Most of us, by now, know that Botox is an injectable product that helps people to look younger. It was introduced as a cosmetic solution in 1989 and has only grown more popular since. It helps to address stubborn wrinkles on the face, relaxing the muscles that contract in order to form those wrinkles. The results are truly remarkable! However, Botox has a wealth of other uses, some of which it has received FDA approval for, that many people aren’t aware of.
9 Surprising Botox Uses
- It helps to stop excessive sweating. In fact, it is one of the things that the S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)originally approved it for!
- It can improve your smile. Botox has not received FDA approval for this, but some physicians are now using Botox on people with a “gummy smile”, which means they lift their upper lip too much. When the lip is injected, the muscles relax and this means the upper lip stays low during a smile. Results last between four and six month.
- It can give a full brow lift, by injecting it into the temples and just above the brow. This instantly makes people look younger, but in a very natural way.
- It can give a breast lift! It has not yet received FDA approval for this, and it is so far only being offered to women who have smaller breasts. However, when injected into the pectoralis minor muscle, the shoulder pulls back, lifting saggy breasts. It does not, therefore, enlarge the breasts. Rather, it makes them look perkier.
- It can slim down your calves. Again, this is an off-label use, but it has been found to really slim down the look of particularly bulky or large calves. This is because it causes slight atrophy in the lower leg muscles.
- It provides relief from chronic migraines. The FDA has approved physicians to administer 31 vials of Botox into seven specific arounds around the shoulders, neck, forehead, and temple. This can help to keep migraines at bay. The result usually last around three months.
- It can reduce the appearance of square, strong jaws, something that is not classed as attractive to women. Botox can be injected into the jaw, making the masseter muscle weaker and giving a softer appearance. Bruxism (clenching of the jaw) and temporomandibular joint disorder can also be treated in the same way.
- It helps to prevent wrinkles. We all know that using Botox can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles. However, research now suggests that, if injections start before the wrinkles first appear, wrinkles will not develop at a later age. This makes sense, as wrinkles are formed through the constant usage of certain muscles, so if Botox stops those muscles from working, the wrinkles won’t form either.
- Various other conditions, including enlarged prostate, overactive bladder, diabetic neuropathy, wound healing, pancreatic disorders, cervical dystonia, cross eyes (strabismus), uncontrolled blinking (belpharospasm), and hair loss.
Clearly, Botox is a about a lot more than freezing wrinkles!