Underarm Botox

One of the most embarrassing problems that almost all of us face yet we are too ashamed to talk about is excessive sweating in some of the not-so-flattering parts of the body – the armpits.

We all have been there where we go out putting on our favorite dresses only for them to get drenched with our underarm sweat. Not only it is embarrassing for others to see it but it causes a severe sense of discomfort. No matter how much talcum powder you may apply to keep the area dry, it just doesn’t work.

But thankfully, advances in the medical and cosmetic field have widened the horizons of body control more than ever now. And the area of underarm sweating hasn’t been left behind. Yes, you might have heard of underarm Botox before but it is still a new concept about which many don’t have a clear vision.

This is why we are bringing before you a rational explanation of the entire process and all the pros and cons it bears for you.

Understanding Botox

To break down the concept of underarm Botox, we believe in taking a holistic approach so that you have a 360° understanding of how it functions.

Now, whenever people hear the term Botox, they, for the most part, associated it with the cosmetic industry. Well, they are not wrong to do so since it is primarily done to enhance one’s appearance. But, Botox has other less-known benefits which most people are not unaware of. But what exactly Botox is at its core?

To say in the simplest terms, it is essentially a drug that is used to either paralyze or weaken cells, tissues and muscles. As such, it can play pivotal roles in reducing wrinkles, fine lines, forehead lines, crow’s feet, glabellar lines, cobblestones, and frown lines, among others.

It is a type of protein that is made from the Botulinum toxin, which in turn, is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It can be found in nature in forests, lakes, soil, and even in the intestinal tracts of several fish and mammals.

Although it is extremely dangerous, when used in small proportions, it can have various cosmetic and medical benefits. This is why you should always get Botox injections under the strict supervision of trained professionals and a controlled environment.

As we said before, people usually associate Botox with cosmetic implications but you would be surprised to know the reach of Botox in taking care of other noted anatomical issues.

Botox can be used to treat crossed eyes, migraine headaches, overactive bladder, upper limb spasticity, eyelid spasms, and cervical dystonia. Apart from these, research is going on because it is believed that Botox can also potentially treat sialorrhea, post-herpetic neuralgia, alopecia, psoriasis, dyshidrotic eczema, anismus, vulvodynia, achalasia, hidradenitis suppurativa, and Raynaud’s disease.

This brings us to our main concern for today, which is underarm sweating. Let us see how Botox takes care of this situation.

What is Underarm Botox?

Sweating is a natural process that all of us undergo almost on a daily basis, to varying degrees. But, there are people who sweat way more than others and way more than it is healthy. For them, getting medical treatment is of paramount importance so that they don’t lose more water and sodium from their body than it is necessary.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States and the International Hyperhidrosis Society (IHHS) have both stated and approved that Botox can help treat excessive sweating and can lower its effect by around 82-87%.

You can witness the results within 14-15 days of the treatment and its effect can last anywhere between four months to more than a year in some cases. Although Botox injections for controlling sweating have been approved by FDA for underarms only.

However, research is still going on whether such injections can help control sweating in other parts of your body such as your hands, face, head, or feet.

The Mechanism of Underarm Botox

The neurotoxins present in a Botox injection helps in controlling the functionalities and structure of your nervous system. In other words, it can help alter the functionalities of the concerned neurotransmitters that are responsible for excessive sweating.

A Botox injection has the capacity to block the neurotransmitters that alert your sweat glands to get activated, thereby reducing and controlling the excessive sweating in the treated area.

Now, you may be wondering regarding the cost of such treatments. Well, Botox should only be done from certified places because of how precarious the whole process is. An experienced medical professional would be the best judge of the proportions and doses of Botox injections. The injections have to be repeated every 4-12 months (depending on your conditions). So, it is an ongoing process.

The entire process can be completed within 10-15 minutes. The medical professional numbs the concerned area with local anesthesia or ice to help ease any discomfort or pain. He or she then injects a small dose of Botox in a grid pattern under your skin with the injection sites being around 1-2 cm apart from one another.

Before the process, we strongly advise you to have a consultation session with the medical professional where you need to lay down your medical history so that he or she can have a better grasp of whether you can undergo this process or not. It is also recommended to not shave 3-4 days prior to the treatment.

It is also suggested to not massage or rub the treated area for at least 24 hours after the treatment. This ensures that the toxin doesn’t spread to other areas of the body. Speak in detail with your doctor regarding the dos and don’ts after this treatment.

Pros of Underarm Botox

Despite being a relatively new concept, the popularity of underarm Botox is increasing at a pretty fast rate, owing to the multiple pros this process brings with itself, primary among them being the following points.

• It is extremely effective which is evident by IHHS’s report that it can reduce excessive sweating by more than 80%.
• It is a non-invasive treatment that is always preferred over surgical treatments due to the fewer risks and short recovery time involved.
• You don’t have to allot a huge chunk of your time to the process since it can be completed within 10-15 minutes.
• It has been approved by major trusted sources such as the FDA and IHHS.

Cons of Underarm Botox

Many people experience mild side effects after a Botox injection. These may include anaphylaxis or muscle weakness. Although they are not alarming, if you continue to have them for 2-3 days, then you should definitely get back to your doctor.

However, some individuals have reported the following side-effects of underarm Botox, which are pretty severe.

• Skin hives
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Difficulty in breathing
• Difficulty in speaking
• Dizziness
• Loss of bladder control
• Vision problems
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Dry mouth
• Burning pain in underarms

Besides, as we have discussed above, the high cost of this process can’t be ignored. On top of that, it is not permanent and you have to invest money in it after every few months. So, it can dig a hole in your pocket.

Now, insurance may or may not cover underarm Botox depending on your location. And even then, they would only do so if you can prove to them that there is no alternative treatment available.

Conclusion

The implications of Botox are extremely wide and more and more study is being done every day to understand how it can help us more. Yes, there are certain side-effects involved with underarm Botox, but if you do it from a reputed medical clinic under the supervision of a certified dermatologist, then you would be able to mitigate those side-effects pretty easily.

Be completely transparent about your medical history during the consultation process. This involves letting your doctor know of everything, right from major accidents to minor allergies to your medication.

The non-invasive, quick, and highly effective aspect associated with underarm Botox makes it a favorable treatment. However, the cost and side-effects (which can be subjective) should be considered too.

References

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2695293/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4218921/

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21714579/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3705293/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7781989/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1117980/