Lona Cartwright
I had radical reconstructive surgery to both Axilla in 1989. It was very successful and I have had no recurrence in that area since surgery. I have had HS for 21 years. It it first appeared in the left groin. Tnen Axillia, rt. groin, mons pubis, etc. The underarms had become sinustized and the most painful. It took me 10 yrs. to find a surgeon whom I could trust would not butcher me. Most people with HS, I have heard (as was I) are referred to "plastic" (cosmetic) surgeons. You must find an excellent "reconstructive" surgeon who also is "educated" in the disease. This will enssure that he knows what the disease looks like, and will make every effort to remove "all of the disease, as well as the diseased sinus tracts (not to be confused with "nasal sinuses". I have normal appearing underarms; had little after surgery pain, and was left with only a pencil thin line scar which no one has ever noticed unless I point it out to them. I had laser surgery performed by the same surgeon in the lower extremities. HS has never recurred where the laser was used. I still have flare ups in the lower extremities, but never in the areas which were treated with the laser surgery. NO, surgery DOES NOT CAUSE HS to spread to the groin! HS is a disease of the apocrine glands and is progressive. Antibiotics and topicals have never helped me. Only radical surgery in the underarms has managed to eradicated the HS completely. Warning: should you decide to have surgery on the Axillia, be very careful about the surgeon you use, and that he is educated in HS (so he knows what he has to remove), as well is an excellent reconstructive surgeon. The surgery horror stories I hear, I believe, are the result of using "plastic" surgeons who know little or nothing about HS and do not remove "all of the disease. Jane at archine@earthlink.net