It’s a little-known fact that BOTOX—the most popular cosmetic treatment in the world—got its start as a way for ophthalmologists to treat patients with crossed eyes, a condition called strabismus. It was even initially marketed as Oculinum. Now known as one of the most versatile drugs available, BOTOX is used for everything from treating depression to alleviating chronic migraines.
For BOTOX patients at our Barrington, IL, practice, there are also other cosmetic uses that you may not know about, in addition to being the go-to injectable for minimizing crow’s feet, worry lines, and horizontal forehead wrinkles.
As with all BOTOX injections, these other uses produce great results only when performed by injectors with the expertise to know where and how much BOTOX to use. Even an injector experienced with using BOTOX as an anti-wrinkle treatment may not have the training to treat other cosmetic concerns.
Conditions Treated With BOTOX
This is definitely not an exhaustive list of the ways physicians can use BOTOX, but these are some of the most common conditions BOTOX injections can treat.
Gummy smile: Some people are self-conscious about smiling because their smiles reveal more gum tissue than teeth. There are actually quite a few causes of this condition, and treatments need to be tailored to the specific cause. In some cases, a gummy smile is the result of a hyperactive upper lip that is normal in length when the face is resting but lifts too high when smiling. Surgery was once the primary treatment recommended for men and women with gummy smiles. BOTOX injections are now an effective, if temporary, option that works by relaxing the muscle that elevates the upper lip in the same way it relaxes muscles that cause wrinkles.
Excessive sweating: This condition, called hyperhidrosis, occurs when someone’s underarm sweat glands are overactive and produce more perspiration than typical. This not only can be embarrassing in both professional and social settings, but it can also be costly because you have to replace shirts or blouses stained with sweat. BOTOX is one treatment option that temporarily prevents the glands from producing sweat. The injections can be repeated and are less expensive than treatments that permanently render the glands useless.
Platysmal bands: What are platysmal bands? These are the vertical bands that appear when you tighten your neck. Aging causes these muscles that run up the left and right sides of the neck to thicken and become noticeably prominent. Many of our patients considering injectables in Barrington are more concerned about their necks’ appearance than any other facial feature. BOTOX injections relax these muscles so they are less noticeable.
Of course, our faces typically age in multiple areas at the same time, and we may recommend combining dermal filler injections or other facial rejuvenation treatments along with BOTOX to get comprehensive results. Other cosmetic uses for BOTOX injections include lip lifts and jawline slimming.
If you’re curious about these lesser-known uses for BOTOX or want to discuss other med spa treatments, contact us using the online form to request a consultation or call us at (847) 382-4400 to schedule an appointment.
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