What to expect

Send the cause where it is known — cancer surgery and which nodes were removed, radiotherapy, infections — the duration of the swelling, photographs, any previous treatment, and your current garment if you have one. A physician replies within 48 hours with the likely block length and what reduction is realistic.

If you are mid-way through cancer treatment, send the oncology plan too. Timing is decided with it, not around it.

Measurement, skin assessment and the start of bandaging. The limb feels heavier before it feels lighter, and most people find the first two nights in bandages the hardest part of the whole block.

Volume typically starts falling within the first week, which is also when the bandages start needing to be reapplied tighter.

Daily bandaging, drainage, exercise in compression, and skin care. Aquatic sessions where they suit you. Measurements are repeated through the block so you can see the curve rather than only the endpoint.

Reduction is fastest early and flattens. That flattening is normal and it is the point at which the block length is decided — continuing past the plateau adds cost rather than volume.

Final measurement, garment fitting, and training in the home routine. You leave with your before-and-after figures, a fitted garment, a written routine and a plan for when the garment needs replacing.

You also get a plain statement of what will happen if the maintenance phase is not done, because that is the single largest determinant of whether this was worth the trip.