Reading Botox for Hyperhidrosis
Safe, effective, and fast-acting treatment for excessive sweating
Do you sweat under your arms for no reason at all? It’s normal to sweat a little when in a warm room, sitting on a crowded train, or feeling nervous about a job interview or first date. However, if you sweat a lot in these situations—or for no good reason at all—you may have axillary hyperhidrosis, a condition that causes excessive sweating in the armpits.
Do I have hyperhidrosis?
Signs you may have hyperhidrosis include:
- Frequently sweating through clothing
- Sweating for no apparent reason
- Inability to control sweat with antiperspirants (even prescription-strength products may not work)
How can Botox stop excessive sweating?
Hyperhidrosis is caused by overactive sweat glands. Essentially, the brain sends signals via nerves to sweat glands to produce more sweat than necessary to keep your temperature regulated. When injected into the armpits, Botox works by temporary blocking these signals, so your glands don’t receive the message to sweat.
Following a Botox treatment, most patients sweat less than half as much as they did before, and many say they stay dry throughout the day for the first time in their lives.
Benefits of Botox for sweat reduction
There are several technologies for non-surgical sweat reduction available, but Botox offers certain advantages over microwave treatments (e.g., MiraDry) that make it a great option for most patients:
- Only one treatment needed for maximum results. In clinical studies, 81% of patients achieved a 50% or greater reduction in sweat after their first treatment.
- Each treatment takes only 15 to 30 minutes. Other treatments can take an hour or longer. Most patients need no downtime after Botox injections.
- Most patients say Botox doesn’t hurt. You will receive 10 to 15 injections per armpit using a very short, fine needle. We will also provide a topical anesthetic to numb the area prior to injections.
- Effects last 6 months on average. The typical patient only needs two treatments per year to keep their underarm sweat to a minimum!
- Botox does not destroy your sweat glands. Microwave treatments physically destroy sweat glands—not something everyone is comfortable with. Botox only stops the nerve signals, so there is no permanent damage to any tissues.
- We can also use Botox to treat sweating on the hands and feet. This is considered off-label use, so if you are seeking this treatment, be sure you go to a board certified plastic surgeon!
How much does Botox for hyperhidrosis cost?
The cost of treating hyperhidrosis with Botox depends on the amount of Botox needed for optimal results. The average patient requires about 50 units of Botox per armpit, which roughly translates to $1,200 to $1,500 per treatment.
At Berks Plastic Surgery, we work with several reputable financing companies that will allow you to divide costs into affordable monthly payments. Additionally, Allergan, the manufacturer of Botox, offers a special savings program for patients receiving treatment for hyperhidrosis.
Is Botox my only option to treat hyperhidrosis?
In addition to Botox, we also offer a more permanent option to reduce sweat, PrecisionTx™. This is a minimally invasive treatment that uses a laser to destroy sweat glands in the treatment area. At a free cosmetic consultation, we can go over both Botox and PrecisionTx™ and help you determine the right option to help you stop sweating excessively, so you can feel more confident in any situation.
