In New Zealand, patients with lymphoedema are routinely told that there is little or no help available. That their condition is incurable, something they must bear for the rest of their lives.
This is longer true.
The National Lymphatic Surgery Service is the result of collaboration between surgeons, lymphoedema therapists and industry partners. Our goal is to bring modern lymphoedema surgery to New Zealand. By leveraging the latest in surgical science and technology, there is now hope that lymphoedema could eventually be a thing of the past.
The lymphatic system collects excess body fluid from tissues, returning it back into circulation. En-route, the fluid is filtered by lymph nodes, which are part of the immune system. Lymphoedema is a condition caused by fluid collecting and stagnating in the limbs, due to damaged or faulty lymphatics.
In New Zealand, the most common cause is cancer treatment, especially breast, gynaecological and skin cancer. Trauma, infection, and inborn lymphatic defects are also recognised causes. The symptoms may manifest months or years after the causative event, and typically worsen over time. These include limb swelling, hardening of the tissues, heaviness, pain and tightness, and low resistance to infection.
“The right treatment for the right patient.”
Your own lymphoedema story is unique to you, and so treatment must be tailored accordingly.
Treatment planning encompasses the entire journey. This includes pre-operative optimisation, the surgery itself, and post operative care (short and long term). Thus, a detailed assessment is required to understand your needs and the best strategies to meet them. Different surgeries address different types and severity of lymphoedema. Following your assessment, we can discuss which options best align to your treatment goals.
Surgery is always a serious undertaking, with the surgeon working as a team with the patient and their lymphoedema therapist. The best candidates for surgery will be in good general medical health, with any needed positive lifestyle changes settled in place. Compliance with the treatment recommendations of your lymphoedema therapist makes a real difference to your surgical result: we cannot offer surgery without the support of your therapist.
The National Lymphatic Surgery Service was founded in 2024 by Plastic Reconstructive Surgeon Mr Simon Chong, in response to the unmet needs of his own lymphoedema patients. Our vision is to achieve the best outcomes for New Zealanders living with lymphoedema, in line with what modern understanding and surgery can offer.
The Service is an exciting new based at a new Auckland clinical facility, Auckland Plastic Surgery Group. We have in-house diagnostic technology for ICG lymphography and ultra-high frequency ultrasound, as well as an operating theatre equipped for super-microsurgery. We are located in Highbrook, 15 minutes drive from Auckland Airport, and offer care to New Zealanders everywhere.
Please note that this is a private service, and does not receive support from Te Whatu Ora / Health NZ.
