Using Botox to treat excessive sweating
The Botulinum toxin (also known as Botox) possesses the property to block the transmission of neural impulses from the nerve ends to the muscle fibers. This makes it invaluable in treating hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). The procedure has been used successfully to treat localized hyperhidrosis in the armpits, palms and the soles of the feet. This treatment puts an immediate stop to perspiration and significantly improves your quality of life, regardless of what initially caused the hyperhidrosis.
This procedure is suitable for people who have had unsuccessful antiperspirant and iontophoresis therapies or for those with contraindications for surgical sympathectomy. Treating hyperhidrosis with Botox may suppress your perspiration for up to 9 months or even more depending on your lifestyle and health status.
IMPORTANT
Your dermatologist must verify the safety and quality of the substances used in the procedure. AestheLine Dermatology Clinic only uses Botulinum toxin solutions which have been clinically tested and passed quality certification. Treating hyperhidrosis with Botulinum toxin does not eliminate the underlying cause – it only serves to temporarily suppress perspiration.
What does the procedure involve?
Before starting the actual procedure, we need to do an iodine test. We use iodine and starch to localize and mark the most actively secreting sweat glands. Anesthetic cream is applied at the injection site 20-30 minutes beforehand. After cleaning the skin, the marked areas are injected with a precise dose of Botulinum toxin via micro-needling. You may feel slight to moderate pain during the injection.
What are the contraindications?
Botox procedures are not applied to pregnant and nursing women or patients suffering from the flu or taking antibiotics.
As a side effect of injecting Botulinum toxin in the palms, you may experience muscle weakness when handshaking or holding objects. This passes in up to 2 weeks.
When does the treatment take effect and how long does it last?
The procedure’s effect becomes noticeable on the next day and is most pronounced 2 weeks afterward. Depending on the severity of your condition, the effect may last between 5 and 9 months, sometimes more than a year.
What do we recommend to do before the procedure?
We recommend that you only take light meals for about an hour before the procedure.
You should avoid taking fish oil, Vitamin E and Gingko Biloba for a week before the procedure. It is recommended to discontinue any blood-thinning medication (aspirin, ibuprofen etc.) around 2 weeks before the procedure.
How many procedures should I undergo and how often?
A second treatment of the same area should take place at least 3 months after the first procedure.
Since injecting the same area with toxin more than twice a year is not recommended, you should inform your dermatologist of any previous procedures you have undergone.
