Lymphedema Treatment
“Lymphedema, the worst side effect
I’ve had, has been virtually eliminated
thanks to these forward-thinking doctors.”
– Shelli Cody
Meg Farris / WWL-TV Eyewitness News
Lymphedema Treatment
Dr. Marga Massey Discusses
Advances in Lymphedema Treatment on It’s Your Health Radio
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Dedicated Lymphedema Treatment Program Now Offered
Lymphedema is a debilitating condition of localized fluid retention caused by a compromised lymphatic system. It is most frequently seen after breast cancer treatments such as lymph node dissection, surgery and/or radiation therapy, which can damage the lymphatic system of the arm. Chronic swelling, discomfort, and skin infections are among the symptoms that may be improved with proper therapy and in some cases, microsurgical repair as part of your overall lymphedema treatment.
Dr. Scott Sullivan, Dr. Frank DellaCroce and Dr. Christopher Trahan, international leaders in all breast cancer surgery options have developed a dedicated and comprehensive lymphedema treatment program complete with trained specialists, therapists, and advanced cutting edge techniques. The program located in the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery is the first of its kind serving patients from around the world.
Lymphedema treatment has largely been limited to conservative management interventions to include manual lymphatic drainage therapy, compression garments, bandaging, and pneumatic pump devices. The revolutionary Vascularized Lymph Node Transfer (VLNTx) procedure for lymphedema can be performed at the St. Charles Surgical Center when combined with any reconstructive breast surgery or as follow-up treatment to a previous surgery. VLNTx is a microsurgical transplantation procedure where several lymph nodes and their associated perivascular fat, arteries and veins (collectively called a "flap") are removed from a low-risk location of the body and transplanted to the affected limb.
Lymphedema treatment at the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery is one of our newest programs, and one that we are proud to add to our regimen of care. We are the first Center of Excellence for Lymphedema Treatment in the world. The efforts of Drs. Sullivan, DellaCroce and Trahan in concert with sophisticated imaging systems, trained care specialists, and therapists, provide patients a welcomed option for lymphedema relief.
Dr. Frank DellaCroce, Dr. Scott Sullivan and Dr. Christopher Trahan at the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery are international leaders in breast cancer reconstruction surgery options, pioneering groundbreaking procedures including:
- Immediate Breast Reconstruction
- Nipple Sparing Mastectomy
- Stacked DIEP Reconstruction
- Hip Flap
- GAP Flap
- Advanced Stacked Abdominal/Hip Flap
They have performed over 4000 Breast Reconstruction procedures on women facing breast cancer.
