Botox : Not Just for Wrinkles Anymore

Botox®, the medication approved by FDA for medical and cosmetic purposes is best known for its ability to temporarily erase wrinkles. It is common knowledge that Botox is administered to smooth frown lines and crow's feet but many people are not aware that Botox can be used to treat a variety of conditions : 

 Botox is well known as an effective wrinkle eraser

 1) Reduce Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)

Excessive sweating of the armpits, palms or soles is an embarrasing complaint and can interfere with many daily activities. Fortunately, Botox can be injected to temporarily block the activity of sweat glands, and thus decrease sweating. The effects typically last about 6 months after which a repeat procedure will be needed.

2) Reduce Muscle Bulk

V-shaped faces have been an envy of many Asian women. As one of the common causes for a square jaw line in Asians is due to a bulky masseter muscle (chewing muscle), Botox can be administered to shrink the size of the masseter muscle. The procedure is simple and without any recovery time. However, the patient may need to wait up to 2 months to see significant results. Applying the same theory, Botox can also be used to tone down bulky calf muscles to give the appearance of slimmer legs.

Photo source : Dr. Kyle Seo
Left photo :  before Botox treatment
Right photo : slimmer jawline after treatment

3) Neck Rejuvenation

Aging causes the platysma neck muscles to weaken and eventually leads to "turkey neck" appearance which is characterised by pronounced vertical neck bands. Botox can be used to relax the platysma muscle and minimise the unsightly neck bands. This treatment is most appropriate for patients not keen on surgery but would like a smoother, more youthful looking neck line.

 

4) Lower Face Improvements

Small amounts of Botox can be injected to temporarily diminish the appearance of “gummy smile”, which refers to a smile where excess upper gum is showing. Besides that, Botox can be used to smooth a dimpled chin and produce a subtle upturn to the corners of the mouth to give a more pleasant appearance. Lastly, Botox may also be administered to provide subtle lifting and improve the contours of the neck and jawline in a procedure known as “Nefertitit Lift” (named after Nefertiti, an Egyptian queen famed for her beauty and in this instance, her well defined jaw line).

Queen Nefertiti is famed for her elegant neck

Do note that some of the above mentioned treatments are considered off-label uses of Botox. Currently, F.D.A. has only approved Botox for treating certain eye muscle disorders, neck muscle spasms, excessive underarm sweating, muscle spasticity in the elbows and hands, chronic migraine and eyebrow furrows. As Botox has an excellent safety record, side effects are minimal and usually non-permanent .It is important for patients to consult a qualified and experience medical professional to ensure a favorable treatment outcome.