Sweat Gland Removal Surgery Should Be Done Or Not?

If you are suffering from an extreme case of hyperhidrosis then thought of surgery might have occurred to you. Removing the sweat gland by a surgery is one of the effective methods of getting rid of the problem.

An operation is an option for people who have not been helped much by other treatments, or if other treatments cause unacceptable side-effects or problems.

if you have tried other treatments and if that are not helping you in the way you want or if those treatments are giving you some side effects then the last option remains to you is surgery.

If the treatments are helping you in alleviating the problem then continue it. Surgery should be the last option which you choose when all the treatments got failed

Is Surgery Necessary?

This is a question you need to ask yourself. Surgery is important only when your quality of life is getting affected by the problem and you are totally fed up.

But if you have a mild form then it may be worth trying other treatment options.

Surgery is a vital option which is why we would advise you to explore all options before you do so. But sweat gland suction can be an effective form of treatment for hyperhidrosis so do not dismiss it.

We will only advise you to have surgery is all else has failed or if you have a serious case of excessive sweating.

Is Surgery A Permanent Cure For Sweat Gland?

Yes, it is a permanent cure with a success rate close to 98% as per most reported studies and data. Some patients can get compensatory sweating after some years

Which Body Parts Can Have The Surgery?

There are several places on the body that can have the surgery

• Hands: Palmar hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating on the hands
• Underarm sweating: Axillary hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating under the arms
• Feet: Pedal Hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating on the feet. Sweating on the hands
• Face: Facial Hyperhidrosis/Blushing, flushing and sweating on the face

Under What Condition You Should Go For The Surgery?

There are basically 3 stages of  sweating

1. First is when there is very low sweating but the odor of sweating is very bad. In this case, you should go for some normal treatments.

2. Second is when there is excess in sweating and odor of sweat is also very bad .In this case to consult a doctor and have a treatment for your problem

3. The third stage is when there is the very large amount of sweat comes out of your body even when you are not doing any activity. At this stage try all possible treatments and if treatments are not having any possible outcome on your body or if it is giving any side effects then there is only one option remains to you which is surgery

Types Of Sweat Gland Surgery

There are a few variations on this type of surgery which all involve removal of the sweat glands but using different or a combination of techniques.

1. Retrodermal Curettage

A variation on the sweat gland suction procedure in which the sweat glands are removed using a special instrument (called a curette). This procedure is carried out under a local or general anesthetic and is proven to be effective at treating excessive sweating.

2. Laser Sweat Ablation

This is a similar procedure to sweat gland suction and electrodermal curettage in that it involves the removal of the sweat glands. The aim is to kill off the sweat glands and then remove them with minimal damage to the skin.

3. Sweat Gland Suction

This is another type of surgery for excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis. It is a new form of treatment which has been adapted from liposuction but instead of fat being removed the sweat glands are sucked out – hence the name ‘sweat gland suction’.

Diseases Caused By Sweat Gland

a. Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is an abnormal increase in the amount of sweat. These may be related to different factors, which may be physiological or pathological. Hyperhidrosis may be generalized or localized involving mainly palms, soles and axilla.

Different factors can affect the eccrine sweat glands and increase their sweat production:

• Physiological conditions: due to an emotional, hot humid environment, work or exercise.

• Pathological: hyperhidrosis is associated with certain diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, and febrile illnesses.

• Endocrine problems: hyperthyroidism and diabetes.

• Traumabrainor inflammatory conditions of the hypothalamus or its tracts. This is due to derangement in the central control of heat regulation center.

• Drugs: certain drugs such as sympathomimetic drugs and others that can affect the hypothalamus, leading to hyperhidrosis.

Many people go for the hperhidrosis treatment. But, the excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis surgery has side effects. You should do the proper study and then go for it.

b. Bromhidrosis

This sweat Disease may occur in the axilla and feet. In most cases it is associated with Hyperhidrosis it occurs due to apocrine glands dysfunction in this Bacterial and fungal infections occur due to clogged glands. In this Fatty acids, decomposition produces distinctive odors

c. Chromohidrosis

Chromohidrosis is a disease in which our body secrets out colored sweat due to dysfunction of the apocrine glands. The commonest site is the face, where the color of sweat may be black, green, blue or yellow. The areas may be involved where a rusty stain may appear on the underwear.

d. Hidradenitis Suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurative is the infection of the apocrine sweat glands mainly that of the axilla and the inguinal areas.

Tender reddish nodule appears firm that may cause an abscess with multiple openings on the skin surface and discharging pus. The condition is chronic and has the tendency of recurrence. Scarring may accompany severe cases

e. Fox-Fordyce Disease

Fox-Fordyce disease is a rare disease occurs mainly in young girls, not before puberty and not after menopause.

Clinical Features

Intense pruritic, small, flesh-colored papules occur mainly on the axilla, mamma, umbilicus, perineum, labia and rarely in males on the scrotum.

The papules may increase in size forming nodules with an empty follicular center.

f. Pompholyx (Dyshidrosis)

Pompholyx is a vesicular eruption of the palms and soles.The vesicles are deep and appear as sago grains filled with clear fluid mainly bilateral around the fingers and toes. The symptoms are minimal where there may be mild itching or burning of the sites involved. The lesions may be grouped.

g. Anhidrosis

Anhidrosis means an absence of sweating.

Anhidrosis is the absence of sweat due to the defect in production or conduction of sweat to the skin surface in the presence of an appropriate stimulus. The condition may be localized or generalized.

What Is The Cost For Surgery?

The cost for sweat gland surgery is About $2500 in India, $10,000 in Taiwan, $20,000 in the USA approx this is and estimated price which varies from region to region and centre to centre

Side Effects Of Surgery

As the surgery is a permanent cure for this problem but then also in some persons there is some side which are :

• Compensatory Sweating

Excessive sweating of the back, abdomen, thighs, and legs. About 70 percent of patients who undergo ETS will experience compensatory sweating to some degree.

Patients who only have palmar hyperhidrosis are the least likely to have significant compensatory sweating following ETS. When ETS is performed for axillary hyperhidrosis, the risk of compensatory sweating increases.

Generally, everything from the nipple line up will be dry from the ETS procedure. Compensatory sweating is tolerated well by most patients.

In most cases, viewed as far more manageable than their initial problem of hyperhidrosis. The medication Robinol has been effective in some cases in decreasing generalized body sweating.

• Horner’s Syndrome

The incidence of developing Horner’s Syndrome – marked by droopy eyelids, constricted pupils, and the absence of face sweating – is very rare (about 0.3%). It can occur if the sympathetic nerve near the T1 level is also disrupted.

The risk of Horner’s syndrome is highest in patients who undergoETS for facial hyperhidrosis and/or blushing since the sympathetic nerve chain is cut closer to the T1 level compared with ETS for other types of hyperhidrosis.

• Gustatory Sweating

It is sweating on the face while eating or smelling certain types of foods – happens in a small number of patients following ETS, but it is usually not a major problem.

• Neuritis And Neuralgia Neuritis And Neuralgia

It is the non-specific pain in the back between the shoulder blades, occurs in a very small number of patients and is secondary to irritation of the nerve endings.

This condition usually stops on its own and is rarely severe or permanent. It can be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Motrin.

• Brachial Plexus Injury

This condition, marked by weakness or paralysis of the upper extremities, is extremely rare and is caused by an injury to the spinal nerves

• Decreased Heart Rate

Many patients experience a 10% drop in heart rate after surgery, but this condition has not been demonstrated to affect endurance and tolerance of exercise.

In fact, ETS seems to benefit patients with certain arrhythmias of the heart. Nevertheless, competitive athletes who depend on the maximization of their heart rate need to consider this possible side effect more closely than others.

• Dry Facial Skin After ETS

some patients notice dry skin on their face, neck, and scalp. It can be treated with moisturizing creams. Drying of the skin often improves acne in many patients, which is a “side effect” with important benefits for many young adults and teenagers.