Hyperhidrosis
Find out more about hyperhidrosis
Hyperhidrosis affects between 1 and 2% of the population in the United States. It’s even more common in some other countries. Yet, despite being so common, hyperhidrosis is still widely misunderstood.
Many doctors don’t know anything about it at all. Some sufferers go years without even having a name for what they’re going through. After years of disappointment, many sufferers give up looking for a doctor who understands them.
Every day, we see patients who have spent a lifetime struggling with the simple things. They’ve had to sit out basketball because the ball slid through their hands. They’re embarrassed to shake hands, let alone try to hold hands with a date. They worry constantly that their feet smell, even though they change their socks three or four times a day. They can’t buy clothes or shoes they like.
Throughout an average day, our bodies naturally perspire as a way to regulate heat. However, some individuals (as many as 1 to 2 % of the population) sweat excessively and unpredictably in the face, hands and/or feet — even in cool temperatures or when they are resting. This condition, known medically as Hyperhidrosis, is defined as the production of perspiration beyond what is necessary to control body heat.
The process of sweating is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system, which maintains the five million or so sweat glands throughout the body (about two-thirds of these sweat glands are located in the hands alone). The answer to the problem of Hyperhidrosis lies with these nerves. Doctors have found that “supercharged” nerves cause this excessive sweating.
Family genetic history is believed to play a major role in the incidence of hyperhidrosis, but gender and race have not been determined to be contributing factors.
Hyperhidrosis can cause significant physical as well as emotional discomfort, and patients seeking treatment for the condition may wish to try a surgical alternative when other treatments have not worked.
The surgical cures for hyperhidrosis that Dr. Eraj Basseri and Dr. Rafael Reisfeld perform are finely tuned and procedures that take advantage of the latest endoscopic techniques:
Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy – This procedure is used to treat excessive sweating in the hands or face. The surgeon makes 2 or 3 tiny surgical cuts under each arm and uses an endoscope inserted into the patient’s to guide the process of “inactivating” the nerves that control sweating in the problem area. The success rate for this surgery is 98-99%.
Endoscopic Lumbar Sympathectomy – This procedure is used to treat excessive sweating in the feet. An incision is made from the abdomen around to the back just above the buttocks. The muscles are separated, and the appropriate lumbar nerves are located and cut. Sympathectomy is done on an outpatient basis. Since the incisions are minimal, the patient can return to normal activity in a short amount of time. The success rate for this surgery is 95-97%.
Learn more about Endoscopic Thoracic Sympathectomy (Surgery for Sweaty Hands)
Learn more about Endoscopic Lumbar Sympathectomy (Surgery for Sweaty Feet)
Meet our Hyperhidrosis Experts
Eraj Basseri, M.D.
Dr. Eraj Basseri is a general surgeon who specializes in surgery for Hyperhidrosis. He is the co-founder of K and B Surgical Center and the Center for Hyperhidrosis, both 
located in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Basseri was intimately involved in developing both Centers, working with his colleagues, Doctors Theodore M. Khalili, Gregg Kai Nishi, and Rafael Reisfeld, to bring to life a unique, comprehensive and holistic approach to general and hyperhidrosis surgery. Dr. Basseri is fiercely committed to providing patients with the best and most individualized medical care possible. His friendly, easygoing approach and personal warmth put patients at ease the moment they meet him. His emphasis on educating patients directly has proven successful in increasing patient involvement in their own medical care.
Dr. Basseri is extremely well-versed in the latest and most innovative surgical techniques and equipment available. Instrumental in training and bringing da Vinci robotic surgery to the Center, he is dedicated to providing the best and latest technology to the patients of K and B Surgical Center and the Center for Hyperhidrosis.
Dr. Basseri received a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from University of California Los Angeles and received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of California San Diego. He completed a coveted fellowship in the Minimally Invasive and Weight Loss Surgery Department at Cedars Sinai Medical Center Los Angeles. His innate surgical skills were continually singled out during his tenure there and he received the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Resident Achievement award as well as an appointment as Administrative Chief Resident. Dr. Basseri has been a member of the Society of American Gastrointestinal & Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) and the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS). He has published several research papers and has presented on a number of topics both nationally and internationally.
A native of Los Angeles, Dr. Basseri enjoys playing basketball, weightlifting, and spending time with his family and friends.
Dr. Rafael Reisfeld, M.D., F.A.C.S., A.B.M.S
One of the world ‘s foremost experts on hyperhidrosis and its treatments, Dr. Reisfeld was one of the first doctors every to perform the ETS procedure and remains one of
the only doctors in the U.S. to perform both the lumbar and thoracic sympathectomy on a daily basis. He is continually pioneering new techniques in this specialized field of medicine, including a new less invasive and more efficient laser technique for the treatment of isolated axillary (armpit) hyperhidrosis. Dr. Reisfeld publishes widely on the subject of hyperhidrosis in various medical journals and has been interviewed by Newsweek, Fox News, CBS and other mainstream print and broadcast media.
A Board-Certified surgeon, and Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Reisfeld has been practicing medicine since 1980. He is a graduate of the prestigious Hadassah Medical School of the Hebrew University in Israel. His surgical residency was completed at the University of Toronto. In addition to his surgical duties at K and B Surgical Center, Dr. Reisfeld currently practices at The Center for Hyperhidrosis in Los Angeles.
