Botox Uses Go Beyond Beauty

December 27th, 2014

Famous for its ability to erase fine lines and wrinkles, Botox has been shown to provide relief for a laundry list of conditions since it was first approved for medical use 25 years ago. In fact, in 2013, more than half of the sales of Botox were for non-cosmetic uses, according to the Daily Mail.

Botox was first used to treat eye spasms, and is commonly used for children suffering from the limb stiffness of cerebral palsy. Botox has been officially approved for 12 conditions. Along with other botulinum toxins, it is being investigated for more than 20 medical uses.

Madison Cosmetic Surgery offers Botox treatments in Madison, Wisconsin, along with other non-surgical skin care options including Restylane, microdermabrasion and chemical peels.

Some of the many ailments Botox can treat include:

* Excessive sweating: Botox temporarily blocks the secretion of the chemical that turns on sweat glands. Studies have shown Botox injections in affected areas — armpits, hands, feet, face — reduce perspiration by more than 50 percent.

* Joint pain: Botox can block nerve signals that transmit pain messages to the brain, and can also ease muscle spasms and tightness around joints. It can help knee, shoulder and hip pain caused by osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

* Incontinence: Botox injected into the bladder wall reduces the spasming of the smooth bladder muscle, easing urge incontinence.

* Foot pain: A Mexican study found that six months after receiving Botox injections, patients with painful plantar fasciitis inflammation had faster and better recovery than those who were injected with steroids.

* Scars: Botox injected in and around thick keloid scars as they are healing can reduce the appearance of the scar.

* Back pain: A few studies have shown Botox to relieve pain by blocking communication between nerves and muscles, stopping or reducing spasms.

* Migrane: The FDA approved Botox for chronic migraine in 2010. In one study, 70 percent of migrane sufferers who received Botox injections into specific areas of their head and neck reduced their attacks by at least half.

* Teeth grinding: Botox is injected into the main chewing muscle to reduce involuntary clenching of the jaw muscles and tooth grinding.

Contact Madison Cosmetic Surgery to find out what our skilled surgeon can do for you.