Northern Plastic Surgery (NT)
Excessive sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition in which your sweat glands cause excessive sweating that exceeds the normal amount required to maintain body temperature. Most common areas are the underarms, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. People who suffer from hyperhidrosis often feel awkward and are self-conscious by their excessive sweating. It is a condition that affects millions of people around the world and often goes undiagnosed and untreated.
A quick and effective way to treat the condition is by injecting a small amount of purified botulinum injections into the skin. This targets the sweat glands, temporarily slowing down their function, and preventing excessive sweating. Hyperhidrosis can affect any part of the body where sweat glands are found. However, the most common trouble areas are the underarms, palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Although high temperatures or stress can increase perspiration they do not cause hyperhidrosis. Instead, hyperhidrosis may be an inherited predisposition that prevents the body effectively regulating its temperature.
Anti-wrinkle treatment injections can be used to treat axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating), targeting perspiration at its source. When injected it blocks the release of a chemical that triggers perspiration in the specific glands in the underarm responsible for excessive sweating. This is a non-surgical treatment and takes about 15 to 20 minutes and more than 90% of patients have a significant decrease in the amount of sweating. The effects of the treatment last an average of 7.5 months (range 6-9 months). A very fine needle is inserted into the area and the substance injected. Most patients don’t require pain medication, but your doctor may administer a topical anaesthetic or oral analgesic for the more sensitive areas such as the palms and feet.
To avoid bruising, don’t take aspirin seven days before the procedure and two days after. You can return to your normal routine straight after the injection. There is minimal discomfort after the treatment and you can get back to your normal activities straight away. You should expect to see the initial results two to three days after with the best effects about a week later. Slight bruising may occur. Paracetamol can be taken but aspirin should be avoided. This treatment is designed to prevent excessive sweating; however, a ‘normal’ amount of sweating will still occur, especially when exposed to high temperatures, exercise and stress.
Side effects are uncommon and are temporary. Some patients perceived an increase in sweating in areas other than the underarms, pain at the injection site, pain, hot flushes, and transient arm weakness. The substance used to treat Hyperhidrosis has been used for a variety of muscle-spasm medical conditions for many years. The injections are extremely safe. But with every medical procedure there are possible side effects.
You may experience increased sweating at different parts of the body, pain at the injection site, hot flushes, and local muscle weakness. The side effects are usually temporary. The treatment is not recommended in pregnancy and patient with muscle disorders.