Beyond Beauty: 5 Lesser Known Uses For Botox

When we hear the word Botox, many of us associate it with all of its anti-aging benefits, however, there are multiple uses for this magic serum that goes beyond the traditional uses for Botox. In more recent years, there has been an increase in medical use for Botox, treating conditions that medication alone may not help.

Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes excessive sweating in the underarms, palms and sides of the feet. This condition is quite common with at least 2-3% of Americans seeking relief through medication or prescription strength deodorant with no relief. Considering there is no single cause, it’s difficult to treat the main root of what’s causing the issue. Excessive sweating can be brought on by numerous factors and some cases may be hereditary while other situations can be a telltale sign of a more serious, underlying condition.

To treat Hyperhidrosis, a small amount of Botox is injected right below the surface of the skin to prevent glands from producing sweat for up to two years. Botox treatment for Hyperhidrosis, specifically for excessive underarm sweat, received FDA clearance in 2004 and has been proven to be effective in other areas as well.

Chronic Migraines

For individuals that are suffering from chronic migraines, characterized by intense pulsing or throbbing pain in one area, often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light and sound may seek relief from Botox treatment. The ideal candidate for Botox is any individual that suffers more than 14 days in one month and are expected to achieve immediate relief. Aside from the traditional uses for Botox on the face, this product has been the number one prescribed brand for migraine treatment. The more frequent the patient experiences discomfort, the more relief they will achieve.

To treat chronic migraines, Botox is injected into the shallow muscles around the head and neck which then enters the nerve endings to block the release of chemicals involved in pain transmission. This Botox treatment ultimately prevents headaches and migraines before they start, offering relief to those most commonly affected.

Involuntary Neck Spasms

Severe neck spasms, also known as Cervical Dystonia, has a similar treatment to chronic migraine cases. The Botox works to block neural impulses to the muscles in the injected areas. This prevents involuntary muscle contractions and offers relief by relaxing the injected muscles. This further helps relieve pain and returns normal range of motion and movement to the neck. There are no known causes for Cervical Dystonia which can be aggravated by everyday occurrences like stress or simply walking.

Lazy Eye

Strabismus, also known as “Lazy Eye” is a condition where the eyes don't look in the same direction at the same time. Surprisingly, Botox was originally created to treat the “lazy eye” in the 1970’s, as it’s a safe and effective method of changing the position of the affected eye. By injecting a small amount of Botox into one or more intraocular muscles that control eye movement, tension is loosened, helping to temporarily realign the eye. This treatment should be done every 3-4 months by an eye expert only.

Urinary Incontinence

Extending beyond the uses for Botox cosmetically, this product has received FDA approval in 2013 for the treatment of urinary incontinence, also known as an overactive bladder. This condition, characterized by the strong urge to urinate is quite common, effecting 44% of Americans, mostly woman over the age of 65. For some, Botox treatment has proven to be more effective than most prescription medication, offering temporary relief up to 6 months.

This treatment works by injecting a small amount of Botox directly into the bladder, ultimately blocking the binding of Acetylcholine, two of the neurotransmitters between nerves going to the bladder and the bladder itself. This ultimately leads to the inability to contract, preventing unwanted bladder contractions to occur.

Learn More!

More often than not, Botox is followed by a negative connotation due to the overdone, overfilled faces that we’ve seen in past years of Hollywood. However, the magic of Botox goes far beyond proper cosmetic treatment and can help with a with a wide variety of health conditions.

If you are interested in learning more about our procedures, visit BeautyFixMedSpa.com or call 212-366-4787 to schedule your free consultation in one of our New York locations today!