Sweating is how your body keeps itself cool during hot weather. Sweating also happens when you get nervous. While perspiration occurs all over your body, having it in the underarms can cause odor, which can be a repellant to your social interactions and a significant cause of embarrassment.
Deodorants and antiperspirants can help, but if you still get moist underarms and an unpleasant odor, Botox injections may be the answer to your concerns. It is an FDA-approved treatment that reduces underarm sweating by up to 80%, along with that funky odor emanating from your armpits.
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What is Underarm Botox?
Underarm Botox is a treatment for excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) of the underarms. It is usually provided when other treatment options are unsuccessful. It involves injecting Botox or botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin produced by a specific microbe called Clostridium botulinum. Although it is a toxic byproduct, Botox has been considered safe for several medical and cosmetic treatments.
During underarm Botox treatment, a series of botulinum toxin injections are administered into the armpits to block chemical signaling between sweat glands and their respective nerves. This results in a significant reduction of sweating in the treated region.
That said, getting underarm Botox doesn’t put you completely off the hook; your armpits may still sweat a little, which could result in some odor. You can wear deodorant or antiperspirant to prevent this odor.
How Does It Work?
Sweating occurs when the neurotransmitter acetylcholine binds with the sweat glands, signaling them to release sweat. This is generally when your nervous system activates the release of acetylcholine with the temperature rise in your surroundings. This natural process keeps your body cool.
However, in the case of hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating, the nerves that signal your sweat glands become hyperactive. Administering Botox injections in this scenario prevents acetylcholine’s release.
As a result, most nerve signals are prevented from reaching sweat glands, reducing armpit sweating significantly. The procedure to administer Botox injections can last 20-30 minutes, during which you may receive 15-20 injections in each armpit. These injections are generally administered through very fine needles.
Preparation
Botox is a safe and straightforward procedure that doesn’t require much preparation. Still, your doctor may ask you to avoid shaving your armpits for 2-3 days before the treatment. They may also ask you to avoid taking blood thinners.
Discussing your health conditions with the practitioner during the initial consultation is highly advisable. Moreover, you must discuss your current medications with the doctor.
Aftercare
Underarm Botox is a minimally invasive procedure with little aftercare required. Hence, you can go home as soon as the procedure is complete. There will be some tenderness in the treated area for a day or two, but it won’t be a significant cause of concern.
You may be advised not to use deodorant for a couple of days after the treatment to avoid irritation. You must also avoid strenuous physical activities and hot baths for 48 hours.
Your doctor may ask you to pay a follow-up visit after a couple of weeks to ask for feedback. They will also look for any spots that may have been missed during the procedure.
Pros of Underarm Botox
The most significant advantage of underarm Botox is its primary function: a substantial reduction in underarm sweating. Other benefits of underarm Botox are as follows.
A Minimally Invasive Procedure
Underarm Botox is administered using thin needles, which cause only minimal discomfort during the procedure. There are no surgical incisions involved in this treatment. Hence, there won’t be any wounds and scars to deal with afterward. The recovery duration is short, and no downtime is required after the procedure.
A Short Duration Procedure
The underarm Botox procedure takes only 20-30 minutes to complete. A cosmetician administers multiple injections into the treatment area. The number of injections may depend on the severity of the condition. It is a lunchtime procedure after which you can walk out of the clinic and resume your routine activities instantly.
FDA-Approved Treatment
Globally trusted bodies like the FDA and IHHS approve Botox as a safe and effective option to treat hyperhidrosis of the armpits. Not only does this treatment reduce underarm sweating, but it is also safe for the nerves in the treated area.
Long-Lasting Results
With a short, straightforward, almost pain-free procedure, underarm Botox gives sweat-free armpits for a decently long duration. You can reduce excessive sweating with this treatment for six to twelve months. After that, your underarm sweating will gradually increase and return to its pre-treatment state in a few months. However, you can extend treatment results through repeat sessions.
Cons of Underarm Botox
Like many other treatments, underarm Botox can carry some pitfalls. As a rule of thumb, you want to weigh those cons to determine if this treatment is worth a shot.
What are those cons? Here is a brief overview.
It Can Be an Expensive Treatment
Due to the high cost per injection, Botox for hyperhidrosis can be expensive. The average price of this treatment in the USA can range from $1000 and $1500. And in a cultural hub like Dubai, where the medical-cosmetic industry has thrived well over the past few years, the underarm Botox’s cost lies within the 2500 AED-3000 AED bracket. Several factors come into play when determining the cost of underarm Botox, such as the number of injections, the clinic’s location, and the practitioner’s expertise.
Not a Permanent Solution
The results of underarm Botox do not last a lifetime. At best, your armpits will remain sweat-free for 6-12 months. But soon after that, sweating will increase progressively and revert to its pre-treatment state in a few months.
Other Side Effects of Underarm Botox
In rare cases, some side effects may occur after underarm Botox treatment. These are generally mild complications that subside in a few days.
The most common side effects of Botox for hyperhidrosis include the following:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Bruising and mild pain in the treated region
- Skin rashes
- Loss of bladder control
- Muscular weakness
- Difficulty breathing and swallowing
- Fever
- Dry mouth
How Effective Is Botox For Sweating?
Without a doubt, hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating can jeopardize your social, professional, and emotional well-being. But if you think this problem cannot be addressed without a complicated medical procedure, think again, as Botox offers a much-needed rescue.
Botox injections are highly effective in treating hyperhidrosis, which the FDA has acknowledged and approved as a viable treatment.
This treatment only shuts down a part of the nerve communication that activates sweat glands without damaging the nerves in the treated region. The treated area produces 80% less sweat when the treatment comes into effect. Botox has proved to be a highly trusted option to treat hyperhidrosis, as several clinical studies indicate a 98% satisfaction rate among the treated candidates.
Bottom Line
Is it worth getting Botox injections to treat hyperhidrosis of the armpits? According to most candidates who received this treatment, the answer is YES. With minimal risk and high result expectancy, this treatment has become a go-to option to reduce excessive perspiration of the underarms.
Botox is a revolutionary treatment for underarm sweating. With this in mind that your armpits are not sweating excessively, and you are not a source of that unpleasant sweaty odor, you can confidently walk into your social circle or interact with your coworkers at the workplace.
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