The Trump administration has just sent $10m worth of birth control to be burnt – rather than donate it as aid
Governments and family planning providers in France and Belgium – where the items were held in a warehouse – have been scrambling to block the US from destroying the supplies.
The products, which include contraceptive pills, implants and IUDs (intrauterine devices or coils) and have already been paid for by US taxpayers, are being sent to a specialist facility to be incinerated, at an additional cost of $167,000 (£124,000).
That's despite offers from charities including MSI Reproductive Choices and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) to take on the costs of donating the contraception.
The Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had also said it was, 'exploring all possible avenues to prevent the destruction of these stocks, including their temporary relocation.'
A ministry spokesperson said the department had acted as soon as the plans to destroy stocks of contraception, held in Geel in the north of the country, came to its attention - including sending formal diplomatic representations to the US embassy.
French member of parliament Soumya Bourouaha asked in an official question on Monday for the prime minister to, 'do everything possible to save these contraceptive stocks and deliver them to the populations who need them'.
However, the negotiations faltered, The Independent understands. The supplies are understood to now be in the process of being transferred between the two countries.
Access to contraception can be life-saving: unintended pregnancies in countries with high maternal mortality and no access to safe abortion can be a death sentence. Research by the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research group, has found roughly the $600m spent on family planning overseas by the US government in 2024 prevented 34,000 maternal deaths and over five million unsafe abortions.
The contraception was purchased under a contract managed by development firm Chemonics, which has been partly cancelled as part of the Donald Trump 's deep cuts to foreign aid. Chemonics said it was unable to comment on the programme.
Two family planning charities said they had been told by representatives of the project that the destruction of contraceptives was part of an effort to save money, despite the fact the supplies have already been paid for.
Marcel Van Valen, IPPF's head of supply chain said the argument that the destruction of these products would come in at a lower cost was, 'utter nonsense' adding that the charity had offered to ' go and collect the products, to repack them [at] our cost and to do the distribution throughout the globe with our partners and even competitors in this space'.
MSI's associate advocacy director Sarah Shaw said, 'This isn't about government efficiencies. This is about exporting an ideology that's harmful to women.'
To give one example, she said, 'the annual contraceptive bill for Senegal for the entire country is $3 million dollars a year. So the contents of that warehouse could have met all of Senegal's contraceptive needs for three years. And instead we're going to see massive shortages.
'We're going to see Senegalese women dying of unsafe abortion, girls having to drop out of school'.
A bill has been introduced by Democratic senators Jeanne Shaheen and Brian Schatz to prevent the destruction of the $9.7 of contraceptives specifically, as well as other medicines and food. It's not expected to pass however, as it would need Republican support.
IPPF had previously raised concerns that an additional $2 million worth of condoms housed in a warehouse in Dubai were also in line to be destroyed. These were purchased under the HIV programme the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar).
A State Department spokesperson described the birth control currently earmarked for destruction as 'abortifacient', and said it did not include condoms. They added that the Mexico City Policy, also known as the Global Gag Rule - first introduced in 1984 and brought back in by every Republican president since - prohibits providing assistance to foreign nongovernmental organizations that perform or promote abortion.
It's not clear what the administration means by birth control that is abortifacient (an agent that causes abortions).
A Democratic congressional aide whose team has visited the warehouse told The Independent their team who had visited the Belgian warehouse had seen only contraceptives, not abortion pills.
The stocks they had seen were not approaching their expiry date.
'Contraceptives are saving tons of women from things like pregnancy after sexual assault or rape and saving millions...of abortions too,' the aide said.
'It's just not true that mifepristone or any of these abortion pills are in these warehouses. That's completely false.'
In the past, conservative and religious groups in the US have falsely claimed contraceptives count as abortion agents.
Dr Janet Barter, president of UK clinical membership body the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, explained an abortion was defined by when, 'there is a pregnancy and the abortion tablets or medications cause that pregnancy to be lost.' On the other hand, 'when contraception is used properly, there is no pregnancy.
'It's very straightforward with pills, implants, injections. They all work by stopping you from producing an egg. If there is no egg, there is no pregnancy,' she said, while in the case of the copper coil, it largely works by killing sperm before an egg could be fertilised.
While family planning has come into the firing line, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) pointed out this was the latest in a series of destructions including 500 tons of emergency food aid and almost 800,000 mpox vaccines which had been allowed to expire while active outbreaks rage.
'The US government manufactured this problem,' said Avril Benoît, CEO of MSF USA. 'Destroying valuable medical items that were already paid for by US taxpayers does nothing to combat waste or improve efficiency. This administration is willing to burn birth control and let food supplies rot, risking people's health and lives to push a political agenda.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
UK threatens jail for people smugglers who advertise on social media
LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) - People smugglers who use social media to promote their services to migrants seeking to enter Britain illegally could face five years in prison under plans announced by the government. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government is under huge political and public pressure to cut the number of migrants arriving illegally in small boats from France. More than 25,000 people have made the crossing so far this year. Analysis by the Interior Ministry showed around 80% of migrants arriving on small boats had used social media during their journey to find or communicate with people smugglers. Under a new offence, which will be added to legislation already passing through parliament, individuals who post online to advertise services that facilitate a breach of immigration laws will face fines and prison sentences of up to five years. It is already an offence to facilitate illegal immigration to Britain, but the government said its latest plan would give law enforcement agencies another option to disrupt the criminal gangs that profit from organising the crossings. Last month, the government launched a new sanctions regime allowing it to freeze assets, impose travel bans and block access to the country's financial system for individuals and entities involved in enabling irregular migration.
Sky News
7 hours ago
- Sky News
Just 36 aid trucks entered Gaza yesterday, Palestinian officials claim - short of 600 needed
Just 36 aid trucks entered Gaza yesterday - despite the humanitarian situation in the enclave worsening, Palestinian officials have warned. According to the Gazan government's media office, most of the humanitarian supplies were looted and stolen - "as a result of the state of security chaos that the Israeli occupation systematically and deliberately perpetuates". Officials say at least 600 truckloads of aid are required on a daily basis, adding: "The needs of the population are worsening." 1:56 A statement released late last night called for "the immediate opening of crossings, and the entry of aid and infant formula in sufficient quantities" - and "condemned in the strongest terms the continuation of the crime of starvation". Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, refuted this - and accused Hamas of "stirring up a slanderous propaganda campaign against Israel". He said: "The cruelty of Hamas has no boundaries. While the State of Israel is allowing the entry of humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza, the terrorists of Hamas are deliberately starving our hostages and document them in a cynical and evil manner. "The terrorists of Hamas are deliberately starving the residents of the Strip as well, preventing them from receiving the aid." 0:36 It comes as the Palestinian Red Crescent in Gaza said its headquarters in Khan Younis were hit by an Israeli strike, killing one staff member and injuring three others. Footage posted on social media shows a fire broke out in the building. Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel for a 60-day ceasefire, and a deal for the release of half the hostages still held in Gaza, ended in deadlock last week. US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy told the families of the hostages yesterday that he was working with the Israeli government on a plan that would end the war. Steve Witkoff claimed that Hamas was willing to disarm to stop the conflict, despite the group's repeated statements that it would not do so. In response, Hamas said it would not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is established with Jerusalem as its capital. After Mr Witkoff's meeting with the families of the hostages, Hamas released two videos of an emaciated Israeli hostage, Evyatar David, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on 7 October 2023 and has been held in captivity in Gaza since. The 24-year-old looked skeletal, with his shoulder blades protruding from his back. He was heard saying that he had not eaten for three days. The distressing videos show him digging his own grave, he said in the footage.
Times
8 hours ago
- Times
The no-diet, no-exercise, get-slim-quick hack
Ever wondered why celebrities always look so toned? Why their legs are free of cellulite and their cheekbones chiselled? It could be because they're getting regular lymphatic drainage massages, the beauty hack taking over Hollywood. While lymphatic drainage has long been used for athletes nursing injuries as well as for those recovering from surgery, it can also be a helpful tool for achieving a firm body free of bloat. This treatment works to stimulate the lymphatic system, a network of vessels, tissues and organs under the skin that help your body to drain unnecessary fluids. These are mainly around your neck, groin and armpits. Regular lymphatic drainage massages can help to manage puffiness and decrease your body's inflammation overall. One of the first formalised lymphatic drainage techniques was the Vodder method, initially developed by Dr Emil Vodder and his wife, Estrid, in France in the 1930s as a solution for swollen lymph nodes. The style of lymphatic drainage most commonly used today combines a light touch with pulsing and sweeping movements that can sometimes feel insignificant but done correctly can have a big impact. Other techniques apply deeper pressure, which can also help with getting rid of unwanted cellulite and loosening tight muscles. 'Using lymphatic drainage may have a temporary trimming effect because it helps move fluid through the body, like spreading a stack of papers from one end of the counter across the entire surface,' explains the website of the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in LA. Whichever method you choose, most experts will agree that the more frequently you have these massages, the longer the effects will last. They can also bolster the health and strength of your lymphatic system if done regularly. When Gennari first arrived in the UK she noticed a gap in the market for beauty-focused lymphatic drainage massage, a practice that is popular in her native Italy. Over the course of 11 years the facialist developed her own method and last year opened her Notting Hill salon, The Skin Sculpter, where she offers full body lymphatic drainage massages as well as facials. Her skills are in high demand, particularly among celebrities including Anne Hathaway and Carey Mulligan before their red carpet outings. Gennari uses firm pressure and is best known for her buccal facial massage, which can be booked as part of a bespoke facial or facial massage. For this Gennari puts on rubber gloves and massages the cheeks and jaw from the inside out, creating a lifting effect. She recommends ten sessions, once a week, for best results. She also offers treatments that can help to activate your lymphatic system from home, including gauze wraps with serums, sculpting tools and top-notch beauty from £250, Ooi is an aesthetician, aromatherapist and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioner operating out of Zen therapy rooms in Marylebone, London. Here, in addition to acupuncture and facials, the Meridian Circuit & Lymphatic Drainage treatment is offered. This combines gentle cupping along the spine and neck; soft brushing strokes around the tummy, and along knees and ankles where water retention can cause bloating; and gua sha stimulation of meridian points at the lower back, working in particular on warming the kidneys to activate unblocking. Ooi, who has a devoted celebrity clientele including Rooney Mara and Emma Mackey, has developed her own range of gua sha tools and oils that are used in the treatment, in particular the Circulation Elixir to promote circulation, digestion and drainage, which includes mugwort, hydacheim, cinnamon bark, wintergreen and clementine. These can be bought and used at home (the tools come with excellent step-by-step guides) between the six treatments that are recommended to reboot the system.£185 for 60min, Lymphatic drainage runs in Trévalinet's family. Her mother is also a lymphatic massage therapist and both were trained in the Brazilian Renata França method. This technique uses firm pressure, fast movements and pumping motions to help to stimulate the lymphatic system and is largely focused on toning and shaping. It isn't for the faint of heart — the pressure is hearty and Trévalinet is strong, but she is also deft, making the motions feel like a release rather than painful. This year Trévalinet and her mother, Emmanuelle, created their own method. The massage uses lymphatic drainage techniques alongside acupressure, helping to stimulate parts of the body that might also be hindering the successful functioning of the lymphatic system, and focuses on reducing inflammation. For best results Trévalinet recommends weekly sessions, for five weeks, and one session a month thereafter. She occasionally does house calls in west London and can also be found at the French Pharmacy in Marylebone, where you can stock up on cult beauty products from France as França massage from £150; Trevalinet method from £180. To book email or follow on Instagram @ Tucked away in Marylebone is one of London's newest optimisation hotspots. Rebase offers just about every hyped wellness trend — including hyperbaric oxygen chambers, red light therapy, infrared saunas, and cryo chambers. It is also home to one of the capital's most effective lymphatic drainage masseuses. Therapist Deodata Semionovaite, Rebase's lymphatic specialist, employs a relaxing but highly effective technique using pumping rhythms which feel hearty but not painful, as well as muscle tension release. The therapist is passionate about the mind-body connection and incorporates affirmations, so you will finish the hour long full body session by saying phrases like 'I am loved' and 'I let go of worry'. Semionovaite says these affirmations can, 'help calm the mind and create a sense of emotional and physical release' which she believes makes the massage more effective. This treatment is the perfect preamble to a trip to one of Rebase's many hot and cold therapy rooms, which also help rev up your body's lymphatic system. There is the ice bath and sauna room, which has eight ice baths and a sizeable traditional sauna, or for those hoping for a more private experience you can book in for one the private infrared sauna rooms, which fit up to three people. Each private room has two ice baths, a couch, and an infrared sauna fitted with a red light panel and bluetooth enabled speakers so you can listen to a podcast or your favourite song while you sweat it out. The red light panel will also do wonders for your sleep, mood, and inflammation. Rebase also offers guided breath-work classes conducted in tandem with ice baths in thelarger room, which teach you breathing tools for in and out of the cold water to make the most of your time (and increase your pain tolerance). Deo's Lymphatic Drainage Method at Rebase, 60min, £185. Private infrared and cold plunge suite, 45min, £150. Book at Whenever Amani got ill as a child, her Indian grandmother would use ayurvedic oils and massage to relieve her symptoms. Today she describes herself as 'a bit like a plumber, trying to get your body's drains unblocked' and is one of London's leading ayurvedic therapists, with salons in Pimlico and at Harrods in which she combines Indian and Brazilian methods to stimulate lymph flow. During a double-handed treatment, she and one of her practitioners work on their client from head to toe. First, warm oil is poured onto your belly 'to get the system moving'. Then while one of them vigorously rubs your body, pressing lymph points from the ears to behind the knees, the other pinches and presses and massages your face, using ayurvedic oils and warm flannels to stimulate, and finally a cold copper-ended 'wand' to sculpt the plumped cells. In addition to this whole body treatment, on the menu at Amani's salon you'll find options to book a manual Brazilian Bum Lift or ab sculpting. Amani also sells tools so you can continue to work on your lymphatic system from with Dimple Amani at Harrods from £370 (or £520 for Amani and another massage therapist), Tucked away in a discreet Georgian building behind Selfridges in London you will find Chelseé Lewis's treatment rooms. Her lymphatic facial promises to restore moisture to your skin and eliminate toxins. Using her own oil blend that contains vitamin A-rich cacay oil, Tunisian date seed as well as camomile and sandalwood, Lewis works on your face's contours and its glow. She has a gentle touch, but knows when to incorporate the firm pressure. The best part is you can purchase your own bottle of Lewis's oil to take home with you at the end of your visit to keep working on your cheekbones and from £180, A cult favourite, this machine-based lymphatic drainage and body contouring program gets results fast. It uses a device called the Icoone which 'mimics thousands of miniature massage actions, delivering 21,600 micro simulations per minute' using rollers that deliver a gentle suction which promotes circulation and combats water retention. This is coupled with Balancer Pro Technology which uses air compressions that go between compression and decompression which supports circulation and lymphatic drainage. There are different treatments and packages which target your face and body, and you can also opt for bookings that focus on individual areas of arrival at Ricari's cosy knightsbridge studio you will be provided with a neck-to-toe white leotard: this allows the machine to move more smoothly along your body and keeps it from tugging on your skin. Plus it's yours to keep for future appointments and can also be used if you feel like staging a ballet performance at home. For the appointment you are instructed to lie flat on a bed while the hand-held machine is moved over sections of your body by the practitioner. The effect is a very soothing massage feeling, and though certain areas can feel a bit tender it's not painful, rather more just like a deep pressure treatment. Appointments can last anywhere from 60-90 minutes. The effect is immediate — taught skin and diminished bloating. You might also find that the treatment helps support a sluggish digestive system. As in most lymphatic drainage treatments, the more frequently you go, the better the results. For optimal benefits, the studio recommends a course of 8-12 treatments over a period of 3-6 weeks, and then monthly appointments for maintenance. If you're prepping for an event, you can up this to two treatments per week for accelerated results. The good news is, Ricari has studios in New York, LA, London, St. Mortiz and the Cayman Islands, so you can keep up your routine going wherever you find yourself in the world. Signature body treatments from £245. Book at England, who operates at the NoMad hotel in London, is famous for her facial sculpting using flowing strokes for a neater jaw and sharper cheekbones. Lymphatic drainage has always been an important part of her approach, and now she has developed a new treatment focusing on this. The 75-minute Byonik Flow treatment combines lymph brushing and massage with the Byonik pulse-triggered laser, microcurrent and cryo-carboxytherapy to sculpt the face, reduce puffiness, eliminate toxins and restore luminosity. Slimyonik lymphatic drainage 'trousers', which come up right over the tummy and help to activate the lymphatic system, are an optional add-on. England has recently begun selling Cecily Braden's lymphatic brushes and can give her clients instructions on how to use these at home to keep the lymphatic system working between Flow, £290, Morellato is a celebrated physiotherapist (she counts Ellie Goulding and Sara Sampaio among her celebrity clientele), but the Brazilian is an expert in post-op care too. According to Morellato, a lymphatic drainage massage can be especially beneficial post surgical treatments, during pregnancy and for those suffering from lymphoedema and lipoedema. 'The lymphatic system is the body's first line of defence,' she explains. 'It plays an important role in our immune system.' She has a clinic in Belgravia and a residency at Harvey Nichols in London, where she offers her hero lymphatic drainage treatment. This is a gentle full-body massage consisting of rhythmic strokes and compression that can be tailored to individual needs. For anyone seeking regular support with a health condition, Morellato has developed a holistic Recovery Expert programme consisting of multiple sessions strategically distributed between pre and post-surgery phases. In addition to home visits within London, appointments are available at her clinic in Belgravia and at Harvey Nichols. Classic lymphatic drainage treatment from £280, An expert in both lymphatic drainage and its more hardcore sibling manual body remodelling, Bagnara is one of the wellness gurus now setting up shop at the Claridge's Spa in London. Every Wednesday he offers 90-minute treatments that cover everything from lifestyle, exercise and diet tips alongside a hearty lymphatic drainage massage. While the massage is full body, the therapist makes every treatment bespoke, with a special focus on specific areas in need of extra help with drainage. The remodelling element works to tone and lift the body, as well as helping to combat cellulite and water from £350, Sana Kirse isn't a miracle worker but she is very enthusiastic and realistic about what can be achieved with body sculpting and lymphatic drainage (alongside good hydration, diet and exercise). She's been working with lymphatic drainage for more than 20 years, honing her skills as a body-contouring specialist with various devices to ensure the most effective toning result. Using a combination of devices that employ radio frequency and magnetic pulses, she massages and manipulates the body into shape. This kick-starts the lymphatic system to move toxins and excess water, leaving behind smoother, more toned skin (it can be used to budge stubborn cellulite too). The treatments are non-invasive and while they can be a little uncomfortable at times, it's not painful when the machines glide around your problem areas. Kirse recommends ten sessions for significant body-sculpting results, but one treatment is effective if you want to look your best for a special Freeze from £185, Marylebone clinic The Ardour opened in early 2024 with a focus on science-based treatments, underpinned by the founding team's medical background. The Ardour aims to take a 360 approach, thinking about aesthetics in the context of a wider conversation about wellness which might include looking at how possible hormone imbalances can affect your skin and body and finding ways to support your skin from outside in. They even offer life coaching and have bespoke treatment plans with names like 'Stress Management Solutions, Harmonizing Change During Menopause and Thriving Post Divorce'. Whatever stage of life you are at, the clinic's Glow & Sculpt treatment is a winner. It uses a PowerSculpt machine, which looks a bit like a paddle and is strapped onto your body, emitting electromagnetic energy to stimulate underlying muscles, which can help with lymphatic drainage and reduces water retention by boosting circulation. When used in the stomach area it's the equivalent of 20,000 crunches in one 30 minute session, but less painful — the sensation is a bit like a deep pressure massage. Meanwhile a Dermalux LED Mask will be doing its thing on your face. This emits red, blue and infrared lights and can be adjusted according to your requirements, whether that is helping to manage redness, acne, or just giving you a healthy glow. Settings can help tackle acne and skin texture, but it will also increase circulation in your face, and help to manage inflammation and wrinkles. Six to eight treatments are recommended over the course of 4 weeks for best and Sculpt, £350 per treatment. Book at Emily Lansley, one of Kylie Jenner's favourite beauty specialists, offers a two-part pamper in the form of her 'Signature Sculpt & Glow Facial' at the Linnean Hotel in Nine Elms. The 75-minute treatment involves a bespoke facial treatment, alongside the Slimyonik Air Bodystyler and LED light therapy. The Slimyonik is a pair of pressure trousers that stimulates and activates the lymphatic system. While these do their thing, Emily works on your face, cleansing and exfoliating, along with a blast of LED and using a range of products depending on skin type, although one of her favourites is 'Acqua Di Rose' rose water by Santa Maria Novella. The central element of the treatment is Emily's expert deep tissue facial and buccal massage, which involves releasing jaw tension and inflammation by massaging inside the mouth. Fans report a more sculpted visage and a reduction in general bloating. Monthly appointments are recommended for maintaining from £250. Book at or call the Linnean at 0203 971 0805 Vidavii is London's first 'longevity circuit'. Founded by the duo Michal Cohen-Sagi and Noam Sagi, it uses three biohacking machines over the course of 30 minutes. The first stop is called Breathe. Here you step into a box fitted with Far Infrared lights which can promote cell regeneration, as well as blue and green lights which Vidavii say have various benefits, including helping to boost melatonin and serotonin. The room is also pumped with ionised oxygen which the brand claim can enhance cellular function and boost immunity over the course of the 8-minute session. After this portion of the circuit is finished you're escorted to the room right next door for Freeze, a cryotherapy session, where pain relief and anti-inflammatory and endorphin boosting benefits can be found. This room is extremely cold (minus 85C to be exact), but the Vidavii experts are on hand to help, giving you gloves, a face mask and a hat as well as headphones. The headphones are connected to songs which last the length of the time in the chamber so you can dance it out to Coldplay's Sky Full of Stars for example, while actual snow falls on you. This is definitely a helpful and welcome distraction. As soon as you're done, the lymphatic drainage magic starts in Squeeze,where you lay inside a metal tube called the Flow System made by a company called Art of Cryo. Your head and shoulders sticking out, and a wheel of thick plastic is fitted around your waist to keep the air in one place so your body experiences a 'continuous alternating pressure wave treatment'. It feels as though there is air squeezing and tightening around you and then loosening over the course of the 8-minute session. The best part is the benefits of Vidavii are not hypothetical. Upon arrival, all first-timers will receive a scan with the studio's Scaneca machine. It takes a 360, 3D scan of your body which looks at everything from your BMI to your waist-hip ratio, lean muscle mass and basal metabolic rate. All of these elements help give you a much more holistic understanding of your body and help the team at Vidavii personalise your time and settings in the machines so you can make the most of your circuits. This also helps you to track your progress over time. According to the brand, after the first two to four weeks of visiting two-three times a week you will begin to see a shift in your mental wellbeing, after three-four weeks you see a body change thanks to the loss of excess water retention, and after six-eight weeks you will begin to see more toned muscle. After a few months, they often see their clients decrease body weight and increase muscle mass, all of which can be tracked via the numbers on the scan, as well as the digital avatar it makes of your body. While the studio says that clients who increase their exercise while doing the circuits tend to achieve faster results, they see body composition changes in clients who keep their routines the same and simply add in Vidavii to their weekly routine. For those with more than 30 minutes to spare you can also hop onto the studio's Hydrobed, which gives you a circulation boosting water jet massage (though don't worry you don't get wet as the jets come up from within the water bed) as your face sits under an LED light panel which helps with cell turn over as well as aiding circadian rhythm modulation. Full circuit begins at £95. Book at Lymphatic drainage is just one part of the heavenly 90 minutes you'll spend enjoying the Bamford Tonifying Treatment, and as you lay — rose quartz eye mask in place — being gently brushed — yes, brushed — from head to toe, an act which promises to stimulate circulation, but may also encourage a nap, you may wonder if it is possible to be more relaxed. Answer: not likely. It gets better, by way of a full body exfoliant and massage using scrub made with cast-off organic Daylesford coffee grinds; a warm shower — and then more massage with warm oil. This preps skin for the hard graft: cupping therapy. Silicone cups designed to shift fluid in the muscle are glided across the legs, arms and, if you are comfortable, abdomen, to drain toxins and tone. It's all executed with Bamford's signature brand of bliss and wrapped up with a mini facial. Heaven — ask for Deidra.£220 for 90min, Billing itself as 'London's premier wellness and longevity clinic', The HVN offers a new Body Contour Massage designed to target puffiness, poor circulation and water retention. Tucked just off a busy Knightsbridge street, the space lives up to its name (HVN stands for haven) — a calm, understated space where you're greeted with herbal tea and soft, ambient sounds. The treatment itself is an hour-long deeply focused massage that blends lymphatic drainage with firmer, sculpting strokes. The holistic therapist Catia draws on more than a decade of experience in five-star spas across Europe, combining eastern traditions like Shiatsu and Ayurveda with western methods. Her approach is tailored and intuitive, but also impressively firm. This isn't the feather-light lymphatic massage some might give. At times intense, it's not always relaxing in the traditional sense, but it's highly effective. Designed to improve skin firmness and elasticity, enhance lymphatic flow and relieve postural tension, the massage offers a non-invasive way to reshape the body and restore vitality. The combination of techniques — think dry-brushing, cupping and a firm massage among other things — helps stimulate circulation, encourages detoxification and leaves you visibly more sculpted. Limbs feel lighter, skin smoother, and you walk out straighter. A course of five weekly treatments are recommended with two visits per month following this for maintenance. Body Contour Massage, 60min, from £210, It's hard to miss the prominent location of Repose Space on Kensington High Street. It's turned into one of west London's favourite biohacking bars, complete with everything from saunas and cryotherapy to aerial yoga and nutrition workshops. It is also home to an extensive lymphatic drainage offering provided by one of the three lymphatic drainage experts on hand, as well as a variety of other massage techniques from cupping to myofascial release, which can also be incorporated into the massage. This also includes a lymphatic drainage facial with buccal release. This massage works to drain and de-puff your face by targeting the main lymph drainage points, and in the process also helps to sculpt and release muscles thanks to its firmer pressure. The buccal massage, during which the therapist, wearing rubber gloves, massages your jaw from the inside, helping to release the jaw, can give a more chiselled look as jaw tension subsides. You will notice a change from the first session, but for best results the studio recommends at least three weekly sessions in a row before transitioning to monthly upkeep. Buccal massage and face sculpting, 60min, £150. Book at Su-Man has been training in the craft of massage for years, honing her skills and developing the ultimate 'no-Botox' lift through her targeted massage. For those keen to not go down the needles route but who are still eager to look more sculpted and toned, her Digital Damage Resculpt Facial is ideal. Su-Man created it to combat the side-effects of staring at a screen for too long and the associated sagging which can come from bad posture. Su-Man is no-nonsense while still bringing a deep care and kindness to the treatment. The bespoke session starts with a facial steam and skin assessment during which she will do everything from exfoliation and electrical muscle stimulation to blemish extraction. The massage then uses deep pressure, moving between face, chest, shoulders and neck, stimulating the lymphatic system. A foot and calf massage are also included. The end result is defined cheekbones and a more sculpted jaw, which, if you take Su-Man's advice and visit every six weeks, you will be able to maintain, despite all the doom scrolling. Digital Damage Resculpt Facial, 70min, £350. Book at
