salon-treatment
Wood therapy (maderoterapia)
A vigorous body massage using shaped wooden tools — rolling pins, cups and boards — worked over the thighs, hips, stomach and arms.
Indicative cost
£45.00–£110.00 per session
Downtime
None to minimal. Tenderness and occasional bruising for a day or two.
Typical course
Courses of six to twelve sessions are typically sold
Keeping it up
Weekly during a course, then monthly
How it works
Firm mechanical pressure moves fluid and warms the tissue. Any change in how skin looks is temporary and related to fluid and circulation rather than fat loss.
What a session actually involves
You lie down and the therapist applies oil, then works methodically with wooden tools. Pressure is firm and can be uncomfortable, particularly on the thighs. Sessions are usually sold in courses.
What people usually consider it for
- Firmness and tone
- Heaviness or puffiness
- Bumpy texture
This reflects what the treatment is commonly used for — not a claim that it will work for you.
When it may not be suitable
- You are pregnant
- You bruise easily or take blood thinners
- You have varicose veins, a clotting history or lymphoedema in the area
- You have recent surgery in the area
This list is not exhaustive. A qualified practitioner should assess you before any treatment.
Things to weigh up
- — Marketed for cellulite; the honest claim is a temporary smoother look
- — Should be firm, not painful
What the evidence looks like
Popular in South America and increasingly in the UK. There is no good published evidence that it reduces fat or cellulite lastingly.
Questions worth asking first
Be cautious of before-and-after photographs taken minutes apart — those show fluid, not fat.
What tends to sit alongside it
- Body oil
- Body scrub
- Firming body cream
Others people compare it with
Treatments and devices are listed for information only. Nothing here is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a promise of a result. Suitability depends on your health, skin and the specific device or practitioner — always check with a qualified professional first.