Is it possible to get a transplant to treat lymphedema? 

Interview with Dr Corinne Becker, a specialized plastic and reconstructive surgeon at the American Hospital in Paris, who developed the autologous lymph node transplantation (ALNT) method.

What care is required after a lymph node transplant?

ALNT generally requires two days in hospital. Depending on the case, lymphatic drainage should be performed 3 times per week for a period of 3 weeks. Physiotherapy after surgery is essential since it creates new pathways.

How long after a lymph node transplant can you hope to see a return to normal?

It all depends on how long the lymphedema has been present. In the least severe cases, one procedure is generally enough and the limb is back to normal after 6 months. In congenital lymphedema, the younger babies are, the greater the chances of achieving rapid and complete normalization.

What about patients with advanced-stage lymphedema?

There are solutions for everyone, even in extreme cases. I have already had cases of patients in whom amputation of the leg or arm was being considered and whose limb is now normal today. So it’s best not to wait before getting lymph node transfer surgery or at least getting an overall assessment initially, before the procedure, because each case of lymphedema is different. Patients who are suffering from lymphedema are those who have been let down. And yet it is necessary to put in place a genuine strategy, over a long-term period (at least a year), sometimes with different types of surgery to be combined in order to achieve optimal results. But it really is on a case-by-case basis, depending on what imaging investigations reveal. Whatever the case, don’t give up, get yourself treated. 

If you have any questions, ask your doctor for advice.