Men

Sweat Gland Removal

Sweating is a completely normal physical process that primarily serves to regulate body temperature. In some individuals, this normal process – to a lesser or greater extent – is disturbed in some way. The medical term for this phenomenon is hyperhidrosis. Depending on the severity of the condition, people who suffer from hyperhidrosis may have a permanently wet forehead and moist neck, very sweaty underarms or an excessive production of sweat on their hands and feet. As well as being uncomfortable, this can be embarrassing.

To help such patients, aesthetic plastic surgery has several well established techniques at its disposal. If excessively sweaty underarms are the problem, the sweat glands can be extracted by means of suction – a procedure I carry out using a local anaesthetic. The sweat glands are extracted from the tissue underlying the skin using fine suction needles. Once removed, these glands are gone forever, since the tissue lacks the ability to replace them with new ones. In the long-term however, it is possible that the nerve connections to the remaining sweat glands will intensify, which can again lead to increased sweat production. As a complementary or alternative therapy, patients may wish to consider a Botox® treatment. A finely dosed amount of the agent Botulinum toxin A is injected directly into the area containing the sweat glands which are to be rendered inactive. This substance, named Botox® for short, is capable of inhibiting the secretion of nerve transmitter molecule, thereby counteracting excessive sweat production for up to six months.

You would like more in-depth information and advice on this subject? Then please call and arrange a personal appointment. I look forward to our consultation.