In 2017, TIME magazine dubbed Botox “the drug that’s treating everything.” The arresting headline ran against an even more arresting image: a Swiss Army knife labeled Botox, with three syringes extended outward in place of the usual metal implements.
As dramatic as the TIME cover may seem, Botox might indeed be the Swiss Army tool of nonsurgical medicine. The uses of Botox (and competitors like Dysport) extend well beyond the wrinkle-smoothing it is known for, encompassing both aesthetic and therapeutic treatments.
Today, we’re answering some of your top questions about the applications of Botox. Prepare to be surprised by all that one trailblazing injectable can do!
What Was the Original Purpose of Botox?
Botox was initially developed as a treatment for strabismus, or crossed eyes. Soon after, it was adopted for treating muscle spasms, such as uncontrolled blinking (blepharospasm). These uses continue today as part of 11 therapeutic indications for Botox.
Can Botox Lift Eyebrows?
From Hollywood to cyberspace, the Botox brow lift is making waves. This procedure delivers elevated, elegantly arched brows with just a few injections in the orbicularis oculi muscle. Relaxing this muscle, which pulls down the arch and tail of the brow, lets the brow float upward. The effect is subtle but significant and can be a great alternative to a surgical brow lift for someone seeking a temporary or less invasive procedure.
How Do Injectors Use Botox for Migraines?
The use of Botox for headaches has been big news in recent years. As doctors administered Botox to patients for other conditions, they noticed those patients started to report fewer headaches. Research and FDA approval followed. Today, patients who get Botox for migraines receive injections in various spots on their head and neck approximately every three months. Studies show it can reduce migraine frequency as well as intensity.
What Is a Botox Lip Flip?
If you feel like you are suddenly seeing the words ‘lip flip’ everywhere, you are not alone! The treatment is trending as an option for subtle lip enhancement. Injecting a small amount of Botox along the upper lip border causes the top lip to roll slightly up and outward, so it appears fuller. The effect is less pronounced than dermal fillers and only affects the top lip, but the result can be just as beautiful for the right candidate.
Can I Use Botox to Stop Sweating?
If you struggle with abnormal amounts of sweat and antiperspirant is not up to the task, Botox could be the solution. Injections prevent the sweat glands from receiving signals that trigger perspiration. No signals, no sweat. The FDA has approved Botox for excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) in the underarms. Results typically last four to six months, and the treatment may be covered by insurance.
Is a ‘Botox Nose Job’ a Real Thing?
While it cannot accomplish as much as surgery, Botox can be used to make cosmetic improvements to the nose. Specifically, it can temporarily raise a drooping nasal tip. This is accomplished by administering Botox at the base of the nose (between the nostrils) to release the depressor muscle that pulls the nasal tip downward. This treatment is popularly called a ‘nonsurgical rhinoplasty’ or ‘liquid rhinoplasty.’
Can Botox Help TMJ?
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) refers to pain or dysfunction in the jaw joint. Other symptoms can include teeth clenching or grinding, painful clicking or popping in the joint, headaches, and difficulty moving the mouth comfortably. Relaxing the masseter muscles on the sides of the face with Botox can reduce the chronic pain, tension and inflammation associated with TMJ.
Can I Use Botox to Slim My Face?
A strong masseter muscle can make your jawline look angular and bulky. While this look might flatter some faces, for other faces it creates an aesthetic imbalance, making the lower face look excessively large or heavy. Injecting Botox into the masseters is a popular way to slim and sculpt the jawline without surgery. For other concerns, the combination of Botox and filler is a powerful formula for nonsurgical jawline contouring.
Can Botox Help Bladder Incontinence?
Is nature calling a little too often? Overactive bladder (OAB) affects millions of people and can have a significant detrimental impact on quality of life. Botox can help by relaxing the bladder muscles. This prevents involuntary contractions of the muscles, which can cause people to feel like they have to urinate even when they don’t. The treatment can reduce leakage as well as the sudden urge to urinate. The FDA approved Botox for OAB in 2013.
Do Botox Injections Fix a Gummy Smile?
One cause of a gummy smile is excessive upper lip elevation. Strategically placing Botox into areas above the lip weakens the retractor muscles so the lip cannot raise as high. A couple of units are all that is needed to achieve a beautiful result. Choose your injector for this treatment carefully. It takes experience to know where to inject to maintain a symmetrical smile and ensure the lip does not descend too far.
What Will the Botox Treatments of the Future Look Like?
How many more tools could be added to the Botox Swiss Army knife in the future? New possibilities arise all the time.
While these uses are not yet approved by the FDA, doctors are exploring Botox as a treatment for arthritis pain, acne, cold hands, abnormal heartbeat, premature ejaculation, painful sex and even depression. Another TIME story from 2017 reports that, at the time of publication, Allergan (the company that owns Botox and is now part of AbbVie) held close to 800 patents for potential uses of the drug.
We may only be seeing the tip of one of medicine’s most remarkable icebergs.
Experience Botox at Bespoke Rx
Our goal at Bespoke Rx is simple: to enhance your natural beauty using proven nonsurgical treatments that are tailored to your needs. Botox is not just one of our most popular treatments, it is one of our safest, most versatile and most effective.
If you are a resident of the Tampa, FL, area and are ready to explore the possibilities of Botox, please call 813-548-5390 to request a consultation with Bespoke Rx.
