Do you sweat profusely? That can be annoying because sweat also releases an unpleasant smell. One solution to reduce sweating is to get underarm botox.
Sweating is normal and can actually be good for your health.
However, if it happens for no particular reason and no remedies or OTC treatments have successfully controlled it, you can consider getting botox.
Botox is a neurotoxin that is safe for cosmetic and medicinal purposes.
This article discusses how you can prevent excessive sweating by getting botox in your underarms.
Let’s know more about the procedure below.
Procedure for Underarm Botox
A dermatologist can inject botulinum toxin in both of your underarms in only 10 minutes.
You should look for a doctor that is certified in using Botox and can provide treatment for excessive underarm sweating and not only wrinkles.
You can find details on physicians who work in using botox for sweating in the database of the International Hyperhidrosis Society.
The health professional will begin to insert botox using small injections, right beneath the skin.
They will use a grid pattern to inject where the injection sites are only 1 to 2 centimeters away.
The number of injections in each armpit may differ according to your situation but you will usually need 15 to 25 injections in each.
This may sound nightmarish but first, the doctor marks the areas with ink to inject Botox carefully and next, they will use a fine needle.
Hence, it will not be as painful but rather uncomfortable.
Before injecting, your doctor in a dermatological clinic will numb the skin using a local anesthetic or ice.
This prevents from feeling any pain.
The procedure can take 45 minutes in total.
You may wonder how that will affect underarm sweat.
Well, Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxin which are chemical substances that affect the function and structure of the nervous system.
Botox injections, work on the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
Neurotransmitters are essentially chemicals that tell your body to react in a certain way.
Acetylcholine binds to sweat glands in order to indicate a sweat release.
However, botox blocks acetylcholine’s release.
Therefore, the overactive nerves are now paralyzed and they cannot signal the sweat glands to release sweat.
It will not affect any touch or sensation in your arm rather it will treat excessive sweating only in areas where the botox was injected.
Does It Work?
Botox treatment for armpit sweat is FDA-approved.
These injections can reduce excessive sweating and underarm moisture significantly by 82 to 87 percent.
The results will take a while to show. It will take 2 to 4 days to see some changes while the full effect is achieved 2 weeks later.
The results will last for 3 to 12 months.
It is a temporary solution as you will need them again as booster injections.
Booster injections will be needed after every 7 to 16 months.
Besides that, the body odor will significantly decrease too.
This works as the odor stems from the bacteria that live in moist and warm areas. Once, you remove the moisture, the smell dispels too.
While sweating may reduce after the treatment, it will not exactly finish.
It is one of the axillary hyperhidrosis treatments. Since there may still be sweating, you cannot forego deodorant and antiperspirants.
However, your doctor will advise you to avoid them for at least 12 to 24 hours after the procedure.
They will also recommend avoiding hot baths for a day or two to prevent irritation.
Though, the underarms are not the only place where there might be sweating.
In fact, areas of the body such as the hands, feet, head, face, chest, back and nose can get sweaty too.
However, getting botox injections at these parts can prove to be painful and result in side effects.
Since it can get a little complicated, you should only get these from an expert in the field.
They will also know who is not fit for getting botox.
For instance, people with Myasthenia Gravis should stay clear of it. They are not candidates for botox.
The doctor will also guide you on the preparations and aftercare of the procedure.
More below!
Underarm Botox Aftercare and Preparation
Before beginning the procedure, your doctor will book an appointment to know of any medical conditions you are suffering from.
Since it is not suited to everyone, let them know your medical history and whether you take any blood thinners.
You will need to stop blood thinners a few days prior to the treatment in order to prevent bruising.
Besides that, discuss all the medications you take and only stop them if your doctor instructs you to.
While coming to the clinic, they will guide about wearing the right clothes. This will probably be a short sleeves shirt to reach the underarms easily and one dark in color to prevent ink stains from showing.
Moreover, you should not shave your underarms 3 to 4 days prior to the procedure.
The aftercare is simple. You can go about your day as usual after the treatment without needing any downtime.
Though you should avoid applying deodorants, perfumes, antiperspirants, take a hot water shower and bath and exercise for the rest of the day.
Keep avoiding these for at least 12 to 24 hours or the time your doctor recommends.
Other than that, you will only feel tenderness around the treatment area. This will likely go away in a day or two.
The doctor will schedule a follow-up appointment at least a week or two later after the procedure ends.
This appointment will allow the doctor to see your progress and touch up any missing areas.
They will also schedule this to look for another thing, side effects.
Side effects of botox are rare but they are still possible.
Let’s find out about them below!
Side Effects
Botox underarms side effects can occur even if rarely.
They are generally safe to get.
The follow-up appointment with your doctor will highlight any of the side effects occurring so that you can treat them timely.
Among these, the common ones are:
- toxicity
- severe muscle weakness
- severe allergic reaction i.e. anaphylaxis
- skin irritation
- bleeding
- headache
- fatigue
- dry mouth
- pain at the injection site
- a bruise at the treatment area
- flu symptoms
- eye dryness, facial paralysis, droopy eyelid for facial botox injections
Muscle weakness is a common side effect of botox. Severe muscle weakness can cause asymmetry.
While this usually happens when the treatment site is the palm rather than the underarms, muscle weakness in the entire body needs immediate medical attention.
Other severe side effects include:
- vision problems facing difficulty seeing
- losing bladder control
- having skin rash and hives
- facing difficulty in speaking, breathing and swallowing
In case you are experiencing any of these symptoms, rush to your doctor to seek immediate medical attention.
Concerns
Do you think that sweat is important for the body to cool off so will blocking its release affect how your body cools down?
Rest assured, getting botox in your armpits does not affect sweating in your entire body. Each area just has a fraction of sweat glands and in your underarms, there is only 2 percent of them.
Thus affecting the sweat glands in the underarms does not prevent your body from cooling down.
Also if you are concerned that sweating less in your underarms will increase sweating in the rest of the body then that isn’t true either.
There may be no side effects at all or minor side effects after the treatment.
Though, if you notice any concerning symptoms then visit your doctor soon.
Underarm Botox Pros and Cons
Pros
It is a generally safe procedure with minimal side effects if any.
Moreover, it is effective and long-lasting. You can go without booster injections for as long as a year.
Since they reduce sweat release by 82 to 87 percent, the injections are highly effective.
Besides that, it is a less invasive procedure than surgery.
The pain resulting is also minimal and can be controlled with a local anesthetic or ice.
Cons
Botox for underarms may be long-lasting but it is still temporary.
It is not a permanent solution to controlling excessive sweat. You will need booster injections eventually if you want the results to continue longer.
This treatment is also costly. The expenses are huge in comparison to dealing with sweating with deodorants and perfumes.
Plus, you will need booster injections after every 7 to 16 months which adds up the expenses.
You must also remember that Botox treatment is not FDA-approved for other areas of the body except for the underarms.
It can in fact be quite painful to inject them into the soles of the feet and the palms.
While the procedure is generally safe, there can always be a possibility of getting severe side effects. Keep that in mind before getting the treatment.
In Conclusion
Now that you know the pros and cons, side effects as well as effectiveness of underarm botox, weigh your options to see if this is the right treatment for controlling your sweat.
Nonetheless, you will have sweat-free and odor-free underarms for a few months. Hence, you can choose to get the injections before a special occasion.
