22-07-2025
Lizzo Credits This Type Of Massage For Helping With Her Body Transformation—And There's Real Science Behind It
Lizzo is many things—a singer, a songwriter, an actor, and, now, a cover star. When the entertainer, who's birth name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, appeared in the Women's Health Summer 2025 issue, she appeared fit, healthy, and at peace.
The last few years have been transformative for the 37-year-old, both inside and out. Lizzo is quick to point out that her body reinvention is not the result of Ozempic or weight loss surgery, but rather diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. She loads up on protein-rich meals, works out five days per week, hosts spiritual relies on some help from a very special friend.
The four-time Grammy winner has been outspoken on social media about the pivotal role celebrity lymphatic drainage specialist Flavia Lanini has played in her wellness journey. She's a regular at Lanini's eponymous Beauty Institute in Beverly Hills, indulging in her signature detox treatment once or twice weekly. The results speak for themselves, as seen in a recent before and after phot0 posted to Instagram.
According to Lanini, it all comes to down to Lizzo's dedication and effort—and their ongoing relationship. 'I always tell my clients that they really need to trust in the process and trust me. If that happens, I can deliver results—and I'm so happy with Lizzo's results,' she says. 'We took a different approach to weight loss than she ever had before, using holistic treatments and targeting all-around health.' she says.
Here, more on exactly what Lanini did to have Lizzo looking—and feeling—good as hell.
The woman behind the woman.
According to Lanini, Lizzo first came to see her about a year ago, with the goal of both losing weight and improving her overall health. 'We really wanted to take the natural approach because she hates needles and can't handle pain,' she says. That meant regular sauna sessions, drinking Lanini's detoxifying teas, several non-invasive muscle- and skin-tightening treatments, and a re-framing of her attitude toward food and nutrition. At the crux of their protocol? Lanini's signature detox treatment. 'This was really the best process for Lizzo because it helped boost her metabolism so much. We started doing it once or twice per week,' she explains.
While Brazilian-born Lanini is a lymphatic drainage expert, and lymphatic drainage is involved, the treatment is far more than that. 'My technique is different because of my background and training. Being an esthetician in Brazil is nothing like being an esthetician here. I went to university for five years to earn my degree, and then spent 11 years working with doctors,' she explains. In fact, a similar protocol is even used on cancer patients in Brazil to help detox the body in between treatment rounds, she notes.
The treatment includes:
Ultrasound
First up, an ultrasound treatment on the abdomen to help stimulate digestion. 'Think of your gut as an apple tree. The ultrasound works to shake it and remove the 'apples,' the build-up on the gut lining,' she explains. This not only helps get things moving, so to speak, but also boosts metabolism and can even help combat brain fog. When your body doesn't need to expend energy cleaning the gut, it can focus that energy elsewhere, Lanini claims.
Massage
Step two involves a head-to-toe rubdown. Rather than relying on traditional lymphatic drainage techniques (more on those in a moment), Lanini's method focuses on relaxing the fascia around the muscle to improve the muscle's functionality and movement, in turn stimulating the lymphatic system.
The massage is paired with Lanini's proprietary topical sculpting cream featuring guarana, a caffeine-rich Brazilian plant. Post-massage, the cream is mixed with different salts and clay and applied underneath a wrap to boost additional detoxification.
Sauna
During a 20-minute sauna session, Lanini's clients sip on a detoxifying, lymph-supporting tea, which also boasts Brazilian ingredients including acai, guarana, and hibiscus, among others. 'It helps keep the body balanced, combats gut inflammation, and acts as electrolytes while you're in the sauna,' Lanini explains, who adds that Lizzo drinks the tea twice daily. When all is said and done, clients feel lighter, less bloated, sleep better, and have improved energy, she says.
While this was Lizzo's standard regimen, Lanini upped the ante before a big event, like the Met Gala (or our cover shoot). 'When she wanted to be even more snatched we'd do the detox treatment three days in a row. You really do end up with a completely different body,' Lanini says. She adds that because Lizzo was also concerned with loose skin after losing so much weight, they also incorporated VelaShape, which tightens the skin using radiofrequency and other energy modalities.
Bringing it all home.
And for those of us who can't see Lanini regularly? Even the much more widely-available, traditional lymphatic drainage massages can help improve both health and aesthetic appearance. 'Think of the lymphatic system as your body's waste management system,' says Andy Wood, a masseuse specializing in lymphatic drainage massage at Chicago's Milk + Honey Spa. It helps to move and flush out a variety of toxins and debris, including excess fluid, cellular waste, viruses and more, he explains.
Unlike blood, which is pumped by the heart, there's nothing actually pumping the lymphatic system. It moves when we move, or as a result of gravity, compression, or manual stimulation, adds Morgana Kemper, owner of La Brasiliera, a spa specializing in Brazilian lymphatic drainage massage with locations in Charlotte and Chicago. Lymphatic drainage massage is a way of manually boosting the lymphatic system and is ideal for combatting swelling and strengthening immunity, she says.
As far as aesthetics go, it's important to point out that lymphatic drainage massage alone isn't going to actually cause any kind of real weight loss, Wood says. Rather, when paired with diet and exercise (as in Lizzo's case), it can help enhance the effects and appearance of that weight loss, he explains. Still, because it does flush out excess fluid, it can help make the body, particularly the abdomen, appear slimmer and more contoured, Kemper says. And while lymphatic drainage is generally very gentle (think subtle tapping and soft, sweeping motions), Brazilian techniques in particular can be a bit firmer and help redistribute fat cells for an even greater contouring effect, she adds.
Regardless, both experts we spoke with say getting a lymphatic drainage massage monthly is ideal for those looking to make it a part of their wellness or weight loss routine. Can't get to the spa? Kemper is a big fan of trampoline rebounding: 'It can make the lymphatic system flow 15 times faster,' she says. Or, try dry brushing, another easy, at-home, lymph-boosting option.
The picture-perfect proof.
Ultimately, Lizzo is the best advertisement for an integrative, holistic approach as the gateway to healthy, long-lasting changes. 'Not only has she lost half of her body weight, she's also so much more conscious of her health now. And that's because we went from the inside-out,' says Lanini of her poster-child client.
Lizzo echoed these sentiments when she spoke with WH. Yes, she's surpassed her goal weight, but she's also released the mental weight of feeling judged by others—and herself. 'It's not just about before-and-after photos. It's about consistency, discipline, and self-love. I'm beyond honored to be a part of your transformation and your healing process. You're not just inspiring others, you're leading the way,' Lanini captioned the recent Instagram post where she showcased Lizzo's results.
We couldn't agree more.
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