Botox isn’t just a fabulous remedy for achieving younger looking skin. Rather, its benefits extend way further than that. Since the demand has grown by a staggering 797 percent since 2000, it’s no wonder that our fascination with this wonder drug continues to grow.

So, in light of that, let’s dive into the many benefits of Botox.

1. Eye Conditions

Botox is used to treat multiple eye conditions. Interestingly, doctors often use Botox injections to address problems such as strabismus and blepharospasm.

Strabismus is a misalignment of the eyes and is more commonly known as ‘crossed-eyed.’ An abnormality in the neuromuscular control causes this affliction which impacts the movement of our eyes. Blepharospasm is a condition that forces the eyelids to close. You may know this better as ‘rapid eye blinking.’ Botox aids both conditions!

2. Excessive Sweating

It’s fascinating that the benefits of Botox extend to treating those suffering from excessive sweating. Botox has been proven to inhibit sweat glands and thereby stifle the production of sweat.

The proper name for this medical condition is Primary Axillary Hyperhidrosis. Doctors began to notice that patients who received Botox were less sweaty, and in 2004, it was approved as a sweat reducing drug.

3. Overactive Bladder Treatment

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also given Botox the green flag for treating patients who suffer from an overactive bladder. Adults over the age of 18 can have Botox administered to them as a form of treatment.

However, Botox is usually the last resort. Other forms of medication are taken and trialed before prescribing Botox. This can be relied upon if nothing else works, or the patient is unable to take the different types of treatment. Symptoms of these conditions usually include a strong need to urinate, a frequent need to urinate, and leaking or wetting accidents.

This study is a good indicator of how useful Botox is – approximately, 70% of women who suffered from an overactive bladder and received Botox, went from leaking five times a day to only three!

4. Sex-Related Problems

Although this is yet to be approved by the FDA, Botox is rumoured by Allergan to aid several sex-related issues. This includes, women, suffering from painful sex. This is common in those who experience pelvic floor spasms or vaginal contractions.

Men could also benefit from Botox, in particular, those suffering from premature ejaculation. This would require injecting Botox directly into the penis in order to relax the muscle which in turn would delay ejaculation.

Furthermore, Botox is currently part of a clinical trial to assess whether it’ll make a good treatment for Erectile Dysfunction (ED).

5. Migraine Relief

In 2010 Botox was approved by the FDA as a treatment for those suffering from chronic migraines.

12 years before Botox’s approval, a plastic surgeon noticed that patients who received Botox were less likely to suffer from headaches. It was this observation that triggered further research in this area which resulted in the medication we have today.

The treatment is as follows: 31 injections in different areas. The effects are supposed to last three months, after this time further injections may be necessary.

6. Abnormal Heart Rhythm

At present, research is in progress regarding the relationship between Botox and irregular heartbeats. They’re trying to establish whether Botox works as an effective treatment for preventing abnormal heartbeat patterns post open-heart surgery.

7. Mental Illness

Early clinical trials indicate that Botox might relieve symptoms commonly associated with depression. The administration of Botox works on the ‘facial feedback hypothesis.’ This theory speculates that our facial expressions influence our moods.

In 2014 a study of 74 patients suffering from major depressive disorder showed that 52% of those who received Botox felt the symptoms of their depression lessen. Whereas, only 15% given a placebo claimed to have a similar response.

Further trials are being conducted to look into this in greater detail. Hopefully, we’ll shortly see a definitive conclusion as to whether the benefits of Botox extend to the field of mental illness.

8. Cold Hands

Doctors at the Cold Hand Clinic at the University of Chicago, administer Botox to treat patients who suffer from extremely cold hands. The treatment requires Botox to be injected directly into the hand. This relaxes the muscles that enclose the constricted blood vessels (which is the cause of the poor circulation and hence the coldness).

When the vessels relax and expand, the blood can flow through the hands and into the fingertips. This results in warmer hands. This treatment can provide relief for up to three months.

9. Scarring from Cleft Lips (In Babies)

At present this hasn’t been FDA approved, however, there’s plenty of science to back up this logic. On average, 4,440 babies are born yearly with a cleft lip. Most undergo surgery to rectify this condition.

Some doctors have tried to inject babies scars with Botox with the aim of holding the muscles still, hence giving them a better chance of healing, and in many cases, this has worked.

10. Neck Spasms

Before Botox became popular in the field of plastic surgery, it was used to treat neck spasms. A study conducted in 2004 highlighted that Botox significantly reduced the pain of those dealing with chronic neck pain as a result of cervical dystonia (CD). Botox was injected into the necessary muscles and consequently blocked the signals that caused painful muscle tightening.

Interested in Learning More About the Benefits of Botox?

If this blog post has got you thinking about the benefits of Botox, please feel free to check out our services page. Over there you’ll find plenty of information on how we could help you. Alternatively, if you have any questions on this topic, please feel free to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Finally, it’s essential to note that we don’t offer all of the above uses of Botox. However, we’d be more than happy to refer our patients to an appropriate provider if necessary.