VERY, VERY SUPRISING USES FOR BOTOX THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH FOREHEAD WRINKLES

Hi ya Gorgeous,
How is your post Christmas, middle of Hanukkah, pre-New Year's Eve week going? Mine is going ...well...I'm not one to say negative things, but let's just say that I am really, really ready for 2016 to be over. Kaput!


Maybe it is this year, or my age, though I am finally ready to really consider beauty maintenance beyond just wash/scrub/treat/moisturize. I'm ready to look at microblading my brows, and some botox for the "11's" between my eyes. 

With that said, here's a guest blog post on the many benefits of Botox!



 When most people think of Botox the first thing that usually comes to mind is wrinkle reduction. Indeed, Botox is the world’s most popular treatment for eradicating wrinkles and fine lines.
 The toxin is specifically FDA approved for treating frown lines between the eyebrows (glabellar lines) and lines around the eyes (crow’s feet). In addition to being the gold standard for wrinkle reduction, Botox can also be used to treat a variety of issues, both cosmetic and non-cosmetic.

Dr. John Zannis is a New Bern, North Carolina board certified plastic surgeon. He provides a list of conditions that Botox has been used to treat.

 Acne


  Botox can curb oil production, reducing breakouts. "To totally
 treat acne, you'd need to use doses of Botox so large they'd prevent you
 from constricting your facial muscles," says Dr. Zannis. "But tiny
 amounts of Botox injected very superficially help reduce oil production, and you can
 still have facialexpressions." Though he'd recommend it for almost
 any patient struggling with acne, Zannis would likely advise trying another
 dermatologist-prescribed treatment, like spironolactone or birth control pills,
 first. And though it can technically be used to quell oil production anywhere on the
 face, he cautions against using it all over because of potential effects on
 muscular activity (a.k.a. frozen face). The most effective and common area for
 using Botox to curb oil production, he says, is the forehead.

 Gummy smile (not FDA approved)
 A "gummy" smile, one that's characterized
 by a smile that shows too much of the gums, usually results
 from "excessive lip elevation" when the upper lip rises too far above
 the upper teeth when smiling. Injecting Botox into the upper lip weakens the
 upper lip's retractor muscles so that it won't raise as high and your smile
 will seem  better-balanced. It can be done in about five minutes.
 Usually lasts for four  to six months. Costs range from $200-$300.
 Dr. Zannis says, "This technique is not for the novice
 Botox  injector. Too much, and your lip won’t raise enough, too
 little and you will need more, or if injected asymmetrically, you might have a
 funny asymmetrical  smile."

 

 Urinary incontinence

 Overactive bladder problems affect up to 20% of women over 40. For severe cases where medications do not provide complete relief, Botox injections into the bladder wall may provide  relief lasting about
 6 months.

 

 Psoriasis

 Psoriasis is uncomfortable, itchy, and not exactly easy on
 the eyes. Luckily, this flaky skin condition could be a
 thing of the past thanks to Botox. Though psoriasis is technically incurable,
 Botox minimizes the activity of inflammatory cells that bring on outbreaks.

 

 Excessive Sweating

 For those who
 suffer from excessive sweating, however, summer isn’t always the sunniest time of the
 year. Thankfully, Botox could be a saving grace for those attempting to manage this
 condition, which is officially known as axillary hyperhidrosis. Studies show
 that just a handful of injections can reduce underarm sweat for up to TWO years.
 Um, where do we sign up?

 

 Breast  Lift

 Are your breasts in need of a pick-me-up? Instead of going
 under the knife and getting permanent augmentation, some experts have
 suggested a quick and easy Botox lift.  Dr. Zannis says that, “Those looking for a modest improvement are said to be able to temporarily plump their assets thanks to injections into the
 pectoralis minor chest muscle.”

 

 Depression

 The benefits of Botox® may be more than skin deep; two recent studies suggest that it may help
 alleviate the symptoms of depression. In a study published in the May 2014
 issue of the Journal of Psychiatric Research,
 more than half of participants who had moderate-to-severe
 depression showed a substantial improvement in depressive symptoms following one
 injection of Botox® between the brows. This improvement lasts longer
 than the cosmetic effects, suggesting that the effect may be more than just
 feeling better about your appearance. Botox® is not approved to treat depression.

 Teeth Grinding


 Injections of
 Botox® were used to
 control involuntary muscle tension and spasms long before it
 became the go-to wrinkle buster. Dr. Zannis says that, “these neurotoxin
 injections may weaken the chewing muscles enough to reduce bruxism (teeth
 grinding) without affecting your ability to chew, talk and smile. Results last about
 four months. Botox® is not yet approved to treat bruxism.”

 Migraine Headache

 Botox® is approved
 by the FDA to treat chronic
 migraine headaches in adults who have 15 or more
 headache-days a month, each lasting four hours or more. Studies that led to this
 indication show that BOTOX®® prevents up to nine headache-days a month (vs
 seven for dummy injections). Other research hints that the neurotoxin may
 also help with low cerebrospinal fluid headaches and cluster or
 "suicide" headaches.

 
  Brow Boost

 Much like lines
 form over time, your brow may also
 drop or droop. Botox cosmetic treatments can also be used to
 improve the appearance of the brow. Dr. Zannis explains that, “the
 treatment essentially  freezes the sagging muscles in place and gives the brow more
 stability. Lifting the brows in this way leaves you with a less tired and younger, fresher
 appearance.”

 

 Jaw Reduction (off label use)

 Botox can be used to perform jaw reduction (commonly
 called jaw line softening). Injecting Botox into the  masseter muscle (the
 primary muscle used in chewing actions) reduces its overall
 size; transforming an overly square and masculine appearing jawline into a more
 feminine oval or heart shape.

 

 Dr. John Zannis is a New Bern, North Carolina board-certified plastic surgeon
 and best selling author. A graduate of Stanford University and The
 University of Cincinnati Medical College, he received his formal training
 in General Surgery and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Wake
 Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina under the guidance of
 world-renowned plastic  surgeon Dr. Louis Argenta. During this time, he performed
 over 5,000 surgical procedures and covered all aspects of plastic surgery
 including cosmetic surgery of the face and body, complex reconstructive
 procedures of face and body, cleft lip and palate surgery, hand surgery, facial and
 jaw fracture repair, and reconstruction following massive weight
 loss. He blends his interests and studies of classical art and symmetry to his
 surgery practices.

Connect with him via twitter @JohnZannisMD or
 his website www.zannisplasticsurgery.com 







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