Retrodermal Curettage Recovery & Risks

You are likely to be in mild pain following the procedure, and your surgeon will advise you which painkillers would be suitable to take.  In the weeks following you may wish to take some over the counter medication such as ibuprofen in order to stop any discomfort that you might experience.

In a couple of days after your surgery you will have to go back to the hospital so that you can have your dressings taken off and your incisions checked over to ensure that they are all healing well. 


You ought to avoid any strenuous activity for a few weeks after having your retrodermal curettage treatment, and keep an eye on your wounds to ensure that they are healing well.  Any small hint that there could be an infection ought to be taken seriously, and medical help sought.  An infection can be easily treated as long as it is caught early on. 

Results are generally seen immediately following your retrodermal curettage procedure, although sometimes it might not work as well as you had wished.  Generally complete results can be seen in a couple of months.

Retrodermal Curettage Risks

As with any form of surgery, Retrodermal curettage does place you at risks and have to be taken into account before you have the surgery.

  • It is possible that you could suffer from some form of infection due to the invasive nature of the procedure
  • You could have an allergy to the anaesthetic used which could cause serious health implications
  • There is the potential to have some skin loss that could lead to small amounts of scarring on the underarm
  • Sometimes some marks or discolouration can appear on the skin
  • You may suffer from a loss of sensation as the procedure can inadvertently affect nerve endings under the skin

Retrodermal Curettage pros

  • No compensatory sweating
  • Very good results
  • Often no further treatments are necessary
  • Can be used to treat axillary hyperhidrosis

Retrodermal Curettage cons

  • It is still a form of surgery, and as such carries risks
  • It is very hard to come by in the UK and is unlikely to be provided on the NHS
  • There are chances of skin discolouration or marking
  • Only really suitable for axillary hyperhidrosis, or armpit sweating

Surgery should only ever be used as a last resort treatment for hyperhidrosis, and although can prove effective in the majority of cases, might not always work for you.  Everyone is different, and reacts differently to different treatments so what works for a friend of yours might not have the results that you are seeking.

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