Laser sweat ablation, new method for axillary hyperhidrosis

thijs

New member
A little perspiration is one of life’s minor irritations – unless you are a celebrity in the unforgiving glare of the paparazzi camera lenses.

Most people simply reach for the trusty deodorant to keep it at bay, but for the worst-affected sufferers it can be a real social nightmare.

Now a British surgeon is offering a more permanent solution.

A new cosmetic surgery technique, available for the first time in the UK, claims to be able to get rid of underarm sweat for good.

The £3,500 hour-long procedure, pioneered in Brazil, uses a laser to burn away underarm sweat glands and claims to leave patients with minimal scarring and sweat-free armpits.

Previously, one of the few options for people with sweat problems has been major surgery conducted under general anaesthetic to cut nerves in the chest that lead to the sweat glands.

Celebrities including former Miss England and Celebrity Big Brother contestant Danielle Lloyd have also resorted to injections of anti-wrinkle treatment Botox under the arms, which offers a temporary solution.

The new technique, called Laser Sweat Ablation, is said to be able to help cure everything from minor sweat problems to axillary hyperhidrosis – excessive, uncontrollable sweating which can cause enormous discomfort and embarrassment.

But experts are concerned that the procedure means patients will seek surgical treatment even if their condition could be better dealt with by behavioural therapists.

They say some cases of excessive sweating can be caused by nerves or psychological problems.

They also claim that surgery on the underarm area has a high likelihood of complications because it can become easily infected, and that it should be considered a last-resort treatment.

The technique is being introduced by consultant vascular surgeon Mark Whiteley, who pioneered the country’s first keyhole surgery for varicose veins ten years ago.

He will treat the first British patient, Richard Brydon, 28, a restaurant manager from Hindhead, Surrey, at his private clinic in nearby Guildford, tomorrow. Mr Whiteley said the procedure would ‘transform people’s lives’.
Before the operation, the underarms are coated with iodine and a starch is applied, identifying where the sweat glands are. The patient is then given a local anaesthetic and surgeons make a 3mm incision, separating the skin from the body tissue.
A standard surgical laser is inserted to burn away the glands from beneath the skin layer. The whole operation takes around one hour.

Mr Whiteley added: ‘The Laser Sweat Ablation treatment allows patient to return to their normal activities within hours of treatment, and be fully recovered after four to seven days.’

Mr Brydon said: ‘I have been suffering from excessively sweaty armpits for more than five years and it makes me feel very self-conscious.

‘I tried Botox injections for a while but they are very expensive and only give a temporary result.

‘It will be a great relief never to have to worry about sweat patches on my clothes again.’

However, Professor Christopher Mathias, a neurovascular medicine specialist at the University of London, has some concerns.
He said: ‘It could be great for patients. However, removing sweat glands is a tricky operation and there could be complications from infection. Surgery should always be a last resort.’

source: The £3,500 laser surgery that will stop you sweating for good | Mail Online

source: Patienten forum voor mensen met hyperhidrosis • Toon onderwerp - Nieuwe behandeling voor overmatig zwetende oksels

source: The Whiteley Clinic - Specialists in varicose veins, EVLA (Laser), VNUS Closure FAST, leg ulcers, lymphoedema, sweating and other vascular disorders.

Greetings from the Netherlands, sorry it is all in English, but i thought i had to let you all know!

Thijs ( Patienten forum voor mensen met hyperhidrosis • Forumoverzicht )
 

kingflab

Well-known member
sweating is natural no matter how excessive (and unpleasent) is

And? Hyperhidrosis is linked to a hyperactive nervous system, similar to rosacea. Natural or not, it's still not normal, nor is it actually needed.

As said, cancer is natural, shall we all just live with that too? Oh wait...
 

Joolin

Well-known member
While finding ways to reduce sweat and/or mask the smell is alright, something about this seems incredibly unhealthy. I say wait a few years to see if anyone's had a serious reaction to it and then go from there.
 

teandtoast

Well-known member
£3500 ?? what a joke
they think as so few options for sufferers they can charge an extortionate amount as people are so desperate for a solution
it's not a new treatment anyway as far as I know just new in the UK
and I did a similar (if not more or less same) treatment of Vaser and that didn't even work
 

kingflab

Well-known member
While finding ways to reduce sweat and/or mask the smell is alright, something about this seems incredibly unhealthy. I say wait a few years to see if anyone's had a serious reaction to it and then go from there.

Nah. Its not.

The armpits only have about 2-3% of the bodies sweatglands, and as far as I'm aware the procedure only reduces sweating to normal levels, rather than halting it completely.
 

wannabedry

Well-known member
I found that dr nielson in texas offers laser ablation for many parts of the body now not just the armpits. Does anyone have info on this? everywhere I look online it considers this a technique only possible for the armpits but dr nielson apparently offers this for the chest , back, feet, thighs. has anyone tried this???
 
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