This is a minimally invasive apocrine gland treatment. This method uses a special electric shaving blade for the repeated abrasion of apocrine glands and auxiliary tissues on the back of the armpit skin. The surgery only needs the making of two 1-cm incisions at the armpit. After the infusion of hemostatics and painkillers into the surgical site, Dr. Chuang applies the electric shaving blade to shave the apocrine glands, fats, and part of follicles via the two small incisions and washes them out before stitching the wound. The advantages are the small incision, rapid recovery, and almost no scar left, but the disadvantages are the inability to intraoperatively confirm the clearance and extent of the sweat gland. The clearance rate of bad odor is usually up to only 80% on average, and a relatively high recurrence rate is noted in the future. Therefore, this surgery is just suitable for patients with mild to moderate osmidrosis or those who only have bad odor on sweating.

Surgical conditions

Duration

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Type of anesthesia: IV sedation + local anesthesia
Type of incision: Two 1-cm incisions at the armpit
Recovery: 3–7 days
Removal of stitches: 7–10 days

General instructions

No food and water on the day of surgery

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Do not work or perform activities that require raising of the arms for 1 week postoperatively.
Avoid strenuous activities that may cause sweating for 1 month postoperatively.
Avoid smoking, alcohol, and various irritating and spicy foods for 3 months postoperatively.
Take care of the scar consistently for 6 months postoperatively.

Ideal candidates

Patients with osmidrosis that makes them feel pressurized or anxious, thus affecting their self-confidence
Those with bad odor that results in social or interpersonal disturbance
Those frequently with yellow sweat stained armpits that affect clothing esthetics
Those who are unable to accept the scar of the radical excision in the armpit