Pressotherapy: what it is, how it works and how many sessions you need

Pressotherapy is one of those treatments everyone has heard of but few people can actually explain. It’s associated with “light legs”, with “drainage” and, far too often, with promises it can’t keep. In this guide we explain what it is, what you’ll genuinely notice, how many sessions make sense and when it’s best avoided.

What is pressotherapy?

Beauty pressotherapy uses a pair of boots (or a suit that reaches the abdomen) divided into several air chambers. A sequential compression unit inflates them one after another, starting at the feet and working up towards the thighs, then empties them. That cycle repeats throughout the session, which usually lasts about 30 minutes.

The idea is to give a mechanical helping hand to the upward return of fluid from the legs. That’s why people talk about a draining effect. It feels like a firm, snug pressure that rises and then releases, rather like a hug that squeezes and lets go.

There’s no heat, no electrical current and nothing that goes through the skin. It’s probably one of the simplest and most restful body treatments there is.

What you’ll really notice

To be honest, what pressotherapy offers is specific and modest:

• Lighter legs. Most people notice it as soon as they get up from the couch.
• Less of that puffy feeling, especially at the end of the day or in hot weather.
• A chance to rest. You’re lying down doing nothing, and plenty of people end up half asleep.

What it doesn’t do needs saying too:

• It doesn’t make you slimmer or reduce fat.
• It doesn’t make cellulite disappear.
• It doesn’t treat varicose veins, lymphoedema or any circulatory condition.
• It doesn’t “detox” or “purify” you: those claims don’t describe anything real.

If anyone promises you dress sizes, centimetres or a detox from pressotherapy, be wary.

Who it makes sense for

Pressotherapy works best in some very recognisable situations:

Jobs on your feet, or very sedentary ones

Shop staff, hospitality workers, teachers, nurses, or anyone who spends eight hours in front of a screen. In every case, heavy legs at the end of the working day are the most common complaint.

Summer in Málaga

From June to September, the heat makes heavy legs much worse. It’s when pressotherapy is most in demand, along with the cold-wrap option, which adds a very welcome cooling sensation.

As part of a body programme

If you’re having wood therapy or a firming treatment such as Bellaction Duo body, pressotherapy adds the draining effect those techniques don’t aim for on their own. Many people book it straight afterwards.

Before an event or after a long journey

A long-haul flight, a wedding day in heels or a hectic week. A one-off session helps you get that light-legged feeling back.

How many sessions do you need?

This is the question we hear most, and the answer depends on your goal.

A single session leaves your legs feeling light that day and sometimes the next. It’s perfect for occasional relief, but the effect is temporary. If you want something longer-lasting, the sensible approach is a course of 5 to 10 sessions, once or twice a week. After that, you can switch to occasional maintenance sessions whenever your legs feel heavy again.

Goal	Approach	Frequency
Occasional relief	1 session	Whenever you need it
Hot weather	5–10 sessions	1–2 a week
Body programme	Depends on the programme	After the other treatment
Maintenance	One-off sessions	Every few weeks

Having sessions every day doesn’t give better results. Consistency and regularity count for more than intensity.

What happens in a session, step by step

1. Initial assessment. You’re asked about your health, any medication and how your legs feel. It’s the most important step, because this is where any reasons not to go ahead are ruled out.
2. Fitting. You lie down in light clothing and the boots are adjusted to your size.
3. Sequential compression. The unit works for about 30 minutes. The intensity is set to your comfort; higher pressure isn’t better.
4. Finishing off. You sit up slowly and carry on with your day. There’s no downtime.

Afterwards it’s normal to need the loo more often over the next few hours and for your feet to feel fresher. If you notice pain, dizziness or swelling that doesn’t settle, see your doctor.

When not to have pressotherapy

There’s no room for doubt here. Beauty pressotherapy should not be carried out if:

• You have or have had thrombosis or phlebitis.
• You have heart or kidney failure, or uncontrolled high blood pressure.
• You’re pregnant.
• You have an infection, a fever or wounds on your legs.
• You have a pacemaker or another implanted device.
• You’re having treatment for cancer.
• You have diagnosed lymphoedema: its treatment is a matter for healthcare professionals.

If you have any concerns about your veins or heart, talk to your doctor first. A reputable beauty centre will ask you to do so before you start.

Pressotherapy on its own or combined

Pressotherapy works well on its own if tired legs are your only concern. If your goal is how your skin looks or firmness in a particular area, it makes more sense as a complement. Our comparison of wood therapy and pressotherapy explains how to choose between them and combine them, and our guide to non-invasive body contouring goes through what to expect from each technique.

At Narumi

At Narumi, a beauty centre in Málaga city centre, Marta Fernández carries out pressotherapy with a sequential compression unit, always after an initial assessment. We offer one-off sessions, packages of 5 and 10 sessions, and cold wraps with pressotherapy, which are very popular in summer. It’s also part of our Beauty Day and Piel de Seda rituals.

• Pressotherapy in Málaga: sessions, packages and cold wraps.
• Wood therapy in Málaga: if you’d like to add hands-on work focused on how your skin looks.
• Bellaction Duo body in Málaga: for a firming programme in a specific area.

You’ll find us at Calle Cristo de la Epidemia 33, a few minutes’ walk from La Victoria and the historic centre. You can book by WhatsApp or phone on +34 611 500 328. Sessions are in Spanish, but message us on WhatsApp and we’ll do our best to help.