Mijn ervaring met een chirurgische behandleing
Geplaatst: wo 07 dec 2005, 21:56
Hallo,
Ik woon in Amerika en heb al 10+ jaar lang last van hyperhidrosis. Ik heb hier onlangs een chirurgische behandeling voor gehad, maar niet de gebruikelijke ETS (endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy) waarbij een zenuw wordt doorgesneden. In plaats daarvan heb ik een liposuction-achtige behandeling gehad waarbij de zweetkliertjes van de onderste laag van het vel in je oksels worden weggeschraapt. Omdat ik niet veel lees van andere mensen die dit gedaan hebben dacht ik dat ik mijn ervaring zou delen, mischien heeft er iemand baat bij. Ik had het verhaal al in het engels geschreven, als jullie het niet erg vinden plaats ik dat onvertaald hier onder.
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I had Axillary Hyperhidrosis (underarm sweating), for which ETS is not recommended (at least not by the ethical surgeons).
I had the Curettage/Liposuction treatment (where they scrape away the sweat glands under the skin in your underarms). I had it a month ago and must say that I'm very, very happy with the results. I haven't worn any anti-perspirant or deodorant in a month, can wear single-layers of clothes, including blue shirts, etc. I can even wear the same shirt several days in a row. The sweating has been reduced 99%.
In terms of side-effects, there aren't any really. I do have a buildup of scar tissue under my skin in my armpits (you can't see it, only feel it) which isn't uncomfortable in normal life, only when stretching my arms extensively does the area feel tight. Supposedly with massage and ultrasound this can be remedied, but frankly even if it never goes away I'm still thrilled with the results.
I was originally intending to go to Dr. Swinehart in Colorado but working out the logistics with him and his staff was so unprofessional that I got a bad feeling and changed my mind and instead went to Dr. Pnini in Los Angeles. I had a great experience there. Also, I couldn't get patient references from Swinehart, whereas I could from Dr. Pnini.
You go in early in the morning, have the surgery under general anesthetic. When you wake up a few hours later you don't remember a thing and it's all over. Forget about driving yourself, take a cab or get someone to pick you up. I went straight to a nearby hotel (treated myself to a good place with excellent room service) and slept and ate in bed until the next day. Then I went back for a follow-up with Dr. Pnini, which lasted all of 10 minutes. I only took one pain pill the very first night and haven't needed to since then. I flew back home that day.
In terms of going back to work, I had the surgery on a Wednesday, and was very careful and slept a lot the next several days and felt good enough for work the following Monday. It takes a few days to recover from the anesthetic, so don't rush things. Also, you're not allowed to lift anything at all the first few weeks or so, but I have a computer job so it wasn't an obstacle. There are two stitches in each armpit, which you come out about a week after the surgery (if I remember correctly). I went to my regular doctor and he took them out in a few seconds.
Insurance doesn't cover this procedure (which doesn't make any sense - it'll save them money in the long run when compared to Botox), so I had to swallow hard to pay for the surgery. It cost me approx. $6500.
The difference in my social and professional life is remarkable - I've become more confident and self-assured, and generally more relaxed. It's as if an always-present undercurrent of stress has gone away and been replaced by dry calmness. Hmm, very poetic :-)
I haven't included any links to the doctor - you'll find it no problem on Google, and I'm just a patient - not affiliated in any way. Adding links makes it too much like marketing :-) Also, I'm posting this in several forums so that more people can find out about this procedure - reading these forums shows that there isn't a lot of first-hand information out there.
Hope this helps some of you.
Ik woon in Amerika en heb al 10+ jaar lang last van hyperhidrosis. Ik heb hier onlangs een chirurgische behandeling voor gehad, maar niet de gebruikelijke ETS (endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy) waarbij een zenuw wordt doorgesneden. In plaats daarvan heb ik een liposuction-achtige behandeling gehad waarbij de zweetkliertjes van de onderste laag van het vel in je oksels worden weggeschraapt. Omdat ik niet veel lees van andere mensen die dit gedaan hebben dacht ik dat ik mijn ervaring zou delen, mischien heeft er iemand baat bij. Ik had het verhaal al in het engels geschreven, als jullie het niet erg vinden plaats ik dat onvertaald hier onder.
---------------------
I had Axillary Hyperhidrosis (underarm sweating), for which ETS is not recommended (at least not by the ethical surgeons).
I had the Curettage/Liposuction treatment (where they scrape away the sweat glands under the skin in your underarms). I had it a month ago and must say that I'm very, very happy with the results. I haven't worn any anti-perspirant or deodorant in a month, can wear single-layers of clothes, including blue shirts, etc. I can even wear the same shirt several days in a row. The sweating has been reduced 99%.
In terms of side-effects, there aren't any really. I do have a buildup of scar tissue under my skin in my armpits (you can't see it, only feel it) which isn't uncomfortable in normal life, only when stretching my arms extensively does the area feel tight. Supposedly with massage and ultrasound this can be remedied, but frankly even if it never goes away I'm still thrilled with the results.
I was originally intending to go to Dr. Swinehart in Colorado but working out the logistics with him and his staff was so unprofessional that I got a bad feeling and changed my mind and instead went to Dr. Pnini in Los Angeles. I had a great experience there. Also, I couldn't get patient references from Swinehart, whereas I could from Dr. Pnini.
You go in early in the morning, have the surgery under general anesthetic. When you wake up a few hours later you don't remember a thing and it's all over. Forget about driving yourself, take a cab or get someone to pick you up. I went straight to a nearby hotel (treated myself to a good place with excellent room service) and slept and ate in bed until the next day. Then I went back for a follow-up with Dr. Pnini, which lasted all of 10 minutes. I only took one pain pill the very first night and haven't needed to since then. I flew back home that day.
In terms of going back to work, I had the surgery on a Wednesday, and was very careful and slept a lot the next several days and felt good enough for work the following Monday. It takes a few days to recover from the anesthetic, so don't rush things. Also, you're not allowed to lift anything at all the first few weeks or so, but I have a computer job so it wasn't an obstacle. There are two stitches in each armpit, which you come out about a week after the surgery (if I remember correctly). I went to my regular doctor and he took them out in a few seconds.
Insurance doesn't cover this procedure (which doesn't make any sense - it'll save them money in the long run when compared to Botox), so I had to swallow hard to pay for the surgery. It cost me approx. $6500.
The difference in my social and professional life is remarkable - I've become more confident and self-assured, and generally more relaxed. It's as if an always-present undercurrent of stress has gone away and been replaced by dry calmness. Hmm, very poetic :-)
I haven't included any links to the doctor - you'll find it no problem on Google, and I'm just a patient - not affiliated in any way. Adding links makes it too much like marketing :-) Also, I'm posting this in several forums so that more people can find out about this procedure - reading these forums shows that there isn't a lot of first-hand information out there.
Hope this helps some of you.