What are the side effects of a sympathectomy to cure hyperhidrosis?
I have hyperhidrosis of the hands and have been searching for a ‘cure’. anxiety medications and top grade antiperspirants have proved fruitless. I am worried, first surgery and all.
I have hyperhidrosis of the hands and have been searching for a ‘cure’. anxiety medications and top grade antiperspirants have proved fruitless. I am worried, first surgery and all.
Sympathectomy has side effects that should be discussed with the surgeon before proceeding. The first one is compensatory sweating also known as reflex sweating or compensatory hydrosis. The patient will develop sweat on other parts of the body such as the lower legs, thighs, abdomen, or the back. The upper body from the chest and up will be dry. All patients will develop some degree of compensatory sweating. The majority on a level that will be tolerated. In most cases 93% to 94% the patients prefer the compensatory sweating to the original sweating. About 5% to 6% of the patients will develop severe compensatory sweating that will render those patients to be unhappy.
Naturally, surgery should be the last resort. You mentioned trying antianxiety and antiperspirant agents. In the event you are unaware of other possibilities, I’m showing some excerpts from the first link below.
Topical Treatments:
Iontophoresis
Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections
These treatments are not permanent and must be applied continually or reapplied when the effect wears off. Surgery is the only permanent treatment.
Oral medications:
Tranquilizers
Anticholinergics
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
Calcium channel blockers
Catapres
Botox:
Researchers have discovered that Botox injections effectively treat hyperhidrosis by blocking the nerves that trigger the sweat glands. It may take several injections to achieve the desired results, the treatments can be costly and painful, and the results only last from four months to a year.
Mayo Clinic Success Rates with Surgical Treatment:
More than 30 procedures have been performed in the past two years with excellent results. All patients have had complete relief of palmar (hands) hyperhidrosis, and, for most, additional relief of plantar (feet) hyperhidrosis.
There is a 95-98 percent success rate with palmar hyperhidrosis. Approximately 75-80 percent of axillary hyperhidrosis cases can be permanently cured.