These injections will be received directly into the area of your body that commonly sweats. This then relaxes those overactive nerves. When your nerves don’t or can’t send a signal to your sweat glands, you don’t sweat. But just to be clear, BOTOX® Cosmetic will only prevent sweating in the specific area that it’s injected.
Studies have shown that BOTOX® Cosmetic can successfully treat all sweaty areas with a success rate of 75-90%. That said, hands/feet/face treatments usually last approximately 4-5 months while underarms can last from 4-14 months.
Injections are done by an experienced injector, typically an RN, Nurse Practitioner or Doctor. Injections will not take too long and will be completed during an office visit. Your injector will use a very fine needle just below the surface of the skin to inject the medication. You’ll receive several injections into your area of concern and sometimes we will apply a numbing agent or ice to assist with any pain. There is no “downtime” associated and you may return to work or your normal activities immediately thereafter. A follow-up exam may also be scheduled.
To prepare for the procedure, avoid shaving your underarms for 2-3 days prior to your appt. And be sure to tell us about any medications that you are currently taking.
Many studies have been done on BOTOX® Cosmetic injections and most people tolerate it extremely well. Your injector will additionally explain all possible risks and side effects at your consultation but a couple more likely side effects include: headache or pain/bruising at the injection site. Within 2-7 days, you will start to notice some dryness in the treated area with full dryness occurring around 14 days.
Because the effects are only temporary, you will need more injections in the future.
Approximately 2 weeks after your treatment, you will typically have a follow up appt to receive any necessary “touch ups”, ie missed spots.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a highly effective treatment for hyperhidrosis for many people and it can dramatically improve quality of life. However, the treatments can be costly and are not always covered by insurance. We encourage you to talk with your insurance company relating to getting your BOTOX® Cosmetic injections covered beforehand.