How Many Units of Botox Do I Need for My Underarms?

Underarm sweat is a common source of distress and embarrassment for many people. Although topical antiperspirants help with excessive underarm sweating, they’re often made with harsh chemicals that damage the skin or leave marks on clothes. Luckily, Botox treatments are an effective anti-sweat solution to keep your underarm sweat in check.

So how many Botox units do you need to treat sweaty underarms? The recommended dosage for underarm Botox is 50 units on each side. However, the exact number of units varies per patient because of different factors like the activity of sweat glands per underarm.

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Underarm Botox: How Many Units Are Needed for Hyperhidrosis?

Excessive sweating (or hyperhidrosis) is a common problem that affects millions of Americans every year, but only about 51% of them discuss their problem with a medical professional. It’s an embarrassing medical condition for many since it causes body odor and wet stains on clothes. 

Many people try using antiperspirant products to control excessive underarm sweating (or axillary hyperhidrosis), but they’re usually made of harsh ingredients that damage the skin and leave unwanted marks on clothes. Doctors may also recommend other alternative treatment options like iontophoresis, clinical-strength antiperspirants, anticholinergic medications, laser treatments, or Botox injections.

Botox is a popular cosmetic treatment usually known for its anti-aging properties – smoothing out forehead wrinkles, crow’s feet, and other dynamic wrinkles by relaxing the facial muscle underneath. When administered into the underarms, the neurotoxin injection blocks the nerve signals from the brain that tells the eccrine gland (or sweat gland) to start sweating.

Most patients need about 50 units of Botox hyperhidrosis injections per underarm to experience a reduction in underarm sweating. The injectable is administered into the grid pattern drawn on the armpit on the day of the treatment. But aside from the recommended dosage, there are also other important things about the treatment that patients should know about before visiting a Botox provider.

Recommended Units for Excessive Underarm Sweating

Underarm Botox is an FDA-approved treatment in which the neurotoxin injectable is administered into the underarm to stop excessive sweating. It targets the overactive sweat glands in the area so it won’t receive nerve signals from the brain when it starts telling you to “start sweating.” 

Patients who experience excessive sweating in their palms and feet soles (palmoplantar hyperhidrosis) may also benefit from Botox, but the treatment is considered off-label use.

It takes about 50 units of Botox injections to block the brain signals from reaching the sweat glands on one side of your underarm, effectively reducing the amount of sweat produced there. However, the exact number of units needed still varies per patient depending on their condition and the number of treatment sessions.

Since Botox comes with certain risks, it’s important for the provider to only administer the right amount of neurotoxin injectable in the treatment area. This ensures that patients get the best results without developing complications like headaches or burning pain in the underarms.

Average Cost of Underarm Botox

Botox treatments like those injected into the underarms have varying prices that depend on the number of units needed, location of the clinic, and experience of the Botox provider. Each unit of Botox injection costs around $10 to $15. Since most hyperhidrosis patients need about 50 units of Botox per underarm, the entire procedure for both sides costs around $1000 to $1500.

The results of underarm Botox treatments usually only last for a few months after treatment, so patients need additional counter treatments if they want to keep their underarms sweat-free. However, the expenses of paying for these maintenance treatments easily pile up.

Luckily, some insurance providers pay for the entire or partial cost of Botox treatment for hyperhidrosis when all other treatments don’t work. Just make sure to talk to your insurance company to see if the insurance plan covers the treatment. They also let you know about the required documents needed for the claim.

It might be tempting to find a Botox provider that offers the treatment at a lower rate, especially for hyperhidrosis patients who have to pay the entire treatment cost out of their pocket. However, most of these offers might be too good to be true and only lead to more serious complications later on.

When looking for a Botox provider, make sure to check their credentials and experiences first. Look for reviews from their previous clients to get an insight into how the treatment turns out. It’s important to get the Botox treatment from board-certified doctors, experience providers, and medical professionals to minimize the risk of common side effects.

Results to Expect After Botox for Hyperhidrosis

Patients may resume their daily activities within the same day as their treatment session. It takes a few days for the initial results to start showing, but the full effects are only noticeable after a few weeks. 

Since Botox prevents excessive sweating, many patients are worried that the lack of sweat affects their entire body and the way it cools down. However, only a small part of sweat production happens in the underarms. You still produce sweat in other parts of the body so Botox treatments won’t have negative effects on how you regulate body temperature.

Although Botox treatments produce excellent results for reducing hyperhidrosis, the treatment only lasts for a few months before the body starts metabolizing the neurotoxin injection. Patients may always consult their healthcare provider about getting booster injections for hyperhidrosis to keep their excessive sweating in check for longer.

Possible Risks and Complications of the Treatment

Botox treatments are relatively safe as long as they’re performed by experienced providers and injectors. Most patients tolerate the treatment well, but others may encounter common but mild side effects like:

• Bleeding, bruising, or pain at the injection site
• Skin irritation
• Flu-like symptoms
• Headache

These symptoms go away after a few days as the neurotoxin settles in the treated sites, but make sure to call a physician immediately if they worsen or persist. Finding an experienced provider and following their aftercare instructions help relieve some of these adverse effects and reduce the risk of serious complications like allergic reaction, muscle weakness, loss of bladder control, and difficulty breathing.

Is Botox for Underarms Worth It?

If you’re worried about excessive sweating in your armpit, botulinum toxin injections are one of the best treatments to reduce the sweat in the area. But with many alternatives available, many patients are asking if spending a little extra on underarm Botox is worth their every penny.

How Effective Botox Is

According to clinical studies, Botox is a neurotoxin injectable that reduces the amount of armpit sweat by around 82% to 87%. The results last for a few months until the Botox is slowly metabolized by the body. Overall, most patients are satisfied with their sweat-free results with underarm Botox.

How Botox Compares to Other Hyperhidrosis Treatments

Botox is a safe and effective treatment for axillary hyperhidrosis, but there are other medical treatments that your board-certified dermatologist may recommend. Here are some of them and how they work compared to Botox:

• Iontophoresis involves passing a painless electric current through the water in which the treatment area is submerged. It usually requires about 2 to 4 treatment sessions to work.
• Prescription antiperspirants contain aluminum chloride hexahydrate to reduce excessive sweating. However, it requires a regular application to maintain results.
• Anticholinergics are oral medications that stop nerve impulses and severe sweating. Hyperhidrosis patients usually need to take the prescribed oral medication for a few weeks before seeing improvements.
• miraDry uses microwave energy to heat and destroy sweat glands in the armpit. It usually requires about 2 to 3 treatment sessions to achieve the best results.
• Laser treatments use focused laser light to heat and destroy the underarm sweat glands, but they come with a risk of burns, scars, or other injuries.
• Thoracic sympathectomy is a surgical treatment that involves removing the nerve endings that control the overactive sweat gland. However, this is only considered as a last resort for most patients.

How to Take Care of the Skin After Underarm Botox Procedure

Aftercare instructions for underarm Botox ensures that each patient gets their desired results while minimizing the risk of potential side effects and complications. Here are some of the best tips to take care of the skin after treatment::

• Avoid hot baths and saunas for the rest of the day.
• Postpone any kind of strenuous physical activity for a few days after the initial treatment.
• Apply an ice pack or cold compress to the treated area to relieve mild pain.
• Don’t take blood-thinning medications to avoid bruising and other side effects.

Effective Botox Treatments for Your Underarms at aNu Aesthetics

At aNu Aesthetics, we want to help our patients restore their confidence in their bodies and improve their quality of life. Our team of highly-trained beauty experts and Botox injectors provide excellent underarm injections that reduce excessive sweating in the armpit. We’ll make sure to develop the best treatment plan you deserve for the ultimate medspa experience.

Call us now to book your first appointment.

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Rejuvenate and heal your face with the technique proven time and time again to provide maximum regenerative results: microneedling. Call us today to book your microneedling appointment at aNu Aesthetics.

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