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Hyperhidrosis

At our Appleton and Oshkosh, Wisconsin practice, we offer effective treatments for excessive sweating – an embarrassing and uncomfortable condition called hyperhidrosis. Hyperhidrosis can cause awkwardness at school, work, or in social situations. The excess perspiration stains clothes and can cause social anxiety or embarrassment. In some cases, an individual might need to change clothes several times each day. Treatments range from conventional approaches, such as specialized antiperspirants and surgery, to more recent advances involving minimally invasive laser procedures. If you are seeking relief from hyperhidrosis and live in Fox Cities such as Green Bay or Fond du Lac,  call (920) 233-1540 to request a consultation to discuss your situation with one of our physicians.  The non-refundable $100 cosmetic consultation fee can be applied towards the cost of the procedure.

Treatment Options

It’s unknown what causes hyperhidrosis. Nervousness or excitement can intensify the situation for some, while for others, caffeine, nicotine, certain foods and drinks, and even smells can trigger a response. Options ranging from non-invasive treatments to surgery are available.

• Antiperspirants: Special antiperspirants with high concentrations of aluminum chloride are the first line of therapy for hyperhidrosis. The main side effect is skin irritation and ineffectiveness for severe axillary sweating.
• BOTOX® or Dysport® injections: When antiperspirants don’t succeed, injections of botulinum toxin type A, such as BOTOX and Dysport, can be used to block neural control of the sweat glands. This FDA-approved procedure for underarm sweating can last up to 6 months depending on the site of injections. When the sweat glands don’t receive chemical signals, the severe sweating stops. BOTOX treatments for hyperhidrosis costs between $1,200 and $1,800.
• Miradry®: For a long term solution, Miradry is a non-invasive, microwave-based technology. It has long been available for the treatment of axillary hyperhidrosis, but the treatment is painful. The thermal energy penetrates deep and can cause subcutaneous fat to swell for 2 months. A second treatment is required 3 months later. Some patients refuse to have the second treatment because of the previous pain and prolonged edema. For this reason, FVPS does not offer Miradry.
• Surgery: Surgical treatments, such as sweat gland excision, liposuction, and subdermal curettage all have a long recovery time, considerable bruising, and unacceptable complications.
• Laser Treatment: Subdermal laser ablation is a newer and less painful long term solution than the other treatment options. It is minimally invasive and offers a number of advantages, including:
  • Little pain with tumescent anesthesia
  • In-office procedure
  • Low risk with minimal side effects
  • Single treatment in most cases
  • Fast recovery time
  • Minimal scarring

  It costs $3500 to treat both underarms with a laser, and is not covered by insurance.

• ThermiDry®: ThermiDry is the newest treatment for hyperhidrosis. ThermiDry involves numbing the skin with local anesthetic and heating the sweat glands with radiofrequency delivered through a tiny rod underneath the skin.  It uses the same techniques and machine as the ThermiTight procedures. Although there is no definitive data on how long it lasts, it may last several years. ThermiDry is safe and relatively inexpensive compared to continuous Botox injections. ThermiDry is a short outpatient procedure with virtually no downtime. ThermiDry costs $3500 to treat both underarms, and is not covered by insurance.

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Dr. David Janssen and Dr. William Doubek combine experience, refined surgical techniques, and artistry to produce beautiful results for their plastic and reconstructive surgery patients.

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Subdermal Laser Ablation Procedure

Patients are awake during the procedure because the treatment uses local anesthesia.  This is an outpatient procedure where the patient can safely return home the same day that the procedure is performed. Using the Sciton® laser system, the plastic surgeon targets the sweat glands, directing energy through a fiber optic tool. Because the surgeon makes only 2 tiny incisions, there will be very little scarring. It is essentially unnoticeable for most people. Patients who have laser ablation done will typically only require one treatment, which is an improvement over some other options such as BOTOX.

The most important advantage of having the procedure done is that the excessive sweating and its accompanying problems will be significantly diminished.  Another advantage is that the results are immediate, which means that a reduction in the sweating and foul odors will be instantaneous. The results of subdermal laser ablation normally last 1 to 1.5 years.

Most people return to work the following day, and resume full physical activities in a few days. There is some soreness for a few days. The process eliminates or significantly reduces the sweating in the armpits in 80% of people.

ThermiDry Procedure

ThermiDry uses radiofrequency energy to heat and permanently damage the sweat glands in the armpits. The amount of sweat will be significantly reduced and the underarms will be drier. ThermiDry treatments are performed in the office on an outpatient basis. Patients are given local anesthesia to numb the area. The RF energy is delivered via a tiny probe, which is inserted under the skin. In addition to administering the RF energy, the probe monitors the temperature at the treatment site to prevent skin and tissue damage or burning. Another gauge tracks the temperature on the skin’s surface, allowing delivery of the correct amount of RF energy to achieve the desired result.

ThermiDry treatments take about less than 1.5 hours. Most of the time is spent numbing the area and preparing the patient. The actual RF time is less than 30 minutes. Patients report little to no discomfort during the procedure, although they may feel a warming sensation as the RF energy goes into the treatment area. After the treatment, patients can immediately return to their daily activities. Some may experience mild swelling and discomfort around the treatment site, which should subside within a few days.

Because it is a relatively new treatment, there is no definitive data on how long it lasts. For patients who have undergone this procedure, it seems to last several years which makes it an excellent alternative to treatment options.

Find out how you can control your overactive sweat glands with Dr. David Janssen or Dr. William Doubek at Fox Valley Plastic Surgery by calling (920) 233-1540. Our Wisconsin plastic surgeons are helping women from all over the upper Midwest to perfect their personal Renaissance. Request your consultation today.  The non-refundable $100 cosmetic consultation fee can be applied towards the cost of the procedure.