When you think about BOTOX®, you probably immediately think about its efficiency as an anti-aging treatment to keep fine lines and wrinkles at bay. While it’s true that the most popular and well-known use of BOTOX® is to help eliminate existing wrinkles and prevent new ones from forming by creating short-term muscle paralysis, many people have never heard of its other beneficial uses, which are both cosmetic and therapeutic. Here are some of our favorites.
Facial “Lifts”
BOTOX® is growing in popularity as a minimally invasive alternative to cosmetic surgery. When provided by a skilled injector, BOTOX® can help duplicate the look of a lift in the eyebrow and eyelid area, helping eyes appear more alert and open. Aside from lifting brows, injecting BOTOX® precisely at the base of the nose can help raise the tip, mimicking the look of a rhinoplasty. Finally, the BOTOX® “lip flip” can create poutier lips by rolling the lip line outward subtly.
Muscle Spasms
Because BOTOX® is a neuromodulator, it works by blocking nerve impulses and preventing muscles from being able to contract. Repetitive, unwanted muscle spasms like eye twitching can be both annoying and distracting, so when injected into those muscles, BOTOX® helps prevent these symptoms from occurring.
Excessive Sweating
Hyperhidrosis, the scientific term for excessive sweating, is embarrassing and inconvenient. Doctors noticed their patients who received BOTOX® for muscle spasms also tended to sweat less, which led to the FDA approval of BOTOX® for hyperhidrosis in 2004. If your sweating hasn’t responded to other, more traditional, treatments, such as prescription-strength antiperspirants, you may be a good candidate for BOTOX® to treat unwanted perspiration.
While you may assume the injections only work well in the underarm area, they can be highly effective on any area of your body where excessive sweat is a problem, including the palms of your hands or the soles of your feet. Though results aren’t permanent, they typically last up to half a year, making them a convenient solution for keeping your cool and making sure your clothes remain free of sweat stains.
Migraines
If you’ve ever undergone the debilitating symptoms of a migraine, you know they are well beyond an average headache. You would do just about anything to find relief from the acute, throbbing pain, chills, nausea, dizziness, and distorted vision migraines can provide. Thanks to its dynamic properties, BOTOX® is FDA-approved to provide migraine treatment. As a “silver lining,” the injection points for treating migraines are often near those for improving wrinkles, so you can solve two problems simultaneously.
Slimming
Creative use of BOTOX® on the lower cheeks is becoming more popular for those seeking to create a slimmer-looking facial profile. If you’re looking for a thinner and more defined face shape without getting a more invasive surgical procedure such as a facelift, BOTOX® can offer an easier, more comfortable, and less expensive alternative without the need for recovery time.
Acne
If you struggle with frequent acne breakouts, you probably feel like you have tried every remedy on the shelf. But did you know BOTOX® might be your most effective weapon in the battle to achieve clear skin? Studies have shown injecting BOTOX® into active acne lesions can lessen the production of excess sebum and oil buildup, eventually leading to cleaner pores and a healthier complexion.
Is BOTOX® Right for You?
BOTOX® is a blockbuster treatment because it is highly effective at stopping wrinkles in their tracks, but it is also excellent at addressing a variety of surprising alternative conditions. Whether you are considering BOTOX® for wrinkle reduction or one of the other concerns on this list, you owe it to yourself to seek treatment from one of our four board-certified physicians at The Maryland Institute of Plastic Surgery.
Our cosmetic surgeons are well-versed in all the most recent innovations in skin care and aesthetic medicine, and we take a personalized approach to provide our patients with the best treatment available in the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area. Contact either our Columbia or Baltimore office to schedule a consultation today.