Surgical Treatments to Stop Sweating

If you've tried every medication out there to stop sweating and none have worked for you, there are a few surgical options you can think about.

Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy

Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) is a surgery where the nerves that control sweating are made non-functional through cutting, burning or clamping. Clamping allows for the decision to reverse the procedure in the future, if so desired. Why would you consider reversing the procedure? Because of the side effects! Sometimes the side effects of ETS are worse than the problem in the first place. ETS is a generally safe surgical procedure with an 80% success rate. In the case of excessive hand or palm sweating, the success rate can be higher at 90-95%. With facial perspiration, this surgical procedure is not as successful.

The side effect alluded to above that may be worse than the initial excessive perspiration problem is compensatory sweating. As many as 80% of people who has this procedure will suffer from this side effect. Compensatory sweating is when excessive perspiration occurs at body sites other than those that ETS was initially used for. Although excessive sweating may stop at the hands and palms, compensatory sweating may occur at the underarms or feet. The lower back and trunk are areas where compensatory sweating most commonly occur. This is something to seriously consider before undergoing endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy.

Lumbar Sympathectomy

Lumbar sympathectomy is used for excessive foot sweating, when endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy did not work. Instead of operating on a nerve in the thorax body region, a similar nerve that controls sweating in the feet is cut or clamped in the lumbar (foot) region. This surgery is successful in 90% of cases, but there are more serious side effects than with ETS.

Patients who have a lumbar sympathectomy may end up with hypotension, or low blood pressure. Low blood pressure causes a host of symptoms, including extreme fatigue, dizziness or headaches, shortness of breath, blurred vision and, in serious cases, seizures and fainting. Males may encounter male infertility and erectile dysfunction after undergoing this procedure. Personally, I'd live with the excessive sweat rather than risk these serious side effects.

Sweat Gland Suction

Similar in concept to liposuction, about 30% of sweat glands are removed. This should result in a 30% decrease in sweat activity.

Percutaneous Sympathectomy

Percutaneous sympathectomy is a temporary relief procedure where nerves controlling sweat production are blocked by a phenol injection. The procedure needs to be repeated every 6 months to have the perspiration reduction effect prolonged.

These surgical options to stop sweating should only be considered when conventional methods have been attempted and found ineffective.