Excessive sweating can be an embarrassing problem that keeps you from living life to the fullest. If you suffer from excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), then you’re not alone – according to research, roughly 15.3 million people in the United States deal with excessive sweating as well.
While clinical antiperspirants and other treatments may help some people, others are turning to Botox to help curb severe sweating.
What is Botox?
Botox is the brand name for an FDA-approved family of injectables that utilize botulinum toxin as the active ingredient. It’s most commonly used for aesthetic treatments such as wrinkle reduction and jaw contouring, but it can also be an excellent treatment for focal hyperhidrosis.
Botox is a neurotoxin that blocks nerve signals to targeted tissues in the body. For aesthetic purposes, this helps to reduce the appearance of existing wrinkles and prevent new ones from forming. For excessive sweating, this means it blocks the nerve impulses that trigger your body to overproduce sweat.
How Can Botox Treat Excess Underarm Sweating?
Targeted Botox injections “turn off” sweating in that area by temporarily blocking the chemical signals that typically cause your body to produce too much sweat.
Botox works best in small, targeted areas, making it especially effective for underarms. One study showed up to an 87 percent decrease in underarm sweating for patients treated with Botox.
What Can I Expect During This Procedure?
Injections are generally quick and relatively painless. Your provider will typically use a local anesthetic to minimize any discomfort from needle pricks. He or she will use a very thin needle to inject the targeted site in a grid pattern. For most people, the procedure takes less than 20 minutes.
There is no prescribed downtime or restriction of activity following these treatments. However, you may experience some swelling or mild bruising immediately afterward. Some people prefer to take a day to rest and let the swelling subside, but it is not required.
In most cases, you will have a follow-up appointment about two weeks post-procedure to ensure you’re getting the full benefit of the injections. If needed, your plastic surgeon will “touch up” any areas that may have been missed initially.
Who Is a Good Candidate For Botox?
Men and women who meet the following criteria are usually good candidates for Botox:
- Unable to control sweating with antiperspirants
- Unresponsive to prescription treatments
- Sweating interferes with daily life
- Sweating is localized to a particular area such as the armpits
- Willing to maintain a regular injection schedule to control sweating
What Kinds of Results Can Botox Treatments Achieve?
For most people, a single session is enough to experience significantly reduced sweating. Because results are temporary, patients can return every 4-6 months to maintain control over their sweating.
Board-Certified Plastic Surgeons Can Help You Regain Your Confidence
In general, it’s best to seek out a board-certified plastic surgeon’s office to administer Botox treatments. Surgeons who are accredited through the American Society of Plastic Surgeons have extensive training in delivering safe, effective results, so you can feel confident about your procedure outcomes.
Excessive sweating can have a severe impact on your self-esteem and overall quality of life. Don’t let excessive sweat decide how you’ll live your life. Botox can be a simple, but effective life-changing solution.
