Timeline
What happens, and when
This is the same class of product used for facial lines, used for an entirely different purpose and at much higher doses. The sequence is closer to a medical appointment than a cosmetic one, and the results last longer.
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Before
Consultation
The provider establishes how much the sweating affects daily life, what you have already tried, and whether it is confined to specific areas or general. Clinical antiperspirants are usually expected to have been tried first. They will also ask about anything that might point to a cause elsewhere, since sweating that is generalised or new is treated differently from long standing sweating in specific areas.
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Day 0
Mapping and treatment
Some providers use a starch and iodine test first, which stains the actively sweating area dark and shows exactly where to treat. The area is then marked in a grid and a large number of very shallow injections are placed across it. Underarms are straightforward. Palms and soles are considerably more uncomfortable and are often done with a nerve block or strong topical numbing.
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Day 2-4
Sweating begins to reduce
Most people notice a change within the first few days as the treated glands stop responding.
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Day 14
Full effect
The result is settled by around two weeks. Reduction is usually substantial rather than total, and some sweating in the area is normal and expected. Providers assess at this point and can treat any patches that were missed.
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Month 4-6
The effect fades
This treatment typically lasts longer than the same product used in the face, commonly four to six months and sometimes longer in the underarms. Sweating returns gradually rather than suddenly.
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Ongoing
Repeat treatment
Most people settle into a schedule of two treatments a year, often timed so the effect covers the warmer months. Results are temporary and the treatment needs repeating to be maintained.
Cost
What it costs in Napa
Most people in the Napa area pay roughly $800 to $1,500 per session for both underarms. Prices vary by provider and treatment area, so ask for a quote at consultation.
This is one of the more expensive treatments in the category, for the same reason masseter treatment is: the dose is large. Treating both underarms commonly uses several times the product of a facial treatment, and palms and soles typically use more again.
There is one important difference from every other treatment on this site. Treatment for excessive underarm sweating is a recognized medical use rather than a cosmetic one, and some insurance plans cover it when a clinician documents that it is interfering with daily life and that antiperspirants have not worked. Coverage varies widely by plan and usually requires prior authorization.
That makes the first question to a Napa practice a different one from usual: not what it costs, but whether they bill insurance for it at all. Some medical spas do not and treat it as a cash service. Dermatology practices are more likely to.
Questions worth asking about price
- Do you bill insurance for this, or is it cash only?
- If you bill insurance, what documentation does my plan need first?
- What is the cash price for both underarms, including any mapping test?
- What would palms or soles cost, and is numbing charged separately?
Suitability
Who it tends to suit
This treatment suits people whose sweating is confined to specific areas, has been going on for a long time, and interferes with work, clothing or daily life in a way that clinical strength antiperspirants have not resolved. That combination is what providers are listening for at consultation.
Sweating that started recently, affects the whole body, happens at night, or comes alongside other symptoms is a different situation. Providers will generally want that looked into rather than treated cosmetically, because it can point to a cause that needs addressing directly. Raising it plainly saves everyone time.
Providers screen as they would for any product in this class, including pregnancy and breastfeeding, certain neuromuscular conditions, known sensitivity to ingredients and infection in the area. For palms specifically, they should discuss the possibility of temporary weakness in the small muscles of the hand, which matters more to some people's work than others.
Worth mentioning at consultation
- Which antiperspirants you have tried, including any prescribed ones.
- Whether the sweating is confined to specific areas or general.
- Whether it happens at night as well as during the day.
- For palms: whether your work depends on fine grip strength.
Questions
Questions people ask
How long does it last?
Commonly four to six months in the underarms, sometimes longer, which is more than the same product achieves in the face. Palms and soles often run shorter. Most people end up having it twice a year, and many time it so the effect covers the warmer months.
Does it hurt?
Underarms are tolerable for most people: the injections are very shallow and quick, though there are a lot of them. Palms and soles are genuinely uncomfortable, and providers usually offer a nerve block, strong topical numbing or ice for those areas. Ask what pain management they use before booking a hand or foot treatment.
Will I stop sweating completely?
No, and that is not the aim. The result is a substantial reduction in the treated area rather than the elimination of sweating, and some residual sweating is normal. Sweating elsewhere on the body continues as usual, which is what you would want.
Is it covered by insurance?
Sometimes, for underarm treatment, when a clinician documents that it interferes with daily life and that antiperspirants have failed. It is treated as a medical rather than a cosmetic use in that situation. Coverage depends on your plan and usually needs prior authorization, so ask the practice's billing staff before assuming either way.
Can I have my hands and feet done?
Yes, and both are commonly treated, though they are more uncomfortable than underarms and usually cost more because they take more product and more time. For hands, providers should discuss the possibility of temporary weakness in grip, which is worth weighing if your work depends on it.
Which Napa practices offer this?
Call (707) 207-8167 and we will point you toward licensed providers offering hyperhidrosis treatment in Napa and the surrounding Napa County communities, including Yountville, St Helena, Calistoga and American Canyon.