Is Botox under your arms safe and what will it do to the rest of your body?

Yes. This procedure is safe and effective. Excessive sweating from the underarms can be a real problem. There are two solutions currently including neuromodulators (Botox & Dysport) and MiraDry. We have had great success with MiraDry and it is the only permanent underarm treatment available. 

When using MiraDry it is common to require a second treatment. Most people only need one treatment (72%) while much less require a second (28%) treatment. This is the best technology that has been developed for his issue so far. 

Botox has been FDA approved for Axillary hyperhidrosis since 2004.In our office, we have had good experience with Botox injections to the armpits.  We have treated patients, staff, and family members.  We typically use 50 units per armpit.   I have had a couple of patients tell me it is the first time they wore a powder blue shirt in years. The red carpet models also like to do this before big events.  You will still sweat with exercise.  You won't harm yourself by controlling excessive sweating.Jeffrey J. Roth, M.D., F.A.C.S.Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLas Vegas Plastic Surgery

Botox is a great option since it stays locally and does not diffuse systemically throughout the body.  Botox can last 6-9 months (lasts longer for sweat glands than for muscles).  For patients who want a more permanent reduction, consider the use of Miradry or Radiofrequency needling.

You are only treating a very small percent of sweat glands so you will be fine to treat them.  Botox is safe but I encourage all of my patients to do MiraDry.  It is a longer more permanent answer to their problem and very effective.  Best of luck!

Hi Lilly,
You won't typically sweat more in other places by limiting the sweat under your arms. There is actually a lot of great new research out that may mark Botox as safer than using your regular store-bought deodorant. 

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  Botox is a safe and effective treatment to reduce hyperhidrosis of the underarm area.  Your body will compensate for the lack of sweating but it will not be as evident as the baseline sweating felt in your armpits.  Hope this helps.

The use of Botox for treating excessive sweating (dripping sweat) under the arms goes back at least two decades. So, this form of treatment, which is also routinely used for treating excessive sweating on the forehead, as well as palms and soles has long, proven record for efficacy and safety. Although increased compensatory sweating elsewhere may occur, it is usually of little practical significance. The entire treatment procedure, which entails injecting mosquito bite like droplets of Botox throughout the entire armpit, takes about ten minutes (five minutes per side) to complete, and the results usually last for up to nine months. Make sure that you seek treatment by a board certified dermatologist. Best of luck. 

Yes, Botox is safe to be used to treat under-arm sweating. It won't cause you to sweat more in other areas. Treatment will last 3-6 months. See an expert for a formal evaluation. Best, Dr. Emer

Botox/Disport ( OnabotulinumtoxinA)  has the ability to "turn off" the body's sweat glands by temporarily blocking  the secretion of the chemical messengers at the area where it has been injected. This is a safe and effective(with 82-87% decrease in sweating) underarm treatment due to excessive sweating.  "Results start to be noticeable approximately 2 to 4 days after treatment with the full effects usually noted within 2 weeks and  typically lasting 4 to 12 months." It has nothing to do with body thermoregulation because this treatment ONLY affects the  sweat glands' function. Compensatory sweating (sweating on other body parts, very common after  surgical treatments-Thoracic Sympathectomy) has not been found to be an issue at all .

Thank you for your question. No, Botox will not cause you to sweat more in other areas. Botox works very well for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), especially for under the arms.  Botox will relieve sweating by 80%. I recommend having a consultation with an expert to discuss your concerns and to determine the best treatment plan for you. Best of Luck!