I had Botox for underarm sweating

[RunningFromInsanity]

Posting this as when I was researching I couldn’t find any personal experiences so maybe in the future someone might find this.

I don’t have an excessive sweating diagnosis but have always sweated a lot under my arms, to the extent where it limits the clothes I can wear. I frequently found myself drying the sweat patches on my clothes under the hand dryer in a bathroom, having tissues stuffed under my arms etc.

So today I had 40 Botox injections under each arm!
The Botox blocks the receptors on the underarm nerves so that they don’t get the signal to release sweat.

I laid on a table whilst the doctor drew a grid on my underarm, and then he did 40 quick injections in each. The whole appointment took 40minutes but most of that was him preparing the liquid/syringes. The actual injections took only 2mins per arm.
I felt a stinging pain for some of the injections and didn’t feel others at all.

I personally hate needles/injections so put on some music and didn’t look. I did feel a bit faint at the end, which I think was due to relief more than anything, so I just laid down for a bit, chatted to the lovely doctor until it passed.

After the appointment I don’t feel any pain at all, no swelling.

I think it takes a week or so to see full results so will update. Results last approx 6 months.

Has anyone else had it, did it work for you?

Ooh did you pay for it (I assume wasn’t NHS) and how much was it?

My eldest has pretty much the exact same problem and it’s made him v self conscious, so I said we’d look into Botox (he’s an adult).

They do offer this on NHS. I had it on my face & scalp for facial & cranial excessive sweating

I didn’t get it on the NHS, paid privately and it was £375 (Cambridge price).

I'd like to know more about the process for facial sweating. I imagined that there was a big risk of facial muscles looking paralysed like people who've clearly had work done

Thank you - we’re actually near Cambridge so that’s a great help.

I’ll talk to him and offer it up as a suggestion.

Just wanted to give an update on this.
I was a bit nervous as the day after I had the Botox I was still sweating as normal and worried it hasn’t worked, but definitely noticed a reduction over the next weeks. Certain times when I would usually have sweat stains, I noticed I didn't, or they were much smaller than normal.

The massive breakthrough was this weekend, I hosted a (stressful, busy, hot) event and wore a long sleeve, coloured cocktail dress. I felt myself sweating a few times but every time I ran to the toilet to do the pit check, there wasn’t a single mark! I would usually have huge underarm sweat stains wearing this type of dress in normal circumstance, let alone when I am busy rushing around.

I was over the moon. If this continues then it would definitely be worth the money. I will keep you updated as to how long it lasts.

Thank you!

My ex had it a few times- worked for him

Do be careful when it's hot now though.

I have a condition where I don't sweat/sweat very little under my arms. Especially if I'm exercising it can be really easy to overheat. I have to make sure I keep drinking, which encourages me to sweat.

@RunningFromInsanity

Can you PM me the clinic if it’s recommended. I’m local.

This was a particular concern of mine as I am very active, the doctor said it wouldn’t be an issue as you aren’t blocking all the sweat glands under the arms, plus you will sweat as normal elsewhere on the body.

Of course. So far, highly recommend them.

I had underarm botox injections for excess sweating around 20 years ago. I used to sweat an awful lot, I always felt that my underarms were wet and I could often smell the sweat and was incredibly self conscious. I had it done on my private health insurance and it was amazing. It made a huge difference to my confidence and I felt so much more comfortable. Unfortunately my insurance would only cover one treatment and so I only had it done the once. Soon after I had children I didn't seem to sweat as much, it must have been hormonal, but in recent years I'm sweating a lot more again and I now can't wear polyester and certain other man made fibres as I just smell of BO within an hour or two. I'm always worried at work that I smell of sweat. If I had the money I would definitely have it done again privately as it made a huge difference to me last time.

A friend did many many years ago. Don't think she had always excessively sweated but for whatever reason had done so for a while. Had botox and the problem went away. I think she just had it as a one off and never needed it again.

Thank you for this thread, OP. I’m very interested in your experiences because I have suffered with underarm hyperhydrosis since adolescence. Normal APD, including the stronger stuff such as Mitchum, doesn’t begin to touch it, so I use Driclor & put up with the skin irritation.

Could I please ask how much the Botox treatment cost? If it’s affordable, effective and tolerable I would be very interested in looking into it.

I’ve had this done every summer for the past 5/6 years.
The strongest anti-perspirants don’t work for me so Botox is life changing. I pay around £200 ish and see a GP who does botox/fillers from her house.
She’s so quick, I can be in and out in twenty minutes.

Sorry, I spotted that you said it was £375. That’s doable, assuming a treatment works for months rather than weeks.

I had it on the nhs numerous times about 10 years ago.
It works for about 6-12 months, then you need a top up, each rime you have it it lasts a little longer.

It made me very confident, and my whole attitude to life changed. That sounds ridiculous but I went from wearing baggy dark tops, to form fitting bright coloured tops because I was no longer worried about pit stains even in the coldest of winters. It also stopped the horrifc sweat rashes I used to get.

They stopped it on the nhs, then offered my electro treatment, that didn't work so they offered me surgery but told me the sweating just moves so I refused it.

I can't afford the treatment so back to baggy clothes and anxiety about my clothing for me. Yay for austerity.

@IntentionalError it lasts between 6-12 months, and each time you get it it lasts a little longer

Cambridge price was £375

@RunningFromInsanity

@Thisismynamenow

Thank you both. 🙂

Not bad, you can pay more than that for a face.

Just an update here, the Botox has worked better than I could have ever hoped.
Haven’t had sweat patches since.

Last night for my Xmas do, I wore a skintight long sleeve thick woollen dress and not a single mark. I’ve never been able to do that before.

I had suffered from excessive underarm sweating since I was a teenager and had the treatment at the beginning of the summer. I only wish I'd had it done 20 years ago!

I'd definitely recommend it if you can afford it. Only downside is my groin is a bit sweatier than before, but that's a minor inconvenience to me.

Just an update 5months on and still no sweat patches!

I was told it would wear off around 4-6months.

Absolutely thrilled, it’s been well worth it and I’m definitely planning on getting it again at the beginning of the Summer.

Just wish I’d done it years ago.