erwork is required by our office. Be patient—it is worth the wait. Many sufferers are pleasantly surprised to find out that their plans cover most or all of their BOTOX® neurotoxin treatment for excessive underarm sweating - and usually pay for the treatment out of pocket and then get reimbursed by their unsurance once the paperwork is processed. Now as far as those ruined blouses go . . . BOTOX FOR EXCESSIVE SWEATING (aka HYPERHIDROSIS)
Is excessive underarm sweating interfering with daily activities? Are you afraid to raise your arms in normal situations? Do you hesitate to buy new clothes/socks because they might be ruined by underarm/foot sweat?Do you worry someone will notice your sweat stains? Are you uncomfrotable shaking hands because of excessively sweaty palms?
When excessive sweating gets in the way of your daily activities and antiperspirants haven’t worked, you may be a candidate for BOTOX® treatment.
BOTOX® neurotoxin treatment helps control excessive sweating by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. When the sweat glands don’t receive chemical signals, the excessive sweating stops for about 6 months and sometimes up to a year or more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BOTOX® Cosmetic the same as BOTOX®?
Yes. BOTOX® Cosmetic and BOTOX® are the same formulation. Since BOTOX® neurotoxin treatment was approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) nearly 20 years ago, it has been used to treat a variety of medical conditions. The same formulation with dosing specific to severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis was approved by the FDA in 2004.
Where does the sweat go?
People who need BOTOX® for this condition have overactive sweat glands in their underarms. BOTOX® neurotoxin injections temporarily stop production of sweat in the treated areas only. Sweat continues to be produced elsewhere.Your sweat doesn’t go anywhere or get backed up, because the sweat simply isn’t produced in the areas treated with BOTOX®. Remember, the rest of your body is free to release moisture normally. And if you were to stop BOTOX® treatment, the sweating function would return to normal, which, for over a million Americans is excessive. Think of it this way: say your armpits were like water taps. Just because those taps were shut off for an extended period doesn’t mean that water can’t come out elsewhere in the plumbing. BOTOX® treatment is like that: it only affects the treated areas and is reversible with time.
What is treatment with BOTOX® like?
The actual treatment takes about 10 to 15 minutes. A small amount of BOTOX® solution is injected into the affected area placed just under the skin, so you may experience some injection-related discomfort. The most common side effects following injection include injection-site pain and bleeding, non-injection site sweating, infection, sore throat, flu, headache, fever, neck or back pain, itching and anxiety. You’ll receive about 15 injections during the session, based on Dr. Reinertsons's assessment of the area that needs to be treated.
Bear in mind that BOTOX® treatment is not appropriate for all sufferers. Dr. Reinertson and you will decide if it’s right for you.
What happens after treatment?
You should notice a significant reduction in sweating within 4 weeks of your first treatment. Once the treatment becomes effective, you may be able to stop using dress shields and carrying extra changes of clothing, and you can probably use a regular deodorant instead of a prescription antiperspirant. There is a possibility that some sweat glands may be missed, and you may continue to experience some sweating from the untreated areas. If you do not see a significant reduction in sweating, you should contact Dr. Reinertson's staff and request a follow-up consultation.
How effective is BOTOX® treatment?
BOTOX® neurotoxin treatment is very effective. Clinical studies found that:
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57 out of 104 patients treated with BOTOX® (55%) achieved an effective response, compared to only 6 out of 108 treated without BOTOX® (6%). “Effective response” is defined as an improvement of at least 2 grades on the Hyperhidrosis (HDSS)
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84 out of 104 patients treated with BOTOX® (81%) achieved a greater than 50% reduction in sweating, compared to only 44 out of 108 treated without BOTOX® (41%)
How long does a BOTOX® treatment last?
In a clinical study, the median duration of response in BOTOX® patients was 201 days or 6.7 months. (This means that half the patients had a treatment duration of at least 201 days or 6.7 months.) BOTOX® injections are not a cure—your symptoms will gradually return and you will know when the time is right for another treatment. Your dermatologist will recommend a treatment strategy to ensure that you receive the best possible results with BOTOX® treatment.
How safe is BOTOX® treatment?
BOTOX® has been used therapeutically for nearly 20 years to treat a variety of medical conditions. It is approved in more than 75 countries. In fact, BOTOX® is one of the most widely researched medicines in the world. Dosing specific to treating excessive underarm sweating was approved by the FDA in 2004.
