When the current ETS procedure was developed around 40 years ago, there was not much in the way of alternatives to help reduce or eliminate problem sweating. This meant that ETS was really the only option available at that time.

Nowdays, there is a range of non-invasive treatments available which include oral medications, MiraDry and Dermadry/iontophoresis which are all quite successful in reducing sweating WITHOUT the side-effects brought on by ETS. This means that since the early 2000's, ETS surgery has made a steady decline and is no longer common place or even recommended as a treatment for problem sweating.

This is why so many modern day GP's and medical specialists have never even heard of ETS surgery. Some might say "Yeah we learnt about that whilst at university," but apart from that, most have never seen or heard of it again. Just like the lobotomy of the 1940's-50's, ETS surgery has become an outdated procedure and is mostly performed by older surgeons who have failed to keep up with advances in medical technology.