Comparison of outcomes of two methods of axillary osmidrosis surgery: Subdermal excision versus liposuction combined with diode laser ablation

Abstract

Background Patients with axillary osmidrosis suffer from a foul odor due to the bacterial decomposition of apocrine gland secretions. This condition is stressful, especially for teenaged students and young working people in Korea, who seek a reliable method for reducing odor that allows them to quickly return to school or work after surgery. Thus, surgeons must seek ways to effectively remove sweat glands with minimal complications. The conventional subdermal excision method has been widely used for the removal of sweat glands, but it can have many complications. The purpose of this study is to determine whether liposuction combined with diode laser ablation is effective for sweat gland removal compared with the subdermal excision method. Methods From 2011 to 2017, we compared two surgical methods for osmidrosis: subdermal excision and liposuction combined with diode laser ablation. An objective analysis of sweat (apocrine) gland count, determined by histopathological examinations of preoperative and postoperative punch biopsy specimens, was combined with a subjective assessment of patients’ symptoms (malodor grade) preoperatively and postoperatively. Results A larger percentage of sweat glands were removed by subdermal excision than by liposuction with diode laser ablation. However, no statistically significant difference was found between the two methods with regard to the percentage of apocrine glands removed. Liposuction with diode laser ablation had fewer perioperative complications and higher patient postoperative satisfaction than subdermal excision. Conclusions Liposuction with diode laser ablation is a useful method for axillary osmidrosis surgery in teenaged students and young working people in Korea.

Keywords

• apocrine glands
• lasers
• lipectomy
• sweating