Another Use for Botox — 100 Injections Under Each Arm
And I’ll be going back in 6 months to do it again.
When I first told my mom I was getting Botox, she rolled her eyes at me and warned me against ruining my face. She adamantly claimed no 23-year old needs Botox.
That was a common reaction I got among my family — and they were wrong for a couple of reasons. For one, it’s common for dermatologists to recommend something called “baby Botox” when you’re in your early to mid-twenties. “Baby Botox” is small doses of Botox injected into the face to help prevent wrinkles before they ever happen. And second, I wasn’t getting Botox in my face; I was getting it in my armpits.
It’s not cute to admit, but I’ve dealt with Hyperhidrosis for most of my life. Hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes you to sweat across different parts of your body excessively, and for me, it was under my arms.
And I don’t mean sweating a lot when I’m at the gym, or on a hot day; I mean only sweating under my arms while sitting at my desk in my room with the thermostat at 65 degrees. While this isn’t dangerous, it does a number on your self-confidence.
Specifically, as a teen, when my mom used to edit out any sweat marks from my homecoming and prom pictures — thanks, Mom.
After trying every single deodorant and wipe Amazon has to offer, I decided I needed to do something a little more drastic.
Botox injections for my armpits.
Most people are aware of Botox as a cosmetic procedure to help with wrinkles, but it can also help with excessive sweat. Botox actually blocks the nerve signals responsible for making you sweat, which stops them from overproducing.
I was excited about this procedure- but also terrified.
Everything I read online said the procedure was excruciating and that the Dermatologist would have to inject you 100 times total — 50 times under each arm. There’s also the warning they make you read first that says in rare cases, Botox can get into your bloodstream and cause your lungs, heart, or bladder to stop working.
Absolutely terrifying. And due to the nerves regenerating, this isn’t a permanent solution. Studies show you’ll eventually be able to longer between sessions, but on average, you’ll need to have injections every six months to keep Hyperhidrosis under control.
The morning of my appointment, I drove to my doctor’s office with an entire bottle of numbing cream under both arms wrapped in saran wrap. Also not a cute look, but I was doing everything I could to help with this unimaginable pain everyone online talked about.
There I was, laying on the table with my arms above my head, preparing for the terrible pain and the possibility that my heart, lungs, and bladder were about to stop working.
But let me tell you, I barely felt a thing.
My Dermatologist was terrific, and he spent maybe five minutes on each arm. The pain was a solid 3/10. Honestly, getting my eyebrows threaded hurt more. And 12-hours later, my heart, lungs, and bladder are still working, so I think I’m in the clear.
The best part? It’s already started to work.
The difference I’ve experienced has already made the experience worth it, and I definitely will be going back in 6-months to do it again. The confidence this has given me already is insane, and I couldn’t be happier.
Also, since Hyperhidrosis is considered a medical condition, my insurance covered the procedure with a small copay of $45.
So, if you suffer from excessive sweating and, like me, have spent well over $45 on every deodorant and anti-sweat wipe out there, you might want to try Botox under your arms. Maybe you’ll love it as much as I do.
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