Maderotherapy
A deep massage performed with wooden tools, to work the tissues and support circulation.
What is maderotherapy?
Maderotherapy is a manual massage performed with wooden instruments – notched rollers, cups, boards – whose shape changes according to the area being worked. The movement is firm and steady: the tool allows a deeper, more constant pressure than the hand alone.
At Maison Minceur, the treatment combines two actions. We begin by draining, then work the tissues with the instruments. It is this combination of drainage and mechanical work that makes the protocol.
Its name comes from the Spanish madera, wood. The technique spread from Colombia, where it has been practised for several decades.
How a session unfolds
One hour for a cellulite protocol.
- The first time, an assessment comes before the session: together we look at the area to work on and at what you are seeking.
- You settle onto the massage table. The practitioner applies an oil to the area.
- The session begins with manual drainage, to prepare the tissues.
- Then comes the work with the wooden instruments, which acts mechanically on the tissues and on cellulite.
- The sensation is that of a firm massage. It can be sharp on fibrous areas: the intensity is adjusted during the session, you only have to say so.
- Redness often appears on the area worked. It fades within the following hours.
- Drinking water after the session is advised.
View the treatment
On which areas
- Stomach and waist
- Thighs and buttocksThe most requested area.
- Arms
- Back and flanks
- FaceA separate protocol, with finer tools.
What this treatment aims for
- The appearance of the skin on dimpled areas – thighs, hips, buttocks.
- The feeling of heavy legs and swelling.
- The suppleness of the tissues, which release under steady pressure.
- A moment of release: it is a massage too.
What I like about maderotherapy is the combination of drainage and the mechanical work done with the wooden instruments. You really work the tissues while supporting drainage at the same time.
This treatment, or another?
Three of our treatments support circulation, but they do not do the same thing. Here is how to tell them apart.
| Treatment | The technique | What it works on | Choose it if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maderotherapy | Wooden tools, deep pressure | The tissues and the appearance of the skin | It is the dimpled appearance that bothers you |
| Lymphatic massage | Very light manual movements | Lymphatic circulation | It is swelling and water retention |
| Pressotherapy | Inflatable boots, rhythmic pressure | Return circulation, with no manual intervention | You are looking for the same action, lying down and passive |
Effects, precautions and contraindications
The treatment is firm without being painful. Redness is common and passing; slight bruising may appear on the most sensitive areas.
This list does not replace medical advice. If in doubt, speak to your doctor before booking, and tell us about any ongoing treatment during the assessment.
This treatment is not carried out in the following cases
- Lipoedema: the protocol is not suitable, and the irritation of an already inflamed tissue must not be increased
- Phlebitis, thrombosis or a clotting disorder
- Varicose veins on the area to be worked
- Infection, wound or skin lesion on the area
- Pregnancy
- Ongoing cancer treatment, unless your doctor advises otherwise
This treatment combines
This treatment combines with others to form a protocol. Here is what each combination brings.
-
Maderotherapy Japanese sauna (Vital Dôme)
A complementarity between work on the tissues and perspiration.
How many sessions, and how often
One session a week, as a course of twelve sessions. Six sessions can be enough when there is little to work on.
What this treatment costs
Single session or course: the assessment helps you choose the option that suits you.
Prices in effect since September 2026.
Maderotherapy
- 1 session
- 120 €
- 6 sessions
- 650 €
- 12 sessions
- 1 200 €
Where to have this treatment
- Paris 16th 31 rue de la Tour, 75116 Paris
- Neuilly-sur-Seine 20-26 boulevard du Parc, 92200 Neuilly-sur-Seine
- Levallois-Perret 5 avenue de l'Europe, 92300 Levallois-Perret
- Riviera, Beausoleil 33 boulevard du Général Leclerc, 06240 Beausoleil
- Cannes 145 rue d'Antibes, 06400 Cannes
Frequently asked questions
Does maderotherapy hurt?
It is a firm massage, and the sensation can be sharp on fibrous areas. It remains bearable, and the intensity is adjusted during the session: tell your practitioner and she will adapt the pressure.
Maderotherapy or lymphatic massage?
Both support circulation, but through opposite movements: maderotherapy works deep on the appearance of the tissues, while lymphatic drainage acts very lightly on water retention. The table above sets out how to choose.
Can it be done on the face?
Yes, with a separate protocol and finer tools. The movement has nothing to do with the one used on the body.
Written and reviewed by Megan, founder of Maison Minceur · Updated on 15 September 2026
The right treatment is chosen after an assessment
Together we look at what you are seeking, then we suggest what answers it.