Print Lymphedema care at Mayo ClinicMayo Clinic specialists offer personalized treatment for people with lymphedema. Your care team works together to deliver exactly the care you need. Your Mayo Clinic care teamAt Mayo Clinic, doctors trained in a variety of specialties — including Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, and vascular medicine and surgery (Vascular Centers) — work together to provide care to those with lymphedema. Advanced testingMayo Clinic uses the latest technology to guide treatment decisions. In lymphoscintigraphy, a person is injected with a radioactive dye and then scanned by a machine. The resulting images show the dye moving through the lymph vessels, highlighting blockages. A special type of MRI also can display the structure and function of the lymph vessels. Newest surgical techniquesMayo Clinic offers a variety of surgical options for lymphedema, including: Lymph node transplant. Lymph nodes are taken from a different area of the body and then attached to the network of lymph vessels in the affected limb. Most people with early-stage lymphedema see good results from this surgery, and many can stop using compression garments. New drainage paths. Another option for early-stage lymphedema, this procedure creates new connections between the lymph network and blood vessels. The excess lymph fluid is then removed from the limb via blood vessels. Removal of fibrous tissue. In severe lymphedema, the soft tissues in the limb become fibrous and hardened. Removing some of this hardened tissue, often through liposuction, can improve the limb's function. In very severe cases, hardened tissue and skin may be removed with a scalpel. Expertise and rankingsMayo Clinic doctors have extensive experience diagnosing and treating lymphedema. Each year, more than 3,000 people with lymphedema receive care at Mayo Clinic. This experience means your care team is prepared with the knowledge and resources to provide you with exactly the care you need. Locations, travel and lodgingMayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states. For more information on visiting Mayo Clinic, choose your location below: Mayo Clinic's campus in Arizona Mayo Clinic's campus in Florida Mayo Clinic's campus in Minnesota Mayo Clinic Health System Mayo Clinic Healthcare, located in London Costs and insuranceMayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people. In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need. Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic. Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card. More information about billing and insurance: Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota Mayo Clinic Health System By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Doctors & departments Nov. 24, 2022 Print Related Leg lymphedema Associated Procedures CT scan MRI News from Mayo Clinic Lymphedema: A lesser-known breast cancer treatment side effect with lifelong impacts June 06, 2024, 02:29 p.m. CDT Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast: Microsurgery can help treat lymphedema Dec. 06, 2022, 01:31 p.m. CDT Products & Services A Book: Mayo Clinic Family Health Book Available Compression Products from Mayo Clinic Store Newsletter: Mayo Clinic Health Letter — Digital Edition Show more products and services from Mayo Clinic LymphedemaSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatmentDoctors&departmentsCare atMayoClinic CON-20374660 Patient Care & Health Information Diseases & Conditions Lymphedema