Surgery to stop sweating (sympathectomy): how it is done and risks

Surgery to stop sweating, also known as sympathectomy, is used in cases where it is not possible to control the amount of sweat just by using other less invasive treatments, such as antiperspirant creams or botox application, for example.

Generally, surgery is most used in cases of axillary and palmar hyperhidrosis, as these are the most successful sites, however, it can also be used in patients with plantar hyperhidrosis when the problem is very serious and does not improve with any form of treatment. , although the results are not so positive.

Surgery for hyperhidrosis can be performed at any age, but is normally recommended after the age of 14 to prevent the problem from arising again, due to the child’s natural growth.

How surgery for hyperhidrosis is performed

Surgery for hyperhidrosis is performed under general anesthesia in the hospital through 3 small cuts under the armpit, which allow the passage of a small tube, with a camera at the tip, and other instruments to remove a small portion of the main nerve of the sympathetic system. , which is the part of the nervous system that controls sweat production.

Since the nerves of the sympathetic system pass on both sides of the spine, the doctor needs to perform surgery on both armpits to ensure the success of the surgery and, therefore, the surgery usually lasts at least 45 minutes.

Risks of surgery for hyperhidrosis

The most common risks of surgery for hyperhidrosis are the most common in any type of surgery and include bleeding or infection at the surgery site, with symptoms such as pain, redness and swelling, for example.

Furthermore, the surgery can also cause the appearance of some side effects, the most common of which is the development of compensatory sweating, that is, excess sweat disappears in the treated area, but can appear in other places such as the face, belly, back, butt or thighs, for example.

In rarer cases, surgery may not produce the expected results or worsen symptoms, making it necessary to maintain other types of treatment for hyperhidrosis or repeat the surgery 4 months after the previous one.