We Tried the Wearable Onesie That Gives You the Benefits of a Lymphatic Drainage Massage

Lymphatic drainage massages are a godsend for swollen and sore muscles—but what if you could get the same results from a onesie?

Heat Healer—Kim Kardashian swears by the brand’s Infrared Body Belt—recently launched the Activated Lymphatic Onesie, which touts the same benefits as a lymphatic drainage massage. Yep, the $200 onesie is said to pack a 60-minute massage (which can cost upwards of $250 per session) into something you can wear over and over again. 

Heat Healer Activated Lymphatic Onesie

If you’re not familiar with a lymphatic drainage massage, they’re incredible for those with inflammation, whether that be from allergies or an extra-tough session at the gym. Some of the benefits include reduced swelling and inflammation, enhanced immune system function, stress relief, and even improved sleep—so it’s hard to imagine a piece of clothing can offer the same health benefits.

Curious if this seemingly do-it-all product stands up against a massage, we put the product to the test.

Why Is Lymphatic Drainage Important?

There’s a lot of reasons why caring for your lymphatic system is important. “The lymphatic system is a system in the body that delivers nutrients to the cells and carries away waste, making it a vital function of the immune system,” says celebrity esthetician Joanna Vargas. 

“With a healthy immune system we can see better skin and acne breakouts heal quickly. It also rules over water retention—the puffiness we see in our faces and on the body is controlled by the immune system as well,” says Vargas.

How Does It Work?

Lymphatic drainage massages use a technique that encourages the drainage of lymph nodes and the movement of lymph fluids around the body, which eases the swelling in your tissues. This onesie has the same concept, but with a ​​first-of-its-kind patent-pending design, which uses a combination of Heat Healer’s Antigravity Tech and temperature-regulating infrared yarn to prevent excessive sweating.

“The temperature-regulating infrared yarn is clinically proven to enhance blood flow and oxygenation, which is critical for effective lymphatic drainage,” says Lauren Dovey, CEO of HeatHealer. “The nano-pattern pressure and graduated compression work synergistically to create a pathway towards your lymph nodes, gently stimulating the lymphatic system and promoting fluid movement.” Essentially, it’s like giving your lymphatic system a gentle, yet effective push in the right direction.

The website notes you should wear the product anywhere from one to six hours per day for 30 days to achieve the best results. Designed to be worn under your clothes, it almost acts as a pair of Spanx—but with added health benefits.

Vargas notes that a lymphatic drainage garment is great for stimulating a healthy lymphatic system thanks to the compression elements, and can give you the same effects if worn consistently—however, she does warn that what you put in your body is just as necessary as what you put on your body. In other words, drinking and eating lots of green vegetables will help to maximize the effects of the outfit,

How Does It Feel?

Let me start this off by setting the scene. It’s mid-summer, I just got back to my apartment in the city after a weekend of sitting in the sun, eating pizza and drinking my body weight in anything but water. It seemed like the perfect time for a little de-puffing.

On Monday morning before work, I lit some candles and slid on my new Activated Lymphatic Onesie—which was just as tough to get on as my Spanx or Skims. Though it took a bit of maneuvering to get on due to the tight fabric, once it was set in place, the fit was ultra comfy and provided a bit of suction for a slimming effect, which was an added bonus. 

Almost immediately I felt a tingling sensation in my hips and stomach, which seemed like a sign it was actually working. Luckily, I spoke with Dovey before giving the onesie a try, and she assured me I’d know the product was working when “the light zigzag impressions from the nano massage pressure-pattern and graduated compression disappear, signaling that your lymphatic system has been actively engaged.” 

Within about 10 to 15 minutes, I started to feel lighter and more energetic, and within 30 minutes my body felt relaxed and I had a general sense of calm, even as my inbox started flooding in. Dovey noted this is due to Heat Healer's Antigravity Technology that “alleviates strain on your body and immediately starts pushing lymphatic fluid towards the lymph nodes.”

I kept the onesie on for a few hours before taking it off for something lighter. Though the garment is definitely breathable, it was far too hot in New York City to wear underneath my summer clothing, so I opted to take it off versus keep it under my fit. When I took the onesie off, I noticed my skin felt softer and less puffy, giving me an extra boost of confidence to go about my day.

After a few days of testing, I truly did feel like my skin was smoother and less puffy—I saw the biggest difference in my thighs and back of my legs. I also noticed that I was sweating a lot more when at the gym or walking around the city, which was a sign to me that my lymphatic system was activated all day long, not just when wearing the onesie. As far as inflammation and fluid retention, I definitely felt slimmer and less bloated in the weeks I tested the garment. My body felt overall lighter and more energetic.

Is It Worth Using It?

The short answer is yes, absolutely. For the price of just one massage, being able to use and reuse the onesie for the same benefits is appealing for a girl on a budget. Though of course this garment doesn’t have that just-left-the-spa feeling, it gave me an extra boost of energy (plus, I slept like a baby).

The onesie reportedly gets more comfortable the longer you wear it (I can attest!), and the health benefits are long-lasting as well. “Its benefits increase with prolonged use," says Dovey. "This means that unlike a one-time massage session, the onesie provides ongoing support to your lymphatic system, making it an effective and convenient solution for maintaining lymphatic health over time.”

Being so easy to incorporate into my daily life, I definitely foresee myself using this product again and again. Wearable wellness? Sign us up!