What is slimming massage?
Anti-cellulite massage, also called slimming massage, uses firm circular kneading, pinching and rolling to work the fatty tissue under the skin and stimulate circulation. It is done by hand, not by machine. It smooths skin texture and reduces the look of dimpling. It is not a weight loss treatment and we will not pretend it is.
Firm
4 out of 5Sustained deep pressure, adjusted as you give feedback.
- Anti-cellulite massage
- Body sculpting massage
- Cellulite massage
We come to you, anywhere in London. Your home, your hotel room or your workplace.
How a slimming massage feels
Brisker and firmer than almost anything else we do. Effective rather than relaxing, and nobody has ever fallen asleep during one.
- Firm circular kneading into the fatty tissue, mostly thighs, hips and stomach
- Pinching and rolling of the skin itself, which is what works the connective tissue
- Short, rapid strokes rather than the long slow ones of a relaxing massage
- Lymphatic drainage worked in at the end, to shift the fluid it has moved
- Warm and a little tender afterwards, sometimes slightly pink
It can be uncomfortable in places and it should never be painful. Say something the moment it tips over and your therapist will adjust, because a session you spend braced against is not a session that is working.
Who slimming massage suits
Worth booking if
- You want to improve skin texture on thighs, hips or the backs of your arms
- You are already eating and exercising well and want to help it along
- You would rather have hands than a machine at a salon
- You hold fluid as well as fat, which this addresses at the same time
- You want it done in your own room rather than under a salon light
Mention it when you book if
- You bruise easily, since this one is firm and brisk
- You have varicose veins, thread veins or fragile skin in the area
- You are pregnant, at any stage, so we can send a pregnancy therapist
- You have a skin condition or broken skin where your therapist would be working
- You are expecting weight loss, which is not what this treatment does
What happens during slimming massage
Below is how a typical 90 minute session pans out. A 60 or a two hour booking follows the same shape, with more or less of the middle.
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Before she arrives
Somewhere firm
Bed or floor, old towels, and think about which areas you actually want worked. Most people say thighs and hips, some say stomach or upper arms.
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First 5 minutes
Warming the area
Broader, faster strokes to bring circulation up before anything firm starts. The skin will go warm and slightly pink, which is what should happen.
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Next hour and 20
Kneading and rolling
Firm circular kneading, then pinching and rolling of the skin itself. Intense in places, and your therapist will keep asking, because the line here matters.
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Final 5 minutes
Draining
Light lymphatic strokes to move the fluid the session has stirred up. Drink plenty of water afterwards, and expect to feel it tomorrow.
What it will and will not do
It improves how skin looks and feels: smoother texture, less obvious dimpling, better circulation through the area. With regular sessions alongside sensible eating and exercise, that difference is real and visible.
It will not make you lose weight, and it is not liposuction. Cellulite is largely down to the structure of the connective tissue under your skin, which massage improves rather than removes. Anyone promising more than that is selling you something.
How slimming massage differs from the alternatives
Most people land here torn between two. Here is the short version.
| Slimming Massage | Lymphatic Drainage Massage | Deep Tissue Massage | Swedish Massage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure | Firm and brisk | Very light, rhythmic | Firm and slow | Light to medium |
| Best for | Skin texture and dimpling | Swelling and fluid | Knots and muscle tension | Stress and winding down |
| Areas | Thighs, hips, stomach, arms | Wherever the swelling is | Wherever you are tight | The whole body |
| Relaxing? | No, and it does not claim to be | Very | Not especially | Very |
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
What people say about their therapist
This is my third booking and every therapist so far has been great. Always on time and always professional. Will be back.
Nice and easy to book and Monika was just brilliant, honestly! She arrived on time, was friendly and the massage was exactly what I needed. Cheers
Worst experience ever. I fell asleep within 10 minutes and missed the whole thing.
Tang was really professional but also just easy going. No awkwardness at all, just a genuinely good treatment. Felt so much better afterwards. Thank you!
I asked for medium pressure and it was actually medium pressure which never happens! Elena checked in a couple of times too. Slept like a log.
My shoulders were in a state from non-stop work. My therapist was firm but not painful and really focused on my knots well. Thx.
Booked for a Sunday evening after a really long week. Just what I needed! Love that I didn't even have to leave my house - brilliant.
Booked a sports massage last minute after a run. Joana arrived within an hour and knew exactly where to focus. Totally excellent value at the price!
I wasn't sure about having a massage at home to be honest but it was great. I hate waiting rooms so this was perfect for me.
Rated Outstanding
Average 4.97/5 from 12,008 reviews
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Wherever you are, someone covers it. Seven days a week, 7am until 11pm.
Common questions about slimming massage
For skin texture and the appearance of dimpling, yes, with regular sessions. For weight loss, no. Cellulite comes largely from the structure of connective tissue under the skin, and massage improves how that looks rather than removing it. We would rather tell you that now than after six sessions.
Most people notice smoother skin after three or four, and it holds better if you keep going every week or two for a while. One session feels good and changes little.
It is firm and brisk and can be uncomfortable, particularly the pinching and rolling. It should not actually hurt. Tell your therapist the moment it does and she will ease off, since bracing against it defeats the purpose.
You should not, though the area often goes warm and pink for an hour or two afterwards. If you bruise easily generally, say so at the start and your therapist will work more lightly.
No, and they are near opposites in technique. Lymphatic drainage is extremely light and moves fluid. This is firm and works the tissue. Your therapist will usually finish with some drainage, which is where the confusion comes from.
An hour, and it is firm enough that most people do not want longer. That covers thighs and hips, which is what nearly everybody books it for. Add 30 minutes if you want the stomach or upper arms as well.
£59 for 60 minutes, £80 for 90 minutes and £110 for two hours, the same as every other treatment we offer. Some outer London areas carry a small travel charge, which you see before you pay. We have written up what a massage costs in London and how we compare.
Whatever you are comfortable in when she arrives. During the massage you undress as far as you want to and stay covered by a towel throughout, with only the part being worked on uncovered. If that is the bit you were worried about, what to wear during a massage goes through it properly.
Often within the hour, though it depends on who is free near you at the time. Put your postcode into the box on this page and you will see the therapists covering your area and the times they have left today. We work seven days a week, from 7am until 11pm.
Somewhere to lie down, either your own bed or a mat on the floor, and your own towels. Your therapist brings the oil and the music. We ask you to use your own towels for hygiene, because a therapist working in homes all day cannot launder between visits the way a spa can, and yours will always be cleaner. Old ones are best, since oil stains.
Across more than 200 London neighbourhoods, wherever you are staying or living. Your therapist comes to your home, your hotel room or your workplace. Enter your postcode above to see who covers your address, or look through every area we cover.
Medically and professionally reviewed by Katarzyna Piatkowska, ITEC qualified massage therapist, August 2025.