Q: I have heard that botox injections can be used for a number of medical treatments, apart from wrinkle relaxing injections? What treatments are they?A: That is absolutely correct, Botox ®is made from Botulinum Toxin A which is primarily used in the aesthetic industry to soften/reduce dynamic lines and wrinkles.However It is also used for a number of other medical conditions:Hyperhidrosis: This is the medical term for excessive sweating. It can be embarrassing and socially quite distressing for people who suffer from this condition. Botox injections are injected into the armpits on a grid system. Botox ® blocks the neurotransmitters that tell the eccrine ( sweat ) glands to produce sweat. Results are normally seen within the week and allows the sufferer to have some relief for up to 6 months before new nerves grow that make the sweating come back.Manage acne. Botox can curb oil production, reducing breakouts. Tiny amounts of Botox ® injected very superficially help reduce oil production, and you can still have facial expressions. And though it can technically be used to quell oil production anywhere on the face, caution must be exercised against using it all over because of potential effects on muscular activity (a.k.a. frozen face). The most effective and common area for using Botox ® to curb oil production is the forehead.Botox ® nose-job thing: Around age 40, your nose can begin to sag and become more hooked, which can make your whole face appear droopy; Botox ® can help by lifting the nose and taking off years in about ten minutes. For this type of treatment, Botox is injected at the base of the nose (between the nostrils), which can release the depressor muscle that pulls the nose downward, making the whole face appear more lifted.Softening the jawline and chin. Clenching teeth can make the jaw wider over time; Botox ® can be injected into the masseter muscles that become bigger with overuse into the area, which shrinks the muscle and narrows the jawline. The results, which last for a year, can also have other positive effects, like making your cheeks appear more lifted and relieving the pain and soreness that can result from teeth grinding.Tightening jowls: If your jawline starts looking less defined, small amounts can be injected along the jawline to tighten it up.Neck smoothing: Horizontal wrinkles can be temporarily erased with what some dermatologists call a “Botox ® necklace.” Tiny amounts are injected into the muscles above and below the lines, all the way around the neck; when they relax, the skin looks smoother. Neck muscles can start to enlarge and protrude as we age, resulting in the appearance of thick, tight cords. And if that didn’t already sound bad enough, the muscles in the neck and the superficial muscles of the face are connected to one another, so the neck can pull the rest of your facial features forward. Botox ®, once again, is the answer. Relaxing the neck muscles leads to softened wrinkles, gets rid of the cords, and lifts the face.Migraines: It’s not totally understood how Botox ® works for migraines.The theory is that it blocks the pain signals being sent to the brain and that it relaxes the muscles in the head so they’re not as sensitive to pain. Botox ® is injected into the forehead, temples, and scalp and sometimes the back of the neck. It is appropriate for patients who have frequent migraine attacks that aren’t improving appropriately with traditional migraine medications.It can have potential side effects, such as a frozen forehead.Here are some of the alternative medical uses of Botox ®. Back to our blog
