Is it possible for a 12-year-old girl with axillary odor to undergo surgery?
Aug 27, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Introduction
A 12-year-old girl is still in her developmental stage, and her apocrine glands have not yet fully matured. Surgery at this stage may easily miss underdeveloped apocrine glands, leading to a higher probability of recurrence after surgery. Additionally, the girl's skin is still delicate during this stage, and surgery may cause unnecessary trauma. If the symptoms of bromhidrosis are mild, occurring only after exercise or in hot, humid conditions, regular daily care such as frequent bathing, changing into breathable clothing, and using mild antiperspirant products may suffice.
Generally, surgery is not recommended for 12-year-old girls with bromhidrosis (body odor), and symptoms should be primarily managed through daily hygiene practices. If the bromhidrosis is extremely severe and causes significant psychological distress, surgical intervention may be cautiously considered only after a comprehensive professional evaluation. If in doubt, it is advisable to seek medical consultation in advance. Detailed explanation is as follows:
At 12 years of age, girls are still in a developmental stage, and their apocrine sweat glands have not fully matured. Surgery at this stage may miss underdeveloped sweat glands, leading to a high probability of recurrence after surgery. Moreover, girls' skin is delicate at this stage, and surgery may cause unnecessary trauma. If the bromhidrosis symptoms are mild and occur only after exercise or in hot and humid conditions, regular hygiene practices such as frequent bathing, changing into breathable clothing, and using mild antiperspirant products can effectively reduce odor, making surgery unnecessary.
If the bromhidrosis is intense and persistent, and cannot be relieved even with daily care, significantly affecting the girl's social interactions and studies, and causing evident psychological issues such as inferiority and anxiety, thereby significantly affecting mental health, then it may be appropriate to take the girl to a reputable medical facility. A professional can conduct a comprehensive evaluation of her physical condition and apocrine gland development before cautiously deciding whether surgery is necessary. In such cases, surgical techniques with minimal trauma should be prioritized.
It is important to pay attention to the girl's psychological well-being in daily life to avoid negative emotions caused by bromhidrosis. If surgery is considered, it must be performed at a reputable medical facility, and post-operative care should strictly follow medical guidance to prevent wound infection or poor healing.
