In the 1960s, an ophthalmologist by the name of Dr. Alan Scott discovered he could cure crossed eyes with the help of botulinum toxin type A, a purified botulism strain. In the early 1990s, an injectable form of the same substance, called Botox, was used to paralyze tight facial muscles and minimize the appearance of wrinkles. Today, people seek Botox treatment for everything from brow lifts to breast enhancement to hair restoration. As the body of Botox research continues to grow, the medical and cosmetic benefits of Botox continue to increase.
Migraine Medicine
Although scientists cannot explain exactly why, Botox injections to the head, neck, and shoulder area can quell a migraine. Both Britain and the United States are now legally administering this FDA-approved treatment to chronic migraine sufferers.
Sweat Stopper
People who suffer from excessive sweating can receive FDA-approved Botox injections in their underarms, palms, and the soles of their feet. The Botox prevents the sweat glands from making secretions temporarily, for up to seven months.
Bladder Blessing
When Botox is injected into an overactive bladder, the bladder muscles relax, expanding urine capacity. For people with bladder incontinence, this blessing of treatment can provide up to six months of reassuring urinary control.
Muscle Spasm Solution
Several years ago, the FDA approved the use of Botox for the treatment of limb spasticity. Injections are used to treat the severe muscle spasms which often result from traumatic brain injury, stroke, and other neurological conditions.
Botox isn’t just about smoothing skin and erasing wrinkles anymore. As the medical community broadens their understanding of this important drug, more and more patients are getting to know, and appreciate, the many faces of Botox.
Botox is a wonderful product and I have personally been using it for more than 15 years with extreme success. Essentially, Botox does exactly what we want it to do every single time that we use it and is, therefore, extraordinarily consistent at providing us relaxation of muscles that create facial wrinkles. Obviously, as this article states, there are other indications for Botox but at Campbell Facial Plastic Surgery and Quintessa Medical Spa, we tend to stick with the use of Botox in the facial region as that is our specialty. We do, however, have many patients who get other advantages from the Botox including relief from headaches even though we are actually treating them for cosmetic purposes.
