Arm or chest swelling after breast cancer surgery.
You have already been through so much. Now the arm on your surgery side feels heavy, or a ring stops fitting, or the skin near the scar looks fuller than it did. This kind of swelling has a name, and there is gentle, ongoing care that helps you manage it.
4.8 · 1,000+ reviews across Google, Yelp & More
Why swelling follows a mastectomy.
How We Treat Post-Mastectomy Lymphedema
We are a conservative lymphatic clinic. We do not perform surgery, and we do not diagnose. What we provide is the gentle, hands-on management that helps you live more comfortably with the swelling day to day. The recognized standard for this work is [Complete Decongestive Therapy](/treatments/complete-decongestive-therapy), and it is built from a few parts that work together. Before we book you in, we coordinate the timing with your oncology or care team, because they know where you are in treatment and what your body is ready for.
Complete Decongestive Therapy (CDT)
The recognized standard for managing lymphedema, bringing manual drainage, compression, skin care, and gentle movement into one conservative plan.
Manual Lymphatic Drainage (The Vogel Method)
The hands-on core of CDT, delivered with the Vogel Method: light, skin-level strokes that guide fluid along the drainage routes that are still open.
Oncology Massage
A lymphatic approach built for clients during or after cancer treatment, kept sensitive to where a client is in recovery.
See the relief, in their words.
Real clients from our Hinsdale, Downers Grove, and Joliet clinics, in their own words. Choose a condition to see stories from clients like you.
- Lymphedema: Lymphedema relief with lymph drainage: Kim's story
- Lymphedema: Lymphedema after radiation: Joe's story
- Swelling & Water Retention: Reduce swelling and water retention: Elisavet's story
- Swelling & Water Retention: Visible results and less swelling: a client review
- Swelling & Water Retention: Swelling relief: a real client review
- Swelling & Water Retention: Recovery after serious infections and swollen joints: a client's journey
- Post-Surgical & Injury: Results from post-surgical swelling and injury
- Post-Surgical & Injury: Reduced knee swelling and pain after lymphatic massage
- Post-Surgical & Injury: Chronic swelling from sports and orthopedic injuries
- Post-Surgical & Injury: Ankle swelling years after a bicycle injury
- Pregnancy & Postpartum: Pregnancy swelling relief: a third-time mom's review
- Lyme Disease: Lyme disease recovery with manual lymph drainage
- Lyme Disease: Relief from Lyme disease symptoms with lymph drainage
- Client review: Audra Brown: a thoughtful, detailed review
- Client review: Rebin Roy: a fantastic experience with lymph drainage
- Client review: Does lymphatic drainage really work? Real results
- Client review: Janice: healing through lymphatic therapy
- Client review: Kary G. on Sharon Vogel's care
- Client review: Anita: ready to dance again after lymphatic drainage
- Client review: Michelle P.: lymph drainage relief
- Client review: Kathleen Heinz: a soothing, welcoming experience
- Client review: Thank you for the glowing five-star review!
Lymphedema relief with lymph drainage: Kim's story
Lymphedema after radiation: Joe's story
Reduce swelling and water retention: Elisavet's story
What clients tell us
4.8 across 1,000+ reviews on Google, Yelp & More
“The Vogel Method is the only manual lymphatic massage that has decreased my joint swelling and improved my quality of life. I am willing to drive over an hour to see Sharon and team. She keeps my vertigo and joint swelling at bay.”
“The swelling in my leg was reduced by an inch in circumference, from 19 inches to 18. Not as tight, not as heavy. Abdul made sure he explained the procedure and that I understood how the lymphatic system functions.”
“Had a post-op lymphatic massage with Sharon. It definitely helped my pain and recovery. Highly recommend for post-surgical needs. I've visited both the Downers Grove and Hinsdale locations and loved both places.”
Not sure where to start?
Start with what you notice.
You do not need to know which discipline treats your concern. We figure that out on your first visit.
Conditions & Concerns
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General Wellness
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General Wellness
Bloat, puffiness, heavy legs and swollen ankles, with no diagnosis needed. The reason most of our clients book.
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Lymphedema
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Lymphedema
Persistent swelling from a lymphatic system that cannot drain on its own, managed long term with complete decongestive therapy and manual lymphatic drainage.
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Lipedema
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Lipedema
A painful, disproportionate fat and swelling condition, eased with specialized drainage and compression as supportive care.
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Post-Surgical Swelling
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Post-Surgical Swelling
Swelling that lingers after a procedure, moved along with drainage timed to where you are in recovery.
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Post-Mastectomy Lymphedema
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Post-Mastectomy Lymphedema
Arm or chest swelling after breast surgery, managed gently and coordinated with your oncology care team.
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Fibrosis After Liposuction
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Fibrosis After Liposuction
Hardened, uneven tissue that can form after liposuction, softened over a course of tissue-directed drainage.
More on post-mastectomy lymphedema and lymphatic care.
Book post-mastectomy lymphedema care at the clinic nearest you.
No diagnosis and no referral needed. Choose Hinsdale, Downers Grove or Joliet, book a 70-minute session, and your therapist will go through your situation with you at the first visit. Self-pay, with HSA and FSA accepted.