What you have developed is compensatory sweating - that is, sweating in your lower body following endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS). Compensatory sweating is more likely following ETS for hyperhidrosis involving the head and neck than for ETS performed for hyperhidrosis of the... more
Can I get Botox for hyperhidrosis?
When i was in my early teens i had surgery for my severe hyperhidrosis(palms and armpits but still have sweaty feet), and never knew about compensatory sweating. Now im in my early 20's and Im dealing with sweating in areas that make my everyday life complicated. I sweat in my groin area excessively and below my breast, also my back. I think if i knew then what i know now I would rather have sweaty palms and feet than what Im dealing with now.
I recently heard of botox for hyperhidrosis...do you think in my case it would cause some relief or am I an hopeless cause?
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95 posts
14 Aug 2008
Yes Botox would most likely help. The fact that you have had surgery on other parts of the body will not affect your response to Botox. Indeed you can use Botox even to the areas you had surgery on if hyperhidrosis persists there. Now, the caveat is that not everyone responds to this treatment. At the same time I wouldn't give up if it does not work on first try. The effective dose range is very wide and sometimes it takes a repeat treatment at a higher dose to see results. Botox works locally at the sweat gland level by blocking the nerves that stimulate a sweating response of the sweat gland. It does not damage or kill the glands. Hence the need to repeat injections when excessive sweating returns as the nerves grow back and start working normally again. Unlike cosmetic use which lasts about 4-6 months, Botox effect for hyperhirosis will last for up to 7 months to a year. Sweating is a normal physiologic body function whose main purpose is to control body temperature by evaporating the sweat off the body threby losing excess heat. So general measures to keep oneself cool will help reduce sweating.