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Excessive sweating can be an embarrassing medical condition that affects your personal and professional life, making it difficult to engage with others, perform certain tasks and wear certain types of clothing.
Excessive sweating can be an embarrassing medical condition that affects your personal and professional life, making it difficult to engage with others, perform certain tasks and wear certain types of clothing. While treatment for this condition can involve medications, prescription antiperspirants, and even surgery, many have found botulinum toxin injections and laser therapy to be effective, minimally invasive, and long-lasting treatments.
When to Consider Perspiration Reduction
Considerations
Pros
Cons
These are the top three pros and cons to weigh when considering perspiration reduction. If you wish to focus on what is unique to you, please consult with your aesthetic plastic surgeon.
The following are some common reasons why you may want to consider perspiration reduction:
If you are in good general health, have a positive attitude, and realistic expectations, you are most likely a good candidate for this procedure.
Here are some brands you might hear mentioned when discussing perspiration reduction options:
Prescription antiperspirant (containing aluminium chloride)
Oral medications (anticholinergics)
Botulinum toxin injections
Laser ablation
Microwave technology
Most perspiration reduction procedures are performed in an accredited hospital, free-standing ambulatory facility, or office-based surgical suite. Upon your arrival, your surgeon or his or her office staff may:
Following this preparation, your aesthetic plastic surgeon will follow a predetermined course of treatment, whether it is nonsurgical or surgical. You will most likely be awake during the procedure and be observed for a period of time afterward until it is safe for you to go home.
Treatment for hyperhidrosis can range from very little downtime to a couple of weeks of recovery. Your surgeon will discuss whether there are any immediate restrictions on your activities and if so, how long it will be before you can return to your normal level of activity.
After treatment, you and your caregiver will receive detailed instructions about the care of the treated areas, including information about:
Be sure to read all materials given to you and be prepared to follow aftercare instructions to have a quick and hassle-free recovery. It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes for recovery varies greatly among individuals. If you experience extreme or long-lasting pain or redness and swelling after treatment, contact your surgeon to find out these are normal or a sign of a problem.
Recovery time frame
These are general healing and recovery guidelines for the following procedures:
Botulinum toxin injections
You may experience temporary swelling and redness in the injection sites. While numbing cream and ice may be used beforehand, post-treatment is not necessary. You may resume normal activities immediately afterwards, but excessive exercise and sweating should be avoided for the first twenty-four to forty-eight hours.
Axillary shaving
Most of the time, stitches are not used to close the incision made for axillary shaving. Antibiotic ointment and gauze cover the wound and your surgeon may recommend cold packs and pain medication afterward. Most patients go home immediately after surgery and return to work the next day or two.
Laser ablation
Recovery is similar to axillary shaving. A compression garment may be recommended to achieve the best results.
Microwave technology
You may experience some swelling and redness in the treated areas from the suction device and treatment. Ice and cold packs help resolve swelling that may last a full week. You can return to regular activity, but should avoid excessive exercise and sweating for three to four days or until swelling and redness subside.
Fortunately, significant complications from perspiration reduction treatment are infrequent. Your specific risks for will be discussed during your consultation.
All procedures have some degree of risk. Some of the potential complications of all are:
You can help minimize certain risks by following the advice and instructions of your board-certified plastic surgeon, both before and after your perspiration reduction procedure.
There are solutions that can reduce perspiration ranging from oral and topical medications to procedures that block or disable sweat glands. Major surgery that removes or cuts the spinal nerves that control sweating is not usually suggested unless other, more conservative methods are explored.
Below are some common methods for treating hyperhidrosis:
Prescription antiperspirants and oral medications can reduce sweating overall and can help alleviate some of the more pervasive issues.
Iontophoresis uses water to pass electrical currents through the skin and blocks the sweat production in treated areas. You can buy or go to a physician’s office to use this device. Treatment includes immersing your foot or hand in shallow water trays for twenty to forty minutes while a device sends a mild current through the water. This is repeated two to three days for ten sessions. Then a maintenance schedule of once a week to every other week is maintained.
Botulinum toxin injections block the nerve’s control of the sweat glands and are most commonly used to treat axillary hyperhidrosis or excessive underarm sweating, but can also be used to treat the hands, face and feet. Your plastic surgeon may make anywhere from twenty to fifty injections for underarm treatments.
Axillary shaving is a surgical procedure that involves the use of an arthroscopic shaver (a long, thin cannula-like tube with blade at end) that is run underneath the skin to " shave away" sweat glands. This procedure is similar to liposuction, requires one incision in each armpit, is permanent, and will not disrupt hair glands.
Sweat gland excision is a surgical procedure where the excess and/ or foul smelling sweat secreting glands are removed with one or two small incisions and skin re-sutured back to maintain normal appearance resulting in permanent removal of the issue.
Laser ablation disables the axillary sweat glands with the heat produced from a laser cannula directly underneath the skin. This surgical procedure is done under local anesthesia with two small incisions in each armpit. This is usually permanent and will also result in the loss of some hair growth.
Microwave technology has recently emerged as an effective non-invasive treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis and underarm odor. A handheld device suctions the skin to bring the glands closer to the microwave energy emitted. Treatment is not painful and is usually completed in about one hour including preparation. Two to three treatments are needed for maximum efficacy.
Surgical treatments such as laser ablation and axillary shaving require one to two small incisions that will often result in a minimal scar that is virtually unnoticeable. Nonsurgical treatments including injections, electrical currents, microwave energy, and oral or topical medications do not require any incisions.
Your surgeon will provide you with pretreatment instructions, answer any questions that you may have, take a detailed medical history, and perform a physical exam to determine your fitness for treatment. In advance of your procedure, your surgeon may ask you to:
Perspiration reduction is usually performed on an outpatient basis. Some treatments may result in discomfort afterward and may require someone to transport you home.
Results usually vary from person to person, but these general guidelines apply for the following treatments:
Botulinum toxin injections: Shots are needed every six months to two years.
Axillary shaving: Sweating stops completely for four to six months and returns, but is minimal.
Laser ablation: A permanent solution that resolves over 90% of sweating
Microwave Technology: Effective to resolve above 80% of sweating after two to three treatments
Maintain a relationship with your aesthetic plastic surgeon For safety, as well as the most beautiful and healthy outcome, it’s important to return to your plastic surgeon’s office for follow-up evaluation at prescribed times and whenever you notice increased sweating. Do not hesitate to contact your surgeon when you have any questions or
concerns.