Endospheres for heavy legs in London

Legs that feel heavy and tired by the evening, with ankles that swell on a long day, are a complaint the maker names among its body treatments: "fight heavy legs". Its FAQ also says legs with visible capillaries can be treated. No maker series has measured heavy legs or capillaries, and we say so. The roller of 55 silicone spheres is worked up the whole leg from the ankle to the hip in slow passes, over a course the maker gives as twelve or eighteen sessions, two or three a week. The free consultation is with Dr Marie Duggan, GMC 7488383, at Endospheres Clinic, 8 Exhibition Road, London, SW7 2HF, with the price in writing.

What it does and does not do

A firm mechanical massage worked upwards from the ankle changes how the legs feel for a time, which is what people with heavy legs come for. The maker's series on the legs measured the appearance of cellulite and the thigh measurement rather than heaviness. It does not treat the veins themselves, and we make no claim that it drains lymph or clears capillaries. Heavy legs have medical causes, varicose veins, a clot, a heart or kidney problem, and in our practice the doctor asks about them at the consultation before any course and refers where a diagnosis comes first.

What the maker's series cover

Six maker series worked the legs, scoring cellulite on the front of the thighs 37 to 51% lower after twelve sessions and the thigh 1.2 cm smaller in one; none scored heaviness, and none is randomised, blinded or sham-controlled.

The session and after

In our practice you lie on the couch; the roller is passed up each leg from the ankle to the hip in slow passes, and the operator adjusts the pressure with you. A session for both legs runs within the maker's 45 minutes to an hour and a half. In our experience the legs feel lighter for a day or two after a session, the skin can look pink and feel warm, and some people are sore like after a gym session. The maker asks for at least 48 hours between sessions.

Who it suits

In our practice it suits an adult whose legs feel heavy by the evening and who wants a firm mechanical massage over a course, once the doctor has ruled out a cause that needs treating. It suits someone who will attend two or three sessions a week and maintain the result. The maker's protocol excludes pregnancy and breastfeeding and asks for 30 days after fillers. The ankles page covers swollen ankles, and the full guide the rest.