Lymphedema Care at Mayo Clinic
Lymphedema care at Mayo Clinic
Mayo 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 team
At Mayo Clinic, doctors trained in a variety of specialties — including Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Plastic Surgery, and vascular medicine and surgery (Vascular centers) — work together to provide care to those with lymphedema.
Advanced testing
Mayo Clinic uses the latest technology to guide treatment decisions. In lymphoscintigraphy, you receive an injection of a radioactive tracer and are scanned by a machine. The resulting images show the tracer 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 techniques
Mayo Clinic offers a variety of surgical options for lymphedema, including:
- Lymph node transplant. Working lymph nodes are taken from another part of the body and connected to the lymph vessels in the affected limb. This can improve drainage and reduce the need for compression therapy in early stages.
- Creation of new drainage paths. Surgeons can connect lymph vessels to nearby blood vessels, allowing fluid to drain through the bloodstream instead of the blocked lymph system.
- Removal of hardened tissue. In serious lymphedema, fibrous or thickened tissue may be removed to improve movement and comfort. This can be done through liposuction or, when lymphedema is very advanced, through surgical removal of hardened skin and tissue.
Expertise and rankings
Mayo Clinic doctors have extensive experience diagnosing and treating lymphedema. Each year, more than 4,000 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 lodging
Mayo 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:
Costs and insurance
Mayo 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:
CON-20374660
