Abstract Twenty patients with early lymphoedema due to filariasis and twenty-four patients with elephantiasis of the lower limb were subjected to lymph nodovenous shunt (LNVS) and Charles' operation respectively. In 62 per cent of cases subjected to LNVS operation, there was a rapid relief of lymphoedema followed by slow reduction, 24 per cent had slow and gradual reduction and 14 per cent had very slight reduction in volume and circumference. Patients subjected to Charles' operation had immediate volume and circumference reduction and skin graft ‘take’ was 88 per cent. There were no operative and a few minor postoperative complications in both the procedures, infection being most notable in those who had undergone Charles' operation. The hospital stay was 7–10 days in LNVS and 21–36 days in Charles' operation. There was no mortality. The long-term results of the present study in terms of volume and circumference reduction, skin condition and freeness of joint movement were encouraging. It is concluded that, while excisional surgery such as Charles' operation becomes necessary for late states of lymphoedema which have progressed to elephantiasis, nodovenous shunt alone is sufficient to relieve early stages of lymphoedema due to filariasis.