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Therapeutic™ Treatment
The facts about hyperhidrosis BOTOX® Therapeutic™ is frequently used to control hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) of the armpits and palms, and occasionally other parts of the body. About one person in 100 has a serious problem with excessive sweating in these areas. This usually starts in childhood or adolescence, and sometimes other family members have a similar problem. This kind of excess sweating is caused by a reflex reaction of the nervous system and is beyond voluntary control. Excessive sweating is sometimes brought on by stress or heat, but often there is no cause, which can be identified.
Dr. Kevin Smith is a member of the Canadian Hyperhidrosis Advisory Committee, and with several other leading Canadian dermatologists is a member of the Canadian Hyperhidrosis Guidelines Development Group. Dr. Smith has performed over 1,400 treatment sessions using BOTOX® for hyperhidrosis -- helping patients of all ages, and on all parts of the body. BOTOX® Therapeutic™ for excessive sweating is covered by many drug plans – we will do all the necessary paperwork for you.
Many patients who are treated with BOTOX® Therapeutic™ in the axillae are also please to note that there is a great improvement in body odor – “bromhidrosis” – from the axillae!
Considerable emotional and social stigma can be attached to excessive sweating of the hands and armpits, and this can lead to a loss of confidence and self esteem. For example, those afflicted with excessive sweating often feel that -- when people see big sweat marks under their arms or feel their sweaty palms -- they may decide that the individual is nervous or insincere, even when that is not the case.
Social engagements and simple things like physical contact with other people may be avoided because of uncontrollable sweating. Patients afflicted with excessive sweating can routinely soak through clothing in a matter of minutes, and some patients have to use Kotex™ pads in their armpits, shields, absorbent tissues and frequent changes of clothing to cope with the disorder. Shirts and jackets can be quickly stained and ruined, and dry cleaning and replacement of clothing is sometimes a substantial expense.
BOTOX® Therapeutic™ -— hyperhidrosis treatment that works…
Unlike antiperspirants and other topical treatments for excessive sweating, BOTOX Therapeutic™ targets sweating at its source. BOTOX® Therapeutic™ enters the specific glands which are responsible for excessive sweating and blocks the release of a chemical which causes the production of excess perspiration. In clinical studies, 95% of patients with hyperhidrosis that was severe enough to interfere with their daily lives experienced the benefits of BOTOX® Therapeutic™ after just one week, with sweating reduced by an average of 83%.
...and keeps on working
Half of patients report that after one BOTOX® Therapeutic™ treatment they are free of excessive sweating for more than 7 months, and more than one third of patients are still free of excess sweating after one year. Because you continue to sweat normally in other areas, there is no concern about overheating.
Questions to ask yourself when deciding whether or not to investigate BOTOX® Therapeutic™ treatment for excessive sweating include:
Over the past week, how embarrassed or self-conscious have you been because of your sweating?
Over the past week, how much has your sweating interfered with normal activities like shopping or looking after your home?
Over the past week, how much has your sweating influenced the clothes you wear?
Over the past week, how much has sweating affected any social or leisure activities?
Over the past week, how much has sweating made it difficult for you to enjoy any sport?
Over the past week, has your sweating interfered with working or studying?
Over the past week, has your sweating created problems with your partner, friends or relatives?
Over the past week, how much has your sweating created sexual difficulties or interfered with intimacy?
Individuals troubled by excessive sweating often do not respond adequately to antiperspirants, and they may not respond to (or be willing to tolerate) systemic medications, electrical treatments on the areas of excessive sweating, permanent destruction of the nerves which control sweating, or surgery (in the armpits) to either scrape away the sweat glands or to cut out the areas of excessive sweating.
BOTOX® Therapeutic™ treatment, by contrast with the above, is a simple office procedure with little discomfort or risk; and can be much less expensive than surgery. Some people will only want BOTOX® Therapeutic™ treatment before an important event (for example, a wedding). Others, whose sweating is mainly a problem during hot weather, may have BOTOX® Therapeutic™ treatment at the start of every summer. BOTOX® Therapeutic™ treatments can be safely continued year-round if necessary to maintain control of your sweating.
Before your BOTOX® Therapeutic™ treatment, a simple iodine solution will be applied to the area of excessive sweating. This solution is allowed to dry, and then powdered starch (of the sort found in most kitchens) is sprinkled on the area. Where there is excess sweating, the moisture of the sweat allows starch to combine with iodine, producing a dark blue color. This starch-iodine test indicates the precise areas of excess sweating, and allows us to concentrate the BOTOX® Therapeutic™ treatment where it is needed -- reducing both the number of injections and your costs. The blue marks from the starch-iodine test will be wiped off after your BOTOX® Therapeutic™ treatment.
When it is used to control excessive sweating, BOTOX® Therapeutic™ is injected (using ultra-fine needles) into the top layer of the skin (where the sweat glands are) rather than into the muscles under the skin (as is the case when we are treating dynamic wrinkles, muscle tension headaches and some migraine headaches).
Treatment of the underarms is easy, and no anesthetic is needed. Both armpits can be treated at the same time.
In most cases excessive sweating of the hands and feet can be treated without anesthesia. Dr. Smith has pioneered the use of ice to prevent discomfort when treating the palms and soles with BOTOX®, and has taught this technique to other physicians at meetings across Canada, and in the United States and Mexico. Your BOTOX® treatment will be done in a way that greatly reduces sweating with little or no effect on the muscles.
If small areas of troublesome sweating persist, they can be identified with a starch-iodine test and then treated at relatively low cost with BOTOX Therapeutic™ when you return for follow up several weeks later.
After BOTOX® Therapeutic™ treatment, excess sweating starts to decrease within a couple of days, and the full effect in reached in a week or two. The goal of BOTOX® Therapeutic™ is reduction of sweating to a normal level, but not total elimination of sweating to the point where the treated area becomes abnormally dry.
Patients usually report very high satisfaction with BOTOX® Therapeutic™ treatments, return for additional treatments, and would recommend BOTOX® Therapeutic™ treatments to their friends. Dr. Smith’s youngest BOTOX® patient was a lovely little ten year old girl who had excessive sweating of the palms -- she did great, and we are sure you will too!
What is BOTOX®? BOTOX® is a medicine made from a highly purified, naturally occurring protein which has the ability to very precisely relax the muscles to which it is applied. This relaxation lasts for a number of months, and then the treated muscles gradually return to their original condition.
BOTOX® does not affect the nerves responsible for sensation, so there is no numbness in the treated areas.
How much do BOTOX® treatments cost?
In Canada, BOTOX® Cosmetic™ is not expensive; however there is a cost involved.
If your drug plan covers the cost of BOTOX® Therapeutic™ for sweating or headache, your only cost for treatment of the following will be Dr. Smith’s fee. Otherwise, BOTOX® Therapeutic™ will cost you $4 per unit, plus the administration fee. Excessive sweating of the hands or feet: $200 per session for either or both hands, or either or both feet Excessive sweating of the underarms: $150 for either or both underarms, Migraine and muscle tension headache: $200
Remember that any costs for therapeutic treatment that are not covered by a drug plan or health spending account are a tax-deductible medical expense.
What are the possible side effects?
There have been no long-term side effects, allergic reactions or health hazards related to BOTOX® use thus far. Some patients have been getting BOTOX® treatments on a regular basis for more than 15 years with no problems.
Here is an interesting list of myths and facts about BOTOX®:
Myth #1: BOTOX® is unsafe.
FACT: BOTOX® has a long and well-established safety history.
While you may only know BOTOX® as a wrinkle treatment, it has actually been in use for over 21 years for the effective treatment of a range of medical conditions and is one of the most widely researched medicines in the world.
It is reassuring to know that BOTOX® is the most popular physician-administered cosmetic treatment in North America, with an estimated 15 million treatments performed worldwide since BOTOX® was first approved.
In addition, BOTOX® has received a 97% satisfaction rating among users.
Myth #2: BOTOX® will result in the loss of facial expression.
FACT: BOTOX® is intended to enhance the way you look, not change it.
When administered by an experienced physician like Dr. Smith, you can still smile, frown and animate.
BOTOX® treatment only relaxes the muscle beneath the lines at the point of injection, so the other elements of facial expression remain active.
It also has no effect on the sensory nerves, so you will have normal feeling in the treated areas.
Myth #3: BOTOX® is botulism (food poisoning).
FACT: BOTOX® is not botulism.
BOTOX® is a prescription medicine which is made from a highly purified, naturally occurring protein, and has been proven to be very safe and effective over many years of research, testing and clinical use.
Myth #4: BOTOX® treatment is painful.
FACT: BOTOX® treatments by Dr. Smith are quick and simple.
A very fine needle and small amount of liquid is used, so the pain associated with the injection is minimal.
Patients who have had BOTOX® treatment elsewhere in Canada and the United States often remark on how pleasant and pain-free treat by Dr. Smith is.
No anaesthetic is required, and you can resume normal activities immediately.
Myth #5: BOTOX® injections can be given anywhere.
FACT: BOTOX® is a very technique-sensitive procedure.
Make sure to visit a well-trained, highly experienced aesthetic-specialty physician like Dr. Smith [who has performed over 10,000 treatment sessions for cosmetic and therapeutic purposes with BOTOX], and discuss the optimal results you would like to achieve.
BOTOX® should only be administered in appropriate medical settings!
Myth #6: BOTOX® is expensive.
FACT: Considering the long duration of benefit, the cost to you of BOTOX® treatment for hyperhidrosis could be around a dollar a day, if the cost of the BOTOX® is covered by your drug plan. [BOTOX® for hyperhidrosis is covered by just about every drug plan except Green Shield.]
Myth #7: Antiperspirants work better than BOTOX®.
FACT: There is no scientific evidence that supports the claim that antiperspirants work better than BOTOX® for hyperhidrosis. Most patients who come to Dr. Smith for hyperhidrosis have already tried antiperspirants and things like DrySol without success.
The best way to use antiperspirants is:
1. use antiperspirants labelled as "clinical strength" - this is a formulation which penetrates more effectively into the sweat glands
2. apply antiperspirant AT BEDTIME [studies have showed that this is the most effective time]. You can also apply them in the morning if you wish.
3. very important: apply to skin which is AS DRY AS A PIECE OF PAPER. Blow dry the skin [for example, the underarms] if necessary before applying your CLINICAL STRENGTH antiperspirant. A common mistake is to get out of the shower, towel off, then apply antiperspirant to slightly moist skin. The moisture on the skin will reduce the penetration of the antiperspirant into the sweat glands.
Are there people who should not use BOTOX®?
People who are allergic to albumin should generally not be treated with BOTOX®.
Consultations about treatment with BOTOX® or with BOTOX® Therapeutic™ can usually be arranged within two or three weeks simply by calling our special BOTOX® line Toll Free: 1-866-760-1000. Treatment can be done the same day as the consultation, if you wish.
Our staff — many of whom have had BOTOX® treatments themselves — can take the time to discuss your wishes and options, and answer your questions. No referral is required.
Niagara Falls Dermatology & Skin Care Centre Limited Kevin Smith, MD, FRCPC Dermatologist Licensed and inspected by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Board Certified in the United States by the American Board of Dermatology Suite 201, 6453 Morrison Street, Niagara Falls, Ontario
Please call us Toll Free: 1-866-760-1000 if you have any questions, and to arrange for a prompt, confidential consultation and treatment. No referral is needed.
Therapeutic™ Treatment
