SweatSolutions.org: London Physicians Offer Revolutionary Hyperhidrosis Care

November/December 2007 Edition Table of Contents:

» The Heat is On in the Southern Hemisphere

» Holiday Deals and Discounts Just for You

» London Physicians Offer Revolutionary Hyperhidrosis Care

» 3 Easy Ways to Give Back to the IHHS

» Men Versus Sweat: We Need Your Opinion!

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London Physicians Offer Revolutionary Hyperhidrosis Care

If you suffer from excessive sweating, don't you deserve the gift of dry confidence this holiday season? Doctors in London are offering convenient weekend hyperhidrosis-only Botox clinics for significantly less than what other United Kingdom Botox providers are charging.

"Nearly every week we dedicate a Saturday or a half-day on Sunday to our hyperhidrosis patients," says Dr. Ahmed Farhan Haq, a partner with the CosMedocs clinic in London. The new hyperhidrosis clinic hours allow CosMedocs to provide smooth, less costly service by keeping administration and preparation expenses down (because the doctors are treating only hyperhidrosis patients during the designated time period.) Typically, CosMedocs treats six or seven hyperhidrosis patients during each clinic.

"We started running our hyperhidrosis clinic approximately six months ago and have treated nearly 90 patients so far" says Dr. Haq. "Personally, I've treated about 150 hyperhidrosis patients. In the past, as a general surgeon, I was involved in endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy (ETS) procedures but I'm happy to report that I don't see the need to refer patients for this operation anymore. ETS would be an absolute last resort because I dread the potential complications such as compensatory sweating elsewhere on the body � which happens quite often."

CosMedocs provides Botox treatment for excessive sweating of the underarms, face, scalp, hands, and feet, as well as in skin folds such as under the breasts and in the groin. "Occasionally," says Dr. Haq, "we also treat patients with patchy hyperhidrosis on their backs or chests."

One of the ways that CosMedocs keeps their costs lower than other Botox providers in the U.K. (providing 100 total units of Botox for �400 as opposed to 50 total units for �550) is that the practice is managed entirely by the partners, who include three physicians and one dental surgeon. Having a dentist who treats hyperhidrosis is, by the way, rather unusual (at least it's the first time in more than four years of publishing this newsletter that SweatSolutions editors have heard of it) but it makes perfect sense. "Dentists," explains Dr. Haq, "have a very sound knowledge of the anatomy of the face."

The physicians and the dentist working at CosMedocs do all of their own bookings, consultations, and educational efforts. "This helps us build patient confidence and to keep our expenses competitive. Another way we keep costs relatively low is by having a multi-talented staff. The doctors not only treat patients, they also maintain the clinic's Web site and online appointment system and manage the business side of running the clinic," says Dr. Haq.

As mentioned above, CosMedocs charges �400 ($834) to treat both underarms or both palms using 100 units of Botox. Most practitioners in the U.K., reports Dr. Haq, charge more than �550 ($1,147) for only 50 units of Botox (just 25 per underarm or palm). "For both the underarms and palms," explains Dr. Haq, "we are committed to providing a total of 100 units of Botox because we've found that to be the most effective dose and current research supports it." Prices for the treatment of other body areas depend on surface area but generally for the face the cost is �150 ($312) which includes treatment of the forehead and cheeks as necessary. CosMedocs also offers higher doses of Dysport (watch SweatSolutions for an upcoming article comparing the two botulinum toxins � Botox and Dysport). Additionally, if a patient does not respond to treatment, CosMedocs will provide another equal dose free of charge. "The logic behind this," says Dr. Haq, "is that we want to make sure that we've given Botox treatment an adequate chance before the patient begins to consider more invasive treatment such as surgery. So far we've found that approximately 5% of patients need a repeat dose. Nearly all of them have been treated successfully with that second dose and now they are our permanent clients."

"My brother has hyperhidrosis," says Dr. Haq, "and he first told me about it when I was in medical school. He had been hiding it for years and had changed his lifestyle to try and avoid some of the embarrassment it caused him. Having someone close to me who suffers from hyperhidrosis has helped me to understand the mental torture that the condition causes. So, of course, I've developed a soft spot in my heart for people with excessive sweating. I'm grieved that awareness of hyperhidrosis and its treatments is still relatively low among the general population but am pleased with the progress and results from our clinic so far. We're keeping comprehensive records and monitoring our patients' progress and hope to publish data in the near future regarding certain aspects of hyperhidrosis � such as environmental triggers for sweating, and a comparative analysis of treatments."

Live near or planning a trip to London? (There are thousands of SweatSolultions readers in the U.K.) You can make an appointment for same-day hyperhidrosis assessment and treatment by visiting CosMedocs online at www.cosmedocs.co.uk. Of course you may also schedule your treatment for a later date to allow yourself time to consider your options. The physicians and the dental surgeon who work at CosMedocs are licensed by the General Medical/Dental Council of the United Kingdom and have appropriate training in botulinum toxin injectables. In addition to providing Botox for hyperhidrosis, CosMedocs also gives Botox for wrinkles, chronic and migraine headaches, backaches, and dystonias (movement disorders). A full price list, appointment forms and questionnaires, and information about talking to one of the clinic's previous patients is provided online at www.cosmedocs.co.uk. You may also send an e-mail to info@cosmedocs.co.uk or call 44-8008600178. (From the U.S. dial 011 first.)

Before committing to treatment by any physician or dentist, we encourage you to do your research. Talk to the healthcare professional who will be working with you. Ask about his or her experience and training. Discuss all of the pros and cons of proposed treatments. Get a second opinion from another experienced clinician and contact a patient or patients who have already been treated by the clinician of your choice. The more research and fact-finding you do, the more confident and prepared you'll be for your treatment and the more likely you'll be to get the results you want � and deserve. Cheers!