Many people suffer from increased sweating. The causes are complex. In some cases, diseases from the internal endocrinological (hormonal) area are responsible.
However, it is often not a case of generalized sweating all over the body, but of increased underarm perspiration. The latter usually occurs more frequently in families and can be reliably treated by removing the sweat glands.
The removal of sweat glands by scraping out the tissue (lipocurettage) is the method of choice for patients with increased production of underarm sweat(axillary hyperhidrosis) and the acceptance of a surgical procedure.
There is also the option of getting by without an operation. Our Yuveo team in Düsseldorf will be happy to tell you more about this in a personal consultation.
Contents
Yuveo Clinic
Special features of sweat gland removal
While treatment with Btx. only achieves a temporary effect, surgery on the sweat glands is efficient and long-lasting.
Remove sweat glands
Sweat gland removal surgery
Anesthesia, narcosis
The removal of sweat glands is usually performed under sedation (twilight sleep) with local anesthesia. However, we can also plan the procedure in Düsseldorf under local anesthesia only. We only use general anesthesia for very anxious patients.
OP duration
Including the exposure time to the tumescent solution, you should allow around 60-90 minutes for the procedure.
Sweat gland suction is actually only one part of sweat gland removal, as we will explain below.
The operation
The start of lipocurettage is the same as liposuction. Our plastic surgeons anaesthetize the puncture site and then inject the tumescent solution, which contains anaesthetics, among other things. After a reaction time of 20-30 minutes, the sweat glands can be removed.
Similar to liposuction, the sweat glands swollen by the tumescent solution and, in some cases, axillary fat tissue are suctioned out.
The incision for the suction cannulas measures approximately 5 mm and is located in the axillary fold. It is practically invisible after sweat gland removal.
We protect important vessels and nerves during the operation.
After liposuction, surgical procedure for the skin areas
Unfortunately, it is impossible to destroy the parts of the sweat glands close to the skin using sweat gland suction. For this reason, at Yuveo we have to perform a sometimes quite vigorous curettage of these areas after the procedures described so far. A serious reduction in sweat production can only be achieved in this way.
Frequently asked questions about sweat gland removal
Can new sweating occur after the sweat glands have been removed?
Sweat glands are extremely persistent. Even after aggressive sweat gland removal, some cells can regenerate and lead to renewed sweating in the armpit.
The aim of the treatment can hardly be to completely dry out the armpits. Rather, a significant reduction in perspiration is desired.
If the removal of the sweat glands was not radical enough and the sweating in the armpits is still significantly increased, we can easily repeat the procedure at the Yuveo Clinic Düsseldorf.
However, the scars should be inconspicuous, light-colored and soft by then. This can take up to a year.
Is Btx an alternative to surgical sweat gland removal?
A conservative treatment alternative to removing the sweat glands is the injection of the neurotoxin Bttx A. It works well, but for a limited time.
The advantage is the low cost of injections and aftercare.
However, relatively large quantities of Bttx have to be injected, making the treatment relatively expensive.
The effect lasts for approx. 6 months and must be renewed at the Yuveo Clinic in Düsseldorf to maintain the effect.
The treatment of excessive sweating with Bttx is well suited for patients who shy away from surgical removal of sweat glands, but not the higher long-term costs.
Since the advantages of surgical sweat gland removal, or rather lipocurettage, outweigh the disadvantages, treatment with Bttx is increasingly taking a back seat.
Here you can find more information on wrinkle treatment with Btx.
How is the follow-up treatment carried out?
At Yuveo Düsseldorf, we close the small puncture sites with a suture at the end of the sweat gland removal procedure if necessary. The wound water that accumulates after the procedure should be able to escape.
Pressure bandage
We then apply a pressure bandage to reduce swelling and the accumulation of wound fluid. The formation of bruising should also be reduced.
Restriction of movement
In the first 1-2 weeks after removing the sweat glands, movement of the shoulders and spreading of the arms should be reduced to a minimum for the sake of wound healing. You can then start with movement exercises.
What costs should you expect for the removal of sweat glands?
The prices of sweat gland removal vary greatly even within Germany.
The scope and type of surgery play a role in the price calculation. The anesthesiologist’s prices depend on the type of anesthesia and the length of the operation. As a rule, you do not need to factor in a hospital stay. Ultimately, the prices also depend on the plastic surgeon.
Overview of cost factors:
- OP
- Twilight sleep
- General anesthesia
- Hospitalization
Prices of sweat gland removal
The price of sweat gland removal / sweat gland suction in Germany should also be taken into account:
Sweat gland removal can be performed under local anesthesia (often at no additional cost) or under local anesthesia with twilight sleep. Only in rare cases do patients require a general anesthetic. An inpatient stay, which is not usually necessary for sweat gland removal, increases the price.
For more detailed prices and further information on sweat gland removal, please ask your plastic surgeon in Düsseldorf.
Fact check
- Practitioners: Dr. Schumann and Dr. Schumann-Averkiou
Treatment duration:
about 60 to 90 minutes- Anesthesia:
local anesthesia, with twilight sleep, very rarely general anesthesia - Hospitalization:
usually outpatient - Follow-up treatment:
Pressure bandage, 1 to 2 weeks restriction of movement - Costs: on request
Further information and related topics
Technical terms:
- Hyperhidrosis axillaris = Abnormally heavy sweating in the armpits
- Corium = dermis
- Curettage = tissue is removed by scraping
- Lipocurettage or suction curettage = Sweat gland suction is a part of sweat gland removal.
- Nervus intercostobrachialis = the nerve runs from the chest through the armpit into the upper arm. Removal of the sweat glands in this area can lead to temporary skin sensitivity disorders.
- Tumescent solution = special saline solution with a local anesthetic and an agent to constrict the blood vessels. It is injected into the sweat gland tissue and dissolves the sweat glands and parts of the axillary fat.
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