A sympathectomy operation is a surgical procedure that permanently destroys the nerves responsible for helping create sweat, including excessive foot sweat. There are two types of the operation: lumbar sympathectomy, which is most often performed in women as male reproductive issues have arisen from the procedure, and endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS).
Both procedures are rarely recommended for patients battling plantar hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating of the feet), as they are irreversible and have been known to lead to other problems including excessive sweating in other areas of the body, collapsed lungs, and Horner’s syndrome, which is a nerve injury that can lead to trouble with the pupils of the eye and drooping eyelids.
Rafael Reisfeld MD is one of the nation’s leading experts and surgeons in the field of hyperhidrosis, dealing with plantar and palmar sweat, as well as excessive sweat in the underarms. He currently practices in Los Angeles, as well as in other cities across the nation.