Sweat gland suction is the permanent surgical removal of sweat glands. Sweat production is capped by suction and therefore prevented in the future. The procedure is minimally invasive and therefore leaves no large scars.
So far, the procedure has only been carried out in the armpit area.
People have a large number of sweat glands in the armpit area in particular - around 140 per square centimeter. Frequent wet armpits can have various causes:
- Genuine hyperhidrosis: malfunction of the autonomic nervous system. Those affected sweat constantly, regardless of the outside temperature and physical activity.
- Axillary hyperhidrosis: particularly heavy sweating under the armpits. The phenomenon is more pronounced at high temperatures and during everyday activities such as climbing stairs.
Many hyperhidrosis sufferers suffer from unsightly dark patches under the arms. The odor also leads to feelings of shame and makes contact with other people more difficult. It also means additional stress and discomfort for the sufferer.
Even antiperspirants specially developed for hyperhidrosis often only fulfill their purpose to a limited extent. In many cases, only surgery can help with this problem in the long term.
Frequent underarm sweating can be permanently resolved with sweat gland suction © Andrey Popov | AdobeStock
The sweat glands under the armpits are located between the fat cells directly under the skin. The operation only takes about 45 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia.
The surgeon first rubs the underarm region with an anaesthetic solution. The approximately three millimeter wide incisions above and below the armpit serve as access for a cannula. The doctor inserts the cannula into the subcutaneous fatty tissue in the anterior axillary line via such a puncture channel.
The doctor then aspirates the sweat glands and closes the incisions with staple plasters and a pressure bandage. Immediately after the operation, the armpit is dry.
Depending on how intensive the treatment is, this treatment permanently removes 95 to 98 percent of the sweat glands in the armpit. The procedure also removes a large proportion of the hair roots in the armpit area.
Radical excision is to be distinguished from the procedure described above. In this procedure, the doctor cuts out the armpit skin - including the sweat glands - completely. As this type of surgery leaves a large scar, it is not recommended.
Treatment with Botox(botulinum toxin), on the other hand, has a much weaker effect than surgery. In addition, the Botox effect only lasts for around eight months.
After the patient has woken up from his twilight sleep, he remains in the care of the doctors for a short time for observation. However, the hospital usually discharges them on the same day.
You will only be allowed to wear special compression garments for a period of two weeks. However, you can shower again the following day.
To prevent infections, the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic, which patients must take for three days. Everyday activities are usually possible again immediately after the operation.
However, be careful and take it easy for one to two days.
Sweat gland removal carries only a few risks. As the sweat glands in the armpits only take over a small part of the overall sweat gland activity, their absence is not a disadvantage for the body.
Due to the placement under the arms and the minimally invasive incision, scars are barely visible after the procedure.
Of course, all aesthetic and plastic surgery treatments have slight risks of side effects. In order to make the procedure as gentle and low-risk as possible, it should always be performed by an experienced specialist.
Attention should be paid to the symptoms afterwards. Slight bruising often occurs in the treated area, but is harmless. More serious consequences could be, for example, circulatory disorders of the skin.
More serious complications include
- Inflammatory reactions,
- bleeding,
- irregularities of the skin surface or pigment shifts as well as the formation of
- the formation of dents and cysts.
The chances of successful treatment are relatively high with sweat gland removal: the success rate is 70 to 80 percent.
However, the effect of the procedure sometimes wears off after a few years.
Sweat gland suction is an option for people who sweat excessively. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis. As with liposuction, the doctor performs the procedure through very small incisions at the edge of the armpit.
As part of the aftercare, patients wear compression garments for two weeks. In return, sweat gland liposuction results in a noticeable and permanent reduction in sweat production.
