What Else Can Botox Do?

Did you think Botox was just for wrinkles? That couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, Botox was first created over thirty years ago for medical use. It wasn’t even approved for cosmetic enhancement for another thirteen years. And while many consider Botox a way to shed years off the skin, it turns out this treatment has several other benefits.

Here at Memphis Neurology, we’re proud to bring our patients a variety of Botox treatment options to best suit their unique needs. Read on to discover the many uses of Botox.

What is Botox?

Botox is an injection that contains a toxin known as onobotulinumtoxinA, a substance that temporarily prevents your muscles from moving. This substance is helpful if you’re having spasms, if one of your muscles has loosened, or if some part of your body isn’t functioning as it should.

Conditions that Botox treats  

Botox is effective because it relaxes certain muscles, which can treat a variety of conditions, including:

Overactive bladder

Botox is an effective way to treat overactive bladder. When injected into your bladder, Botox helps the muscles relax which won’t make going to the bathroom so urgent. You may feel short-term discomfort, but the procedure shouldn’t cause any serious pain.

Migraines

In 2010, Botox became an approved option for treating those who experience chronic migraines. During a study, doctors found that Botox shots decreased the number of headaches patients had. Patients also experience more pain-free days each month.

Underarm sweating

Botox can also help treat excessive sweating, particularly in the underarms, hands, and feet. The injections use botulinum toxin, which blocks the nerve signals responsible for sweating. This, in turn, stops the sweat glands from producing excess sweat. 

Crossed eyes  

Crossed eyes, or strabismus, is a condition where your eyes don’t point in the same direction. It was also one of the first conditions Botox was used to treat.  

Depression

Though Botox isn’t currently FDA-approved for treating depression, early clinical trials are showing promising results. The maker of Botox is currently running clinical trials to explore the efficacy of Botox on depression.

Neck spasms

Botox can treat severe neck spasms. More specifically, a condition called cervical dystonia. This condition forces your head into an abnormal position and causes major neck pain. Injections of Botox help ease that pain and discomfort.

To learn more about Botox’s medical uses and to set up an appointment, visit our website today.