salon-treatment
Pressotherapy
Inflatable trousers or sleeves that compress the limbs in sequence, similar to the recovery boots used by athletes.
Indicative cost
£35.00–£90.00 per session
Downtime
None.
Typical course
Often sold in courses of six to ten
Keeping it up
Weekly, or after long flights and hard training
How it works
Sequential compression encourages fluid and venous return through the limbs. The effect on how legs feel and look is real but temporary.
What a session actually involves
You put on the garment, lie down and the cycles inflate and release from the feet upwards. It feels like a firm, moving squeeze. Most people read or nap.
What people usually consider it for
- Heaviness or puffiness
- Firmness and tone
- Joints and recovery
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 have a history of blood clots or DVT
- You have heart failure or a kidney condition affecting fluid
- You have an infection, open wound or unexplained swelling in the legs
- You are pregnant, unless cleared
This list is not exhaustive. A qualified practitioner should assess you before any treatment.
Things to weigh up
- — Not a fat or cellulite treatment
- — Unexplained swelling needs medical assessment first
What the evidence looks like
Sequential compression is well established for circulation and recovery in clinical and sports settings. Cosmetic claims about fat and cellulite are not supported.
Questions worth asking first
If you have leg swelling you have not had checked, see a doctor before booking anything compressive.
What tends to sit alongside it
- Firming body cream
- Body oil
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.