Surgery is used only in case of severe hyperhidrosis.
Treating hyperhidrosis can be complicated, sometimes you have to try various different treatments before finding one that works. Using surgery to treat hyperhidrosis may be considered when all other treatment options have failed. Surgery is used only in severe cases of hyperhidrosis.
Summary
The procedure for treating hyperhidrosis consists of either performing a sympathectomy, i.e. cutting the nerves in the thorax that give the sweat glands the “order” to sweat, or removing the “overactive” sweat glands.
In both cases, the effects are irreversible.
Not only are surgical complications possible, as with any procedure, but also side effects may occur specific to sympathectomy. Between 10 and 40%(1) of people who undergo one of these two procedures develop compensatory hyperhidrosis. This means that although the hyperhidrosis phenomenon is eradicated at the target site, excessive perspiration then appears in areas previously unaffected, such as the back, torso, limbs or face.
In addition, the fact of no longer sweating in certain areas of the body can cause skin dryness. In this case, it is recommended to regularly apply a nourishing and moisturising cream to compensate for this effect.
(1) Stolman LP. Treatment of hyperhidrosis. Dermatologic Clinics. 1998; 16: 863-9.
