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 patients during or after cancer treatment, kept sensitive to where a patient is in recovery.
See the relief, in their words.
Real patients from our Hinsdale, Downers Grove, and Joliet clinics, in their own words. Choose a condition to see stories from patients 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 patient'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
- Patient review: Audra Brown: a thoughtful, detailed review
- Patient review: Rebin Roy: a fantastic experience with lymph drainage
- Patient review: Does lymphatic drainage really work? Real results
- Patient review: Janice: healing through lymphatic therapy
- Patient review: Kary G. on Sharon's care
- Patient review: Anita: ready to dance again after lymphatic drainage
- Patient review: Michelle P.: lymph drainage relief
- Patient review: Kathleen Heinz: a soothing, welcoming experience
- Patient 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 patients 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.”
Mary H.
Google · joint swelling & vertigo · May 2026
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
Body & Recovery
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.
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Seroma After Surgery
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Seroma After Surgery
A pocket of fluid that collects after surgery, supported alongside your physician's management.
More on post-mastectomy lymphedema and lymphatic care.
Not sure if post-mastectomy lymphedema care is right for you?
That is a fair question, and we would rather answer it honestly than book you blindly. Call us, tell us what is going on, and we will say plainly whether this work can help. If it can, we will get you in at the clinic nearest you: Hinsdale, Downers Grove, or Joliet.