Stages

Both types of lymphoedema progress through the same stages:

Stage 0 (Latent stage)
In this early stage, there is no obvious swelling. The lymphatic system has however been disturbed, e.g. by surgery, trauma, infection, etc., or by abnormailities present from birth, and there is a risk of lymphoedema developing at any time.  It is therefore important that you are given advice about avoiding further damage to the lymphatic system so that the risk of lymphoedema developing can be reduced.

Stage l (Reversible stage)
During this stage the lymphatic system has been overloaded, causing swelling to develop in the affected area.  This swelling can be indented by applying pressure.  When the affected arm or leg is raised, the swelling will gradually reduce.

Stage ll (Spontaneously irreversible stage)
In this stage the swelling cannot be indented by applying pressure and raising the affected area no longer reduces the swelling. The texture of the swelling changes due to a gradual hardening of the tissues, which is known as fibrosis.

Stage lll 
In this, the most advanced stage, the swelling is severe, the skin becomes harder and large bulges may develop. There is also a much greater risk of infection and development of wounds in the affected area.