Objective: This article aims to discuss the effect of self-treatment during rehabilitation maintenance phase on affected limb lymphedema after surgery for breast cancer. Methods: Therapists for lymphedema gave one course of complex decongestion therapy (CDT) to affected limb lymphedema of 42 patients after operation for breast cancer. After CDT, patients took self-treatment during rehabilitation maintenance phase. At the 1 st , 3 rd , 6 th , and 12 th month after self-treatment, follow-up was conducted for the patients to measure the circumference of the limb, and condition of some lymphedema-related symptoms (such as limitation of shoulder movement, sense of tension, heaviness, needling and numbness). Results: After self-treatment, the circumference of the limb reduced and the lymphedema-induced symptoms improved significantly at the 1 st , 3 rd , 6 th , and 12 th month (P<0.05). Besides, 12 months after self-treatment, the lymphedema was maintained at stable phase and lymphedema-related symptoms were improved. The incidence of limitation of shoulder movement, sense of numbness, needling, tension, and heaviness reduced significantly compared with that before self-treatment (P<0.05). Conclusions: Adherence to self-treatment for lymphedema-related symptoms during rehabilitation maintenance phase can reduce the recurrence rate of lymphedema and thus is an effective method for consolidation treatment.