Botox for Underarm (armpit) Hyperhidrosis

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Before the treatment begins, the physician will apply a topical anaesthetic to armpits, before leaving it for around 30 minutes so that the numbing can take effect. The underarm will also be swabbed with iodine and dusted with a powder in order to indentify exactly where the sweatiest area is, therefore finding the area that needs treating directly.

With primary axillary hyperhidrosis (that is, excessive sweating of the underarms), a small dose of around 12 -15 drops of Botox is injected into the skin of the underarm. These 12 – 15 drops are applied to each armpit separately. The needle doesn’t go very deep, as the problem area will have already been localised by the iodine swab, so the clinician will be certain about the location of the injections. The needle is also very small, similar to an acupuncture needle in size.

These injections prevent the release of a chemical called acetylcholine. This chemical carries signals from the sympathetic nervous system to the eccrine sweat glands, and this signal basically stimulates the glands to produce sweat. The injections of Botox simply block this signal, therefore greatly reducing sweat production in the area; in this case, the underarms.

The procedure takes around 30 minutes to an hour, and recovery time is about two hours, so you won’t be bed-ridden for days afterwards. After the two hour recovery period you should be able to engage in normal activities again, including driving and exercise. You should be able to notice a significant difference in the amount you sweat after about 5 days to a week, but it could take up to 3 weeks for the full effects to show. The majority of the time the procedure works very well, with about 90% of your regular sweating being reduced. The effects should last for around 6 to 9 months, after this time repeat procedures will be required.

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