Heat, sports, stress – thoughts that provoke anxiety in people who suffer from excessive sweating. Fortunately, there are many ways to counteract what is known in the medical field as hyperhidrosis. Dr. Matiasek offers two methods of anti-sweat therapy in his consultations: the injection of Botox in affected regions of the body and the suction of the sweat glands. In a personal consultation, you will be given comprehensive advice on anti-perspiration therapy and an individual treatment plan will be put together for you.
What are the reasons for anti-sweat therapy?
Everyone sweats, because our highly sensitive nervous system regulates body temperature through the release of sweat. The sweat formed in the sweat glands of the skin, and its primary function is protecting the body from overheating. However, a very high and unregulated volume of perspiration, is known as the medical term hyperhidrosis. This term encompasses excessive sweating, i.e. when the person’s body gives off a disproportionate amount of sweat during Sports, hot weather or stress, causing significant distress to the individual. Generalized hyperhidrosis affects large areas of the body while focal hyperhidrosis is limited to small areas such as the armpits, palms or soles of the feet. The effects of this condition can be felt in both private and professional situations, but Dr. Matiasek can help you.
In his practice, Dr. Matiasek offers two different treatment options for excessive sweating: the injection of botulinum toxin into regions of the skin that produce a large amount of sweat. This treatment has proven to be particularly effective, but will not last forever and must be repeated after a certain period of time. If you are looking for a permanent solution to your hyperhidrosis, then suctioning the sweat glands is recommended.
Who is anti-sweat therapy suitable for?
Excessive sweating is often genetic or hormonal. In this case, it is primary hyperhidrosis. Secondary hyperhidrosis is the term applied to increased sweating caused by a separate disease. Dr. Matiasek can help you with both forms of anti-perspiration therapy – however in the case of secondary hyperhidrosis, it is advisable to have the underlying disease treated first.
Excessive sweat production can be limited to a specific area of skin or occur in all areas of the body. The armpits, palms and soles of the feet particularly are often affected. Dr. Matiasek treats all of these areas very well with Botox, but suctioning the sweat glands is a treatment which is only recommended for the armpit- region. Both methods are suitable for both women and men and Dr. Matiasek makes sure that his patients are over 18 years old and in good health.
What should I be aware of after anti-sweat therapy?
Before the anti-sweat therapy, Dr Matiasek will lead a detailed consultation with you. He will ask you about your individual complaints and explain the advantages and disadvantages of the two treatment options. He will also check whether you have primary or secondary hyperhidrosis and whether you are healthy enough for either procedure. Any allergies must be communicated to Dr. Matiasek. At this first meeting you will explore a suitable therapy method together and are able to make an appointment for the treatment right away.
There are few rules to follow before the procedure itself. If the therapy is being applied to the armpit region, you should shave them shortly before. Please do not apply any deodorant, creams or make-up to the areas to be treated. If general anesthesia is due to be used, you are not allowed to eat anything in the six hours before the treatment however drinking water and unsweetened tea is allowed up to two hours before anesthesia.
How does anti-sweat therapy work with Botox?
Before the botox treatment can begin, the sweat glands must first be located under the skin. To do this, Dr. Matiasek applies a special liquid to the affected areas. After a short waiting period, the skin changes color, which allows him to identify the appropriate puncture sites. Then Dr. Matiasek applies a numbing cream in order to minimize the pain of the injection as much as possible. As soon as the anesthesia beings to take effect, the procedure can begin.
Botox is a synthetically manufactured product that is useful in a variety of ways in plastic surgery. As part of the anti-sweat therapy, Dr. Matiasek applies a small amount of botox to the identified areas in your skin. There, the active ingredient blocks the transmission of stimuli between the nerves and the sweat glands, preventing excessive sweating in the future. The treatment is over after about 30 minutes and there is no need to spend night in the practice.
How does the suction of the sweat glands work?
Similarly to the treatment with Botox, in this method too, the hyperactive sweat glands must first be identified. In order to make the subsequent suction as pleasant and painless as possible for you, the procedure is carried out under general anesthesia.
As soon as you can no longer feel anything, Dr. Matiasek makes small incisions in the skin in the areas which are to be treated. Into this he will insert a special cannula to drain the sweat glands. Dr. Matiasek works very carefully so as not to damage the surrounding tissue. The procedure is complete after an hour: The cannula is removed and the open wounds are closed with a suture. In order to recover from the operation and the general anesthesia, you will need to stay in the clinic for one night to be on the safe side. The next day you should definitely feel fit enough to go home. The sutures are removed 14 days after the procedure.
What complications can occur with anti-sweat therapy?
Immediately after the botox injection, there may be redness, small bruises and swelling at the puncture sites – but these are completely normal and go away on their own after a few hours or days. Dr. Matiasek has years of experience and takes special care when treating patients with Botox, so you will feel in capable hands throughout the process.
With the suction of the sweat glands, complications arise in only the rarest of cases. In some cases, patients do not react well to the anesthesia. It is also possible that the small wounds do not heal as desired. Should you notice any inflammation or other irritation at the site of treatment, contact Dr. Matiasek – with the right aftercare, these matters can be resolved quickly.
What do I have to be aware of after an anti-sweat treatment?
After the botox injection, you are, in principle, immediately fit to be seen in public and can get back to your usual activities. Nevertheless, it is recommended that you take it easy for a day or two and rest so that your recovery from the procedure can run as smoothly as possible. You should avoid physically strenuous activities for about a week. And the same applies to sunbathing and visits to the solarium, sauna and steam bath.
When suctioning the sweat glands, the rules of aftercare are more regulated. After you have spent a night as an inpatient, you should rest for a little longer at home as well since it is a more invasive procedure. It is recommended to take two to three days off work and other strenuous activity. For the first week after surgery, you may need to wear a compression vest to ensure optimal healing. Light sports such as cycling are allowed again after about one to two weeks. Intense strength training, sunbathing and visits to the sauna and solarium, should only be started after around a month.
When are the results of anti-sweat therapy visible?
The first effects of the Botox injection can be felt after two to five days. The full effect is achieved after about two weeks. A reduction in sweat production lasts between six and twelve months – after which the body has broken down the active substance and renewed treatment is necessary. For this reason, Dr. Matiasek has his patients repeat the anti-sweat therapy with Botox about once or twice a year.
The great advantage of suction treatment is that the result lasts forever since the sweat glands cannot regenerate. This means you can regain your quality of life with just one operation. It takes about four to six weeks for the scars to heal completely – after which they are barely visible, and it is recommended you follow the after-care suggestions to aid in them healing discreetly.
If you have any further questions about anti-sweat therapy, just give us a call or make an appointment for a personal consultation. Dr. Matiasek and his team look forward to helping you on your journey to a sweat-free life!
