ETS surgery for facial blushing and anxiety

[AJM69]

Hi

Has anyone had this surgery in the past few years? I'm looking for feedback on the pros and cons. Thank you

[Croix]

Dear AJM69~

I'd like to offer you a delayed welcome to the Forum. I'm afraid the system does not always work as we would wish. Please be assured it is not you or the subject of you post that caused your wait.

I am afraid I have no personal experience of Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy, a surgical treatment, and am not a doctor, so anything I say is as a person who does not blush but has anxiety which leads to other symptoms.

There are a couple of people in this forum who have undergone this treatment. If you put ETS in the search box (i.e. the spyglass at the top of the page) then you will get several hits. Two refer to the same person.

I would suggest that if the cause of blushing is anxiety then treating that might be the logical way to go. Any surgery has a risk, and surgery involving nerves more so.

I can only suggest you seek competent medical advice form more than one source, particularly those that have had wide experience using the procedure. Perhaps your GP may get you started with these inquiries.

I'd be interested to see what you find out

Croix

[cam01234]

Hi

I had the surgery a couple of years ago and it has been life changing - avowedly for the better!  For the first 44 years of my life I suffered crippling blushing.  And then ETS surgery, and no more blushing; 100% cured in 30 mins under the knife.  Mine was emotional blushing i.e. sudden rushes of redness of my face and ears brought on by having to speak to an attractive girl, or being put on the spot at work, or anything really.  That is quite distinct from having a ruddy complexion that is always a bit red.  ETS works for my type really well, and not that well at all for a persistently ruddy complexion.

I had it done in Melbourne by a vascular and transplant surgeon.  He's a delightful man and is the foremost surgeon in the area of ETS in Australia. He's done that exact operation well over 1000 times.  He's a delightful, and very humble guy.  When I first met him he was in an old cardigan in a ratty little office in the bowels of the hospital!

Most people get compensatory sweating to some degree on their back or buttocks from what I've read, but I haven't had any really.  I must be lucky, I guess. 

I cannot speak too highly of the impact ETS surgery has had on my life.

Good luck with your blushing, and I hope you can find a solution to it that is right for you.

[Guest_70192352]

Hi cam, can I ask what the name of the surgeon is and how you got to him? I struggle with the exact same problem as you did. I find it debilitating and I’m seeking solutions for the first time in my life.

[Croix]

Dear Guest~

I'd like to welcome you here to the Forum and sad to learn you have this debilitating condition which I imagine causes great difficulties in your life.

You have heard of one positive result from ETS but would suggest you search around this forum to see if that positivity is echoed elswhere and then discuss it with your GP.

I'm afraid under one of the rules of this forum nobody can give out the name of a surgeon and I think Cam1234 has gone as far as possible in giving you information about their  experience.

As a result I'm afraid you are going to have to make your own inquiries, I wish you luck, and if you have the operation it turns out well

Croix

[cam01234]

Thanks for the inquiry.  And I think Croix has explained well the difficulty I have in giving the surgeon's name - in fact in my post I gave his name, but it was taken down.  I suppose I can get away with saying he practices in Melbourne, and has done it the most times of anyone in the country so could be considered the "formost" surgeon in the field.  It shouldn't take too much internet searching to find him.  I, one, hope this post isn't edited, and second, hope it is useful to you.  Cheers, Cam1234

[Croix]

Dear Can1234~

I'd like to thank you for letting people know you had a successful result and it has made so much difference to you. 

While it is not a guarantee this will work for everyone (everybody  is of course different) it is encouraging and has given AJM69 at least part of the answer to their question.

Thank you also for your understanding about not revealing names or services in the Forum. Such rules are there for good reason even if they can seem frustrating at times.

Croix