Lymphedema Treatment

Many women undergo mastectomy and axillary node dissection for breast cancer. Following this surgery some patients will suffer from pain and swelling in the arm for years to come. This condition is called lymphedema, and is caused by a disruption in the lymphatic drainage in the arm. To date, relatively few treatments exist and patients are told to live with these chronic debilitating symptoms.

A groundbreaking procedure recently developed in France to treat this condition is now being performed by doctors at the Institute for Advanced Reconstruction in New York and New Jersey. The procedure, called microvascular lymph node transfer, involves transferring functioning lymph nodes from the groin into the arm in order to restore lymphatic drainage to that area.

Although quite new, early results are promising and the doctors at the Institute for Advanced Reconstruction are quite optimistic that this procedure, performed in carefully selected patients, can reverse symptoms of arm lymphedema.

Please contact our office today to discuss this procedure with one of our staff or to schedule a consultation.