Creative Uses of Botox You Would Have Never Guessed

As Botox procedures continue to become more and more frequent, surgeons are finding clever ways to help patients with a variety of issues. Dr. Peter B. Fodor of Beverly Hills, California, talks about the creative uses of Botox that can help people look and function better.

 

By Peter B. Fodor, MD
and Adam McMillon
ThePlasticSurgeryChannel.com 

Take control of excessive sweating with Botox

Are you often uncomfortable from sweaty palms or excessive sweating in your underarms? Botox may be the answer. Hyperhidrosis is a condition that causes sweat glands across the body to abnormally perspire. Typical treatment of hyperhidrosis involves a barrage of medication, or, if the condition continues, surgical destruction/removal of sweat glands. Dr. Fodor attacks hyperhidrosis with a unique utilization of Botox: “If we inject the glands that cause the sweating with Botox, we can diminish significantly the patients sweat production.” As with any Botox procedure, the effects last 9 months to a year, so patients undergoing this non-surgical procedure will have to do so at least once a year. The benefit, however, is evading major surgery and medicinal treatments to be free of clammy hands and overly sweaty underarms.

Eliminate teeth grinding with a Botox injection

Another creative use of Botox involves decreasing the strength of the masseter, the large muscle in the face responsible for chewing. In some cases, the muscle is abnormally strong and causes a condition known as bruxism. Patients afflicted with this condition grind their teeth incessantly, normally at night, which causes a variety of health issues ranging from anxiety to migraines to eating disorders. A common side effect of bruxism is a square jaw, due to the overly trained muscle. Surgeons have found that Botox can significantly lessen the effects of bruxism by injecting it into the masseter to reduce its strength. “The muscle is so strong that you can safely diminish its strength by 15-20%,” says Fodor. “We accomplish two things using this technique with patients…”

• “The Botox injection significantly reduces grinding of the teeth to a point where patients do not need to wear a night guard.”
• “The injection helps the face to return to an oval shape, a sign of youth.”

A simple procedure to end migraines

Believe it or not, Botox can also be used to curb, if not eliminate, migraine headaches, says Fodor. The injection is done at sites on the forehead that are known to trigger migraine headaches. “The procedure is proactive,” says Fodor. “Botox injections at certain trigger points can lessen, if not block, migraine headaches from nine months to a year. The patients can have the procedure repeated after this amount of time to maintain a defense against migraines.” An easy, yearly Botox injection can achieve highly successful results at blocking the headaches before they begin, unlike medicines that can only attempt to lessen the pain.

More than just a wrinkle smoother

With continued practice and research, the abilities of Botox to aid patients with issues without costing major surgery prices are growing, says Fodor. Many other uses, such as lowering the upper lip to hide that “gummy smile,” lifting up corners of the mouth, and the raising of the tip of your nose, are all achievable with simple Botox injections. Consult a board certified plastic surgeon regarding any issue, and see if perhaps Botox can be used for fast, effective results.