Botox for Hyperhidrosis or Botox For Sweating – If your excessive armpit sweating has significantly affected your personal, social, and emotional life, Botox underarms treatment could be a game-changer.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Botox injection to treat excessive underarm sweating in 2004. According to the International Hyperhidrosis Society (IHHS), underarm Botox injections can reduce your underarm sweating by 82-87%.
Sweating is a natural physiological process that helps regulate body temperature. When there is a rise in your body temperature, the nervous system activates the sweat glands to produce sweat. In people with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands go into overdrive.
Excessive sweating is one of the most embarrassing problems faced by many people, more so when it’s in the armpits (known in medical terms as “primary axillary hyperhidrosis”). Some people sweat way more than others and way more than what’s healthy. Aside from aesthetic reasons, excessive sweating can also pose a risk for abnormal loss of water and sodium from the body.
Research demonstrates that when patients who have been unresponsive to topical antiperspirants are given botox for hyperhidrosis, they experience a 75% reduction in sweating, an improvement in emotional and physical well-being, and a decrease in activity limitations without any serious adverse events.
If excessive underarm sweating continues to dampen (literally and figuratively!) your armpits, your mood, and your self-confidence, it’s time you call our medical spa for your underarm Botox appointment.
How Does Underarm Botox Work?
Botox is short for Botulinum toxin, a type of neurotoxin that is produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. It’s the same toxin that causes botulism, which is a certain form of food poisoning. Don’t worry though, Botox is very safe if used in small amounts appropriately by a well-trained and experienced professional.
When Botox is injected into a certain area of the body, it can affect the structure and function of acetylcholine, a type of neurotransmitter that influences how the body reacts to a stimulus. In this case, acetylcholine temporarily blocks the nerves in your underarm that stimulate the sweat glands to produce sweat.
Botox has many uses as a cosmetic treatment. It’s used to smooth facial wrinkles by paralyzing some muscles within a specific length of time.
In medicine, Botox is used by doctors to treat muscle spasms, migraines, hyperhidrosis, and certain forms of neuromuscular conditions.
Botox underarm injection is for you If you have excessive sweating in the underarms that even prescription antiperspirants fail to improve
Botox for sweating paralyzes the overactive nerves. Without the nerves signaling your sweat glands, you don’t sweat. Take note, however, that sweating is only prevented in the specific area where Botox was injected. According to the IHHS, the temporary cessation of the function of the sweat glands has little to do with body thermoregulation.
The results of underarm Botox for hyperhidrosis are usually seen within 2-4 days after treatment. People who had the treatment commonly see the full effects within 2 weeks. The effects typically last for 4-12 months.
What’s It Like To Get Underarm Botox For Sweating?
An underarm botox for hyperhidrosis doesn’t take long. The process usually takes 10-15 minutes and can be completed in one session. Our PA will administer the Botox injections just below the surface of the skin of the underarm using a fine needle. The injections will follow a grid pattern on the specific target area. If you have a low threshold to pain, you may be given a numbing agent or ice to prevent pain.
There’s no downtime after an Botox underarms treatment. You can return to work or your daily routine as soon as you leave our medical spa. We will ask you to have a follow-up appointment two weeks after the procedure to check and touch up any areas that have been missed.
How To Prepare For An Underarm Botox Procedure
If you are thinking about having an Botox underarms procedure , why don’t you come in for a consultation session with our PA? It’s important that your medical history can be known to determine whether you can undergo underarm Botox or not. Complete transparency about your medical history during the initial visit is very important.
Any medications you’re taking should be declared but don’t stop taking them unless advised to do so.
What Not To Do Before Having Underarm Botox For Hyperhydrosis
We typically ask clients to avoid shaving their armpits for two to three days before the Botox underarms procedure. If you’re on blood thinners, it’s recommended that you stop taking them for a few days prior to your appointment to prevent bruising.
The Procedure
Before the armpit is disinfected, we have to pinpoint the injection sites. These points generally correspond to the hair-bearing area. Each hydrotic area is marked with a pen. The markings will form like a grid. The injection sites are about 8 mm apart.
After the marking of each armpit is done, the injection area is prepped with betadine. Botox is injected using a 25- or 30- gauge needle on a tuberculin syringe. The needle is then inserted at a 45-degree angle before an approximately 0.05 ml of the Botox solution is injected about 2 mm into the dermis.
The total injection volume per underarm is 50 U of Botox which was found to be the minimal dose necessary to cause anhidrosis in healthy volunteers. In most patients, these 50 U is diluted in 2 mL of normal saline, but in patients with larger armpits, up to 3 mL is occasionally used to reconstitute 50 U.
What Are The Potential Risks And Side Effects Of Botox For Sweating?
Various clinical trials have shown underarm Botox injections to be safe and effective.
One of these studies that evaluated the safety and efficacy of Botox underarms treatment showed that repeated injections of Botox underarms over 16 months are safe and efficacious.
Most people don’t have any adverse reactions to the procedure. Some armpit Botox side effects include:
- Headache
- Pain or bruising at the site of injection
- Flu-like symptoms
- Hives
- Dizziness
- Pain in the injection sites
Side effects Botox for hyperhidrosis are extremely rare and may be caused by Botox affecting your entire body. Rare but serious side effects may develop hours, days, or weeks after the treatment and include:
- Overall muscle weakness
- Vision problems
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of bladder control
- Difficulty in swallowing
How Long Does Botox Underarm Treatments Last?
It will take between 2-7 days for sweating to stop in the treated area. Total dryness usually takes two weeks to be achieved.
Since the effects of Botox for hyperhidrosis are temporary, you will need regular injections to maintain the effect.
Rubbing or massaging of the treated area should be avoided for at least 24 hours after the procedure.
Pros And Cons Of Botox Underarm Treatment
Owing to the multiple benefits that the procedure offers, the popularity of the Botox for sweating is rapidly increasing.
- Botox for hyperhidrosis in the armpit can effectively reduce excessive sweating by more than 82-87%.
- A Botox underarms procedure a non-invasive procedure which means it has fewer risks and short recovery time compared to surgical treatments.
- You don’t have to take time off from work since Botox for sweating in the armpit takes only 10-15 minutes.
- Injection of Botox underarms is approved by the FDA and highly recommended by the IHHS.
Cons Of Botox Underarm Treatment
- Botox for sweating is expensive and you need to shell out money every few months to maintain the effect. This can certainly put a dent in your budget.
- Botox for hyperhidrosis may not be covered by some insurance companies. Some would only do so if you can prove that there’s no other treatment that can address your problem.
Scientific Studies On Underarm Botox
A study conducted on 40 persons compared the efficacy, safety, and duration of action of Botox underarm injections to subcutaneous curettage of sweat glands in patients with axillary hyperhidrosis showed that at 3 months post-treatment, the resting sweat rate in the Botox group improved by 80.32% versus 79.79% in the subcutaneous curettage method. There were no adverse events with Botox underarms treatment compared to very minor adverse events with the subcutaneous curettage.
Another study compared the effectiveness of two methods in the treatment of excessive underarm sweating (axillary hyperhidrosis): suction-curettage and Botox injections. At 3 months post-treatment, Botox injection for hyperhidrosis decreased baseline resting sweat production by 72.1% versus 60.4% for suction-curettage, and baseline exercise-induced sweat production by 73.8% versus 58.8%.
Underarm Botox for hyperhidrosis is contraindicated in the following:
- If Hyperhidrosis is secondary to an underlying medical condition.
- Patients who had undergone surgical de-bulking of sweat glands.
- Severe blood-clotting disorders.
- Existing local infection at the injection site or a systemic infection (we will ask you to return to our medical spa after the infection has cleared up.
- Medical conditions affecting neuromuscular function, such as myasthenia gravis
- Pregnant or breastfeeding female patients
Does Injecting Botox Underarms Stop Smell?
Body odor is one of the problems that are experienced by people with excessive underarm sweating. It certainly adds to the embarrassment while fueling social anxiety. Underarm odor occurs when the sweat mixes with bacteria that are normal inhabitants of the skin. When the liquid ‘mixture’ dries up, the undesirable odor can diffuse from the armpits.
Luckily, Botox for sweating can help stop or minimize smell in the armpits. With Botox shutting down the sweat glands in the area, there will be little or no sweat interacting with the natural bacteria on the skin, thus, underarm odors can be significantly reduced.
How Much Does A Botox Underarm Procedure or Armpit Botox Cost?
The approximate underarm Botox cost is $1,000. That covers the cost for both underarms. Treatment is typically repeated every 7-16 months.
Is Botox Covered By Health Insurance?
Some health insurance providers may cover the cost of Botox for sweating. However, some may only do so if the person can provide supporting evidence that there are no other treatments that would work.
Is There Botox for Hyperhidrosis Near Me?
If you wish to have Botox for armpit sweating injections, Please contact our medical staff to schedule your appointment. We are located in Studio City and serve all patients from Sherman Oaks, Encino and Los Angeles area.
