage existed as a therapeutic method to support the body’s natural detoxification and immunity. What often goes ignored is that the lymphatic system is a quiet river within us, clearing what is no longer needed and restoring balance – but without a strong pump, its flow can stagnate. Not ideal. This is where lymphatic drainage becomes essential, reawakening the body’s circulation. Few understand this better than Adela Stanić, the Dubai-based master celebrity therapist whose hands have shaped and reset some of the region’s most recognisable figures – and now, mine too. Her relationship with the technique goes back two decades, long before lymphatic drainage was a social media trend. “I discovered lymphatic drainage as a young girl studying in Italy,” she shares as I lie on a fold-out bed in my living room, closing my eyes and hoping this treatment, like many failed past attempts at looking snatched, wouldn’t leave me bruised and aching. “It was part of our core programme, because every truly complete therapist must know lymphatic drainage. It is the foundation of healing.” For Stanić, detoxifying the client comes first; without it, no other technique matters. Pain, she stresses, is not part of the process – a truth I discovered as she began working my legs with an aromatic concoction of sweet almond, avocado and cherry oils. As she works her magic on the congested areas of my body – while my curious cats circled like sharks around bait – Stanić takes me back to the time she was first introduced to the classical Vodder Method in Italy and how her practice soon took a transformative turn when she travelled to Brazil to train with Renata França, the creator of the method she swears by. “That certification transformed my approach completely and elevated the results I could deliver,” she says with quiet pride. Her massage method – faster, more responsive to modern lifestyles and known for its immediate visible results – has become a favourite among Jessica Kahawaty, Kulsum Shadab Wahab, Roxie Nafousi, Layla Kardan and several royals across the region. Minutes into the session, she asks me to lift my right leg. To my surprise, it rises effortlessly, light as a helium balloon, visibly slimmer than its counterpart. “Where did it go?” I asked, glancing at my tummy, convinced the fluid must have relocated elsewhere.“When we massage specific areas, the lymphatic fluid moves into the vessels,” she explains with a big smile. “Because we have so many vessels, they start filtering and processing the lymph. Part is eliminated through sweat and urine, and the rest gets cleaned, filtered, and recirculated. This also helps produce new lymphocytes, giving your immunity a super boost.” Over the next 45 minutes, Stanić emphasises that while the immediate results do look impressive, the science behind lymphatic drainage runs far deeper than its aesthetic reputation. “Lymphatic drainage boosts serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and endorphins – the four happiness hormones. It stimulates lymphocyte production, enhancing immunity. It supports digestion, hormonal balance, metabolic function, bowel movement and reduces inflammation.” In short, it’s a full-body reset. The technique addresses the systems that modern living disrupts daily – particularly in cities like Dubai, where travel, dining out, chronic stress and heat-induced inflammation are the norm. As the treatment gains traction in the region, lymphatic drainage has become a staple at leading wellness destinations. Take SIRO One Za’abeel, one of Dubai’s most trusted recovery hubs, which now offers dedicated lymphatic drainage sessions. “As people grow more aware of the link between sleep, recovery, immunity and long-term wellness, demand for lymphatic drainage has surged,” notes Jamie Moore, the property’s director of fitness and recovery. “In Dubai’s fast-paced environment, with long workdays, travel and intense training schedules, individuals are recognising the value of structured recovery, not just workouts. Lymphatic drainage fits perfectly into this approach, offering a science-backed method to counter stress, enhance rest and support the body’s natural repair cycles. It reflects a more informed, holistic way of living.” At SIRO, this philosophy is realised through a host of treatments that work together. “Our Recovery Lab combines modalities that enhance circulation, mobility and tissue repair, including cryotherapy, compression therapy, infrared treatments, physiotherapy, bodywork, cupping and assisted stretching. This enables us to create personalised recovery pathways tailored to an individual’s training, travel, sleep and stress patterns. The goal isn’t simply the immediate effect, but the body’s restored balance afterwards.” Unlike the rest of the body, facial lymphatic drainage requires almost whisper-light precision. “The face has more superficial lymphatic vessels, intricate nodes and delicate fascia layers. The pressure must be lighter – almost featherlike – because too much force actually collapses the lymph pathways instead of activating them,” Szmidt explains. This sensitivity also means results manifest quickly; a single session can lift cheekbones, sharpen the jawline, reduce puffiness, and brighten the complexion. Her method brings together deep tissue massage, buccal release, lymphatic stimulation, fascia work and signature lifting protocols to create what Szmidt describes as “a return to the face’s natural structure.” Szmidt’s expertise has taken her around the world, but it’s her residency at Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea, that has deepened her connection to the Middle East’s evolving wellness identity. “Saudi Arabia is entering a renaissance – culturally, artistically and in wellness,” she muses. “There’s something so magical about being in the dunes and the vast natural beauty surrounding the resort.” Here, where heat, dehydration, injectables and fast-paced living imprint themselves on the skin, facial sculpting and lymphatic drainage become less indulgence and more of an essential ritual. Fascia release and lymphatic stimulation help counterbalance the region’s environmental and aesthetic demands. The technique feels both ancient and modern – a bridge between age-old healing and the Middle East’s new wellness era. No matter which school of thought you belong to, the results cannot go unnoticed. Szmidt has seen clients walk in looking burdened and leave with a completely different presence. While one client with chronic jaw tension watched her entire lower face transform after buccal massage and noticed her headaches disappearing like magic, another cried after her treatment, saying she finally “recognised her face again.” Stanić observes similar emotional shifts on the body. Her loyalists often describe a profound sense of lightness – physical, yes, but also mental. “The brain detoxes through the glymphatic system, which depends on lymph flow,” she explains. When flow accelerates, cortisol drops, and “clients experience reduced anxiety, better sleep, improved mood and emotional lightness.” For all its benefits, however, misconceptions persist. Many assume the treatment must hurt or be intensely deep, but Stanić is adamant: “It should never be painful.” True lymphatic drainage is gentle to medium in pressure, never bruises and always works in harmony with the body. Szmidt agrees that the face is even more delicate – aggression collapses pathways rather than activating them. Another common misunderstanding is the belief that lymphatic drainage burns fat. “It does not burn fat directly,” Stanić clarifies. “But it reduces inflammation, helps flow, balances hormones and boosts metabolism, which changes body shape and composition.” In other words, it’s not a shortcut, but a systemic rebalancing that leads to visible change. Consistency is key. For general well-being, Stanić recommends weekly sessions; for weight loss, one to two sessions a week; and for maintenance, once every two weeks. Szmidt advises clients to book her Get Face Fit treatment every one to two weeks for visible, long-lasting results, and monthly for upkeep. Both emphasise that each protocol is tailored – no two bodies or faces behave exactly the same. Behind each treatment lies a thoughtful selection of oils and tools. Stanić’s approach is rooted in what the client’s skin and body need in that moment. She once relied on coconut oil, but recently has fallen in love with aromatic blends that serve as an olfactory treat. For the face, she reaches for antioxidant-rich formulas, from marula oil to Aesop’s Fabulous Face Oil, and switches to Korean creams for clients prone to breakouts. Szmidt brings a fascia-first approach into home rituals as well, introducing tools like the Head In the Clouds scalp gua sha and her Deep Balm to help clients maintain results between sessions. As lymphatic drainage reshapes modern beauty and wellness culture, its rise in the Middle East feels particularly significant. The region’s appetite for holistic transformation aligns perfectly with the technique’s philosophy: true beauty begins with balance, flow and physiological harmony. After all, “these transformations are never just physical – they’re deeply emotional,” explains Szmidt. “The face stores so much of our history.” This article originally appeared in the January 2026 issue of Vogue Arabia