A Comparative Evaluation of Various Axillary Osmidrosis Treatment

Ha, Sung Uk; Lee, Keun Cheol; Park, Ji Hun; Park, Jung Min; Kim, Seok Kwun; Sohn, Ho Sung; Baek, Chang Yoon; Jung, Gyu Yong; Song, Ki Hoon

Abstract

Axillary osmidrosis caused by excessive secretion of apocrine glands, which causes an malodor and extreme social embarrassment. To remove the apocrine glands, various types of treatment methods for axillary osmidrosis have been introduced. They could be summarized as manual of instrumental subdermal shaving, ultrasonic assisted liposuction, Botox(R) injection, electrical probe, laser dessication, etc. Surgical removal of apocrine glands has been the favored treatment for the several decades, but such complications as long-term postoperative immobilization period, skin necrosis, hematoma, and visible scars have been frequent. Recently, for the purpose of reducing these complications, some operators have advocated other procedures such as axillary ultrasonic assisted liposuction, Botox(R) injection, laser dessication. From March 2002 to April 2003, we have corrected the axillary osmidrosis in 80 cases using the subdermal shaving(24 cases), ultrasonic assisted liposuction(20 cases), Botox(R) injection(10 cases), electrical probe(26 cases). Of these operation, manual dermal shaving had the lowest recurrence rate, but disadvantages of this procedure was 4-5cm axillary scar, moderate post operative complication, long immobilization period. Otherwise Ultrasonic assisted liposuction had many advantages which were simple operation technique, short operation time, early recovery of social activity, rare post operative complication, invisible scar, lower recurrence rate. In case of Botox(R) injection was also simple operation technique, but which was short term effect about 6 months so it was necessary to treat repetitive injection but relatively high recurrence rate in severe osmidrosis. In case of electrical probe was also simple operation technique, but which was vague treatment effect, need to repetitive operation and relatively high recurrence rate in severe osmidrosis. In comparative evaluation of these methods, ultrasonic assisted liposuction was considered better results to osmidrosis treatment than others method in many aspects.