Hyperhidrosis and Facial Blushing

HYPERHIDROSIS AND FACIAL BLUSHING

A cure for severe hand and feet (plantar) sweating and for Social Phobia

DR. JOAQUÍN GARCÍA-MORATO offer a “State of the art” ETS, ETS(c) as well as the “Reversal” surgery performed for one of the most experienced teams at a very convenient price/quality ratio, for both hand and/or feet sweating and Social Phobia or Facial Blushing.

About the Surgery for hand Sweating

Thoracic Sympaticothomy or Sympatectomy (ETS or ETS©)

We have a program for surgical treatment of Hyperhidrosis, pioneer in Latin America since 1995. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis (6hs. in the clinic), or as an overnight stay. General anesthesia with an endotracheal tube is used. The thoracic cavity is entered under the armpit with an optic through a 1 cm incision. The sympathetic nerves are cut or clamped by applying removable titanium clips through a second 5 mm skin incision next to the previous one. Both sides are operated on under the same anesthesia. The clip application, as opposed to the diathermia cutting, makes the procedure “potentially reversible” if excessive sweating of the trunk appears after surgery. We have been using the clipping method since 2001, and up to now just one sigle patient has asked to have the clips removed. Patient selection for surgery is key for good results.

Side effects

Compensatory sweating is an excessive sweating on the back, abdomen, thighs, and/or lower legs after surgery. This should be expected to a certain degree in 50% of the patients. Compensatory sweating is not constant. This is likely to happen in hot and humids environments. Those who sweat from the trunk prior to surgery are more prone to get severe compensatory symptoms following surgery.

A modest decrease in heart rate (approximate 10%) at rest and during high exercise demand may be experienced in some patients. If it occurs, it has no physiologic consequences.

Some patients (15 %) can experience increased sweating in the head and neck area while eating or smelling spicy food (gustatory sweating)

Possible complications

No operation is without risks. Complications are not common in ETS surgery. Potential complications may include the following:

• Pneumothorax
• Bleeding
• Injury to surrounding organs
• Neuritic pain
• Anesthesic complication
• Horner syndrom

Contraindications for surgery

Severe previous or current illness (particularly cardio-respiratory or pleural disease) could be a contraindication for the procedure (See preoperative test).

About the Surgery for severe feet Sweating

Lumbar Sympathicotomy or Sympathectomy

The surgery is done under general anesthesia. The retroperitoneal space (lumbar) is entered with an optic through a 2 cm incision. Two additional 0,5 cm skin incisions are needed. The sympathetic nerve is remuved. The proceeding takes 60 to 90 minutes each side. Generally, both sides are operated on under the same anesthesia. We perform the lumbar operation as an overnight basis. Generally ladies are much more interested in the cure of feet sweating.

Side effects

Compensatory sweating is a potential risk and should be expected to a certain degree. It is not as usual as for ETS.

Possible complications

No operation is without risks. Complications are not common in this surgery. Potential complications may include the following:

• Bleeding
• Injury to surrounding organs
• Neuritic pain
• Anesthesic complications

How to arrange the surgery. Practical aspects

All previous arrangements can be done by e-mail, Skype or telephone. We will ask you to fill out a preoperative questionnaire that will allow us to know more about you. Before we schedule your surgery, you need your preoperative test done. We schedule surgery 2 to 4 weeks in advance.

For foreign patients living abroad, we usually proceed as follows:

Day 1 – Consultation and examination with the doctor. You’ll get an individual, written treatment plan with a medical consent.
The Surgery will be done at “Clínica del Sol”. After surgery you will be monitored for 4 to 6 hours in the outpatients facility before leaving the Clinic.

Day 2 – Postoperative control at the Doctor’s office and check out. You can travel home back or you can spend some days enjoying our country. www.buenosaires.gov.ar – www.argentina.gov.ar.
In order to have surgery as an outpatient basis (the patient spends about four to six hours in the recovery room and then is able to return to his hotel/apartment), we recommend coming with somebody else (a relative or friend). If you come alone, we recommend that you stay overnight in the Clinic.