BOTOX ARMPIT
INJECTIONS
A New Way
To Beat The ‘Heat’
By Leah Jayasanker

Are you searching for a way to loose the excess sweat stains under your armpits? Exhausted with gimmicky deodorant ads? Rest assured relief is on the way. Try Botox injections in your armpits. It’s a secret known well by those that do the red carpet and is becoming widely popular across the nation. To speak further on the benefits of Botox for ‘sweat related issues’ is New York City dermatologist, Dr. Jody Levine.

LJ: What are the benefits of getting Botox injections to reduce sweating under armpits?
JL: Botox injections are used for patients with hyperhidrosis, the medical term for severe sweating. Beyond the embarrassment of having wet armpits and sweat stains on clothes, severe sweating can cause dehydration and skin problems including infections secondary to skin maceration. In addition, severe sweating can lead to strong odors. Botox injections have been shown to decrease both the amount of sweat in the armpits as well as the bad odor from sweating. Injections are helpful for people with sweaty palms who are often embarrassed to shake hands because of their wet palms.
 
LJ: How long do under arm Botox injections last and how much do they cost?
JL: The average length for most patients is 4-6 months with about 2-3 injection sessions per year.
Ninety percent of insurances cover Botox injections for hyperhidrosis. A letter of medical necessity must be submitted by your doctor to get approval. If the injections are considered "cosmetic" and not covered by insurance, costs can range depending on the area of the body treated and the amount of Botox needed. To treat both armpits a full bottle is required, and in New York City the price can range from, $1500-$2000.
 
LJ: What areas are typically treated for hyperhidrosis?
JL: Botox was approved by the FDA in 2004 for injection for the treatment of excessive underarm sweating. The other most common locations for which it is used, off-label, for sweating, are the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. Botox should not be injected into any area of skin that has an infection. I have not had any patients with negative results from Botox usage for sweating. Some side-effects, however, may include injection site pain and bleeding, non-underarm sweating, or infection.

For more on Dr. Jody Alpert Levine, M.D., visit Plastic Surgery & Dermatology of NYC opening in September 2007.