Microsurgery can help reduce the risk of lymphedema after breast cancer surgery
November 17, 2022
New Patient Appointment Accepting Virtual Visits or 214-645-2353
Travis Boyd, M.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He is an integrated plastic and reconstructive surgeon specializing in the treatment of lymphedema, as well as an expert in microvascular reconstructive surgery, breast reconstruction following a mastectomy, and upper and lower extremity reconstruction following trauma, burns, and cancer.
Dr. Boyd earned his medical degree at the University of Louisville. He completed a residency in integrated plastic and reconstructive surgery at UT Southwestern and then received advanced training in hand and upper extremity surgery through a fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
He joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2020.
Dr. Travis Boyd, a lymphedema surgeon at UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas, is out to conquer the last frontier of comprehensive reconstructive care for patients undergoing cancer operations.
“Lymphatic microsurgery is a new and exciting field that is continually evolving,” Dr. Boyd says. “This type of surgery allows us to treat a condition that has been known for years, but now with improved microsurgical instrumentation and skills, we are able to do more to alleviate the strain and discomfort lymphedema causes.”
Since many patients with lymphedema are still unaware of the alternatives available, Dr. Boyd is on a mission to advance his knowledge in microsurgery and educate others. At UT Southwestern he collaborates with other reconstructive and lymphatic surgeons, teaches residents, counsels patients undergoing cancer treatment, and works with cancer survivors to explain the benefits of microsurgery.
Often breast cancer patients who have undergone a mastectomy will have damage to their lymph nodes due to dissection and, as a result, develop lymphedema. To help patients live a fuller life after recovery, Dr. Boyd can perform lymphedema reconstruction during breast reconstruction surgery.
“If there is something I can do to alleviate the one thing weighing a patient down and preventing them from living their everyday life or the life they imagined after having cancer, it’s my duty as a surgeon to help.”
Whatever path his patients take, Dr. Boyd wants to be a resource. During this challenging journey, he aims to speak candidly and approach patients as if they’re part of his family.
“I strive to create an environment of trust and accountability. I understand the importance of what the person is going through, and my goal as their surgeon is to be relatable and approachable. In the end, I want my patients to understand that I am going to do the right thing when the time is right,” Dr. Boyd says.
Dr. Boyd and the lymphatic team at UT Southwestern work tirelessly to maintain and evolve the hospital's advanced lymphatic center. Together, the team is actively working to build a preeminent program, from surgical advancements to comprehensive treatment, including medicine and therapies with compression and manual lymphatic drainage. At UT Southwestern's Lymphatic Center, patients can manage all their visits and treatments in one centrally located clinic. Our multidisciplinary team, which includes surgical oncologists, oncoplastic surgeons, and specialized lymphedema physical therapists, works as a seamless unit to help move the patient through all facets of cancer care.
Having studied complex microvascular reconstruction of the extremities and entire body at UT Southwestern, Dr. Boyd feels right at home in a system he knows well, where opportunities exist and resources are plentiful.
“UT Southwestern is an exceptional institution and was a natural choice when choosing a hospital to practice,” he says. “I am thrilled to be a part of a team of leading doctors and surgeons in a teaching environment where I feel challenged by unique procedures, whether I'm performing aesthetic surgery or hand reconstruction.”
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New Patient Appointment Accepting Virtual Visits or 214-645-2353