RE:endoscopic Transthoracic Sympathectomy (ETS)?!
Question:
RE:endoscopic Transthoracic Sympathectomy (ETS)?
Have you had the op?
Was it successful?
Why did you have it?
was it for blushing?
were ther any side effects?
NHS or Private?
Is it a postcode lottery
Can You reccomend a good surgeon?
Answers:
I have not had the operation, but I know a man who performs it. The usual reason for having this operation is excessive upper body sweating. Its is not as successful for blushing and can give you a harlequin appearance (one side of your face redder than the other). Other side effects include compensatory sweating (very common), pain, pneumothorax and horners syndrome (drooping of the eyelid)
The only study on success rates I could find on the internet was a Danish study. This was a follow-up study by questionnaire in 180 consecutive patients who underwent thoracoscopic sympathectomy for isolated facial blushing at two Danish university hospitals during a 6-year period. The questionnaire was returned by 96% of the patients after a median follow-up time of 20 months. Overall, 90% of the patients had some effect from the operation, and the result was excellent or satisfactory in 75%.
I would imagine you would be able to get this on the NHS wherever you live. You can certainly get it for excessive sweating. I could recommend a good surgeon in Oldham, Lancashire.