Hyperhydrosis-Excess sweating

THE PREOPERATIVE FEATURES

• Numerous patients are affected by this condition of excessive sweating.
• Excessive sweating under arms, palm, or soles of feet
• Excessive body odor, especially the underarms
• Causative factors can be bacterial contamination or increased gland secretion or both.
• May also be known as axillary bromohydrosis, offensive body odor, or apocrine gland over-secretion.

THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE

• Several very good options exist to decrease or cure this condition, depending on the area of concern

SURGICAL EXCISION

• For arm pit (axillary) excess sweating the options include Botox injections or surgical treatment of the over active sweat glands.
• These glands are usually confined to the hair bearing area.
• Surgery involves either removing the glands and the skin or just scraping them out and preserving the skin. Either involves an incision along the length of the upper inner part of the armpit. Some stitches are necessary, maybe a drain, and dressings for two days.
• A newer technique is to apply ultrasonic scraping to this under surface which destroys glands and preserves sensation and skin. This is 92% curative.
• The surgery involves an outpatient procedure and a light general anesthetic.
• This can be combined with other surgeries.

BOTOX

• Botox injections have proved to be very effective for treatment of this condition in the arm pit, palms, and soles of the feet.
• Injections directly into the areas of concern have shown to decrease or eliminate sweating.
• This is a relatively quick and painless office procedure and may need to be repeated periodically.

MEDICAL THERAPY

• This involves the aggressive use of certain antiperspirants and deodorants.
• Specific topical antibiotics may be useful here also.

THE RECOVERY AFTER SURGERY

• You can go home after several hours or stay overnight.
• A light dressing may be used for two days.
• Rarely drains are used and left in for 1-2 days.
• You can shower on the second day after surgery.
• Mild pain for the first two days that is much less by the third day and easily controlled by medications. It is easy to walk and ambulate.
• Swelling is mild for the first week after which it rapidly disappears..
• Usually only very mild bruising or no bruising.
• Resume many activities after the first week, and most by at least two weeks.
• Some stitches to remove.
• Off of work for two to seven days.

THE RESULTS

• Depending on your condition and which option is chosen, you should expect at least a decrease if not a cure of excess sweating, body odor, and stained clothing.

For before and after images of this procedure click here

Please call or contact the office for any further information or to schedule an appointment.