Botulinum Toxin treatment for excessive sweating is a life changing procedure which works brilliantly. It is a procedure which is much more effective and which is free of significant side effects when comparing to the surgical and abrasive deodorant alternatives.
Many patients tell us that excessive sweating from their armpits or hands is socially very restrictive and embarrassing. It means that they have to wear dark clothes or have to layer their clothes, even in hot weather so that the wet patches under the arms do not show.
How does it work?
Botulinum Toxin treatment for hyperhidrosis works similarly to treatments for facial lines and wrinkles, in that it works by blocking nerve impulses. In the case of hyperhidrosis treatment the is injected through a tiny needle superficially under the skin, where the sweat glands are found, and it works by blocking the nerve impulses going to the sweat glands.
What can this procedure treat?
The classical and most popular treatment is the underarm sweating. Hand sweating is the second most requested procedure, but sweating in areas such as the face, pubic area and feet can also be treated.
How good are the results?
The results are amazing, with most of our patients describing them as life changing . The improvement of sweating is classically 80%-100% and it should last 6-12 months. This really is the holy grail for our patients who have tried many other things with no success.
Does it hurt?
The treatment only takes 5-10 minutes, and is very painless. Numbing cream can be applied to your armpits before treatment, but the needles are so tiny that there is normally no need. Many patients have commented that the sensation is similar to acupuncture and most find it a relatively painless procedure.
Treatment of hand sweating can be more painful making the procedure slightly more difficult for some patients.
Is it safe?
Botulinum toxin is a protein derived from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, having undergone a proven safe and highly effective purification process. It is therefore organic and completely safe. Since the early 1970s it has been used in treating conditions in many fields of medicine including neurology and ophthalmology and it has been used in aesthetic medicine for over 20 years.
In over 30 years of use in medicine, there have never been any reported serious allergic reactions and with such longevity we can say with certainty that there are no long term side effects. The most important thing to remember is that this treatment is non-permanent and very safe. The is metabolised at the injection site and it does not spread to any other parts of the body.
Are there any side effects?
Treatment of underarm sweating is a procedure with no significant side effects at all. Even though there may be a little bit of tenderness and bruising this is never significant.
When treating the hands there is a slight risk of local muscle weakness.