A proven surgical procedure for Excessive Foot Sweating!
ELS - Lumbar Sympathectomy
If activities such as driving, using a computer, shaking hands, cell phone usage, or even slippage of objects held due to your excessive sweaty hands, you most likely have plantar hyperhidrosis.
Only surgeons in the United States performing ELS Surgery
Our surgeons are the only doctors in the United States performing ELS surgery. This surgery was pioneered by Dr. Rafael Reisfeld and Dr. Eraj Basseri in 2009. There are now two clinical trial studies completed to show the efficacy of the surgery.
Who is a candidate for ELS Surgery?
ELS Surgery Procedure
Nerve Clamping Technique
Who is a candidate for ELS Surgery?
Who is a candidate for ELS Surgery?
The International Hyperhidrosis Society divides the severity of Plantar Hyperhidrosis, or Excessive Foot Sweating, into four subgroups. Group one consists of patients that have mild foot sweating which does not cause any functional or social problems. On the other end of the spectrum are patients with excessive foot sweating at a level of wetness described as dripping. This affects their lives negatively.
Patients from the last group rarely benefit from conservative measures such as Drysol, Drionic, Maxim, Oral Medications, or neurotoxin injection, and will more likely benefit from surgery (if they qualify as a candidate). Even patients without dripping symptoms may be good candidates for the surgery.
The age range of patients for which our surgeons perform the ELS procedure is between 15 years old and 66 years old. Our surgeons assess each patient on a case-by-case basis. At present the recommendation for younger patients is to wait until they have gained more physiological, physical, and mental maturation.
Our surgeons consult and meet with patients to determine if the procedure is right for them. Surgery may be denied due to physical factors (height and weight ratio), mental maturity and or severe cases of anxiety, etc. Our surgeons will approve only patients they feel are appropriate for surgery. This is done in order to give the patient the best advice and outcome of this potential procedure.
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310.557.3037
ELS Surgery Procedure
ELS Surgery Procedure
In this procedure, the doctor creates an incision to access the sympathetic chain that runs along the lumbar vertebrae.
The operation is done under general anesthesia and takes about 1 to 2 hours.
Normal Recovery:
- Patients go home the same day
- Patients return to work/school within 2-3 days
- Patients traveling from out of town can fly home the following day after surgery
- Exercising and working out – after one week
(Above are normal recovery expectations. You should always follow your surgeons’ specific instructions)
The operation is done endoscopically. In this approach there are three small incisions made on the side of the abdomen (flank region). The largest cut is about 15mm or 1.5cm, and the other two on each side are about 5-7mm. Through these cuts, endoscopic equipment is inserted. A space behind the abdomen is developed which then allows the sympathetic chain running along the lumbar vertebrae to be located.
The sympathetic chain is then clamped below the second lumbar vertebra. It is important to be at that level, to reduce the possibility of side effects. The exact location is confirmed with the help of X-Rays during the operation. In extremely rare cases, there may be a necessity to convert the operation from an endoscopic approach, to an open approach.
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310.557.3037
Nerve Clamping Technique
Nerve Clamping Technique
At the present time, clamping is the technique of choice by our surgeons. The primary reason for using a clamping procedure, is that it reduces the risk of compensatory sweating, which is the only side effect of this operation. Also, rarely necessary, the surgery can be reversed. The clips used in the clamping technique are made of titanium, which is safest metal commonly used in the body. Once the clips are placed properly, the instruments can then be removed, ending the operation, and the patient begins a short recovery period.
Make sure before any decisions are made to undergo surgery, you discuss the particulars of this operations, including risks involved with an experienced hyperhidrosis surgeon. To ask questions and learn more about how this life changing procedure could possibly help you, please contact us.
Take the Next Step!
Call Our Beverly Hills Office
310.557.3037
1The American Surgeon, Volume 79, Number 8, August 2013 pp.845-853 (9)