Sweat Gland Removal - Process

For the operative removal of the sweat glands, a surface measurement is taken and the affected areas are marked for precise localisation. Both procedures - the (suction) curettage and the excision - involve the disinfection of the skin as well as anaesthetisation of the regions to be handled via the injection of local anaesthetic prior to the procedure.

In the commonly employed tumescence method, a special fluid is injected beneath the skin prior to suction. After a short activation period, the layers of tissue loosen and the fluid can be sucked out along with the sweat glands through a thin suction cannula (2-3mm in radius). The suction is usually complemented by a curettage. In this procedure, the skin is gently lifted up from the underlying tissue and the underside of the skin is abraded in conjunction with the severance of the nerve endings leading to the sweat glands. In this way, a pain-free and relatively low-risk procedure can achieve a marked reduction in the tendency to sweat. ^5,6

In a sweat gland excision, the incisions are generally somewhat larger, which means that larger scars are also left behind. The affected areas of skin are cut away along with the sweat glands. The sweat glands can also be subjected to abrasion. After the procedure, the wounds are sewn shut with small stitches. ^7,9

The third operative possibility for the reduction of a perspiratory predisposition lies in the disabling of the activity of the sympathetic nervous system using general anaesthesia. For this, the surgeon places a 5mm long incision on each side of the ribcage. With the aid of a camera, a minimally invasive endoscopy safely identifies the sympathetic nerve system in the interior of the ribcage. This is then either severed, removed (endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy, ETS), or clamped (endoscopic transthoracic sympathetic clamping, ETSC) at the points responsible for supplying the sweat glands. Following the roughly 60 minute-long procedure, the wounds are closed adhesively or sewn shut. ^4,7,9

Your doctor will explain the various treatment processes in detail.