Vascular Surgery / Studies
Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
Sweating is necessary to control body temperature and under normal circumstances is not a problem. In up to 1.0% of the population, this system is “overactive” causing sweating to occur at inappropriate times in specific areas of the body.
This condition is known as hyperhidrosis and it can occur in many different areas of the body. Most commonly, it affects the palms, but it can also affect the soles of the feet, the armpits, the face, the head, the groin and the back.
Regardless of where it is located, hyperhidrosis presents an embarrassing problem to those afflicted with it. Shaking hands becomes uncomfortable, making business and day-to-day life a problem.
Hyperhidrosis is not a temporary condition. Many people who suffer from it have suffered for many years, usually from adolescence. Hot or cold, the sweating is constant.
There are a number of treatments available for hyperhidrosis. We see patients requiring more specialised treatments depending on the area affected. For axillary hyperhidrosis, Botox injections are very effective lasting up to 12 months before further injections are required.
We run a dedicated Botox clinic usually one a month for this treatment. For patients troubled by sweaty hands we carry out a procedure to cut the nerves that supply the sweat glands (endoscopic transthoracic sympathectomy).
Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy treatment for hyperhidrosis