Cosmetic procedures have grown in number by over 39% since 2011, with nonsurgical procedures having increased 44% total in that time. And one of the most popular procedures is Botox.
There are many Botox uses that you can probably think of, and the majority of them are probably cosmetic in some way. And while it is true that Botox is primarily known for its uses in the plastic surgery world, there are actually a lot of Botox uses that are not widely known.
So to give you an idea of some of the other applications for this drug, here is a list of the interesting — and FDA approved — Botox uses on the market.
Chronic Migraines
In 1992, a plastic surgeon by the name of Dr. William Binder found that when he gave Botox to people for wrinkles, they reported having fewer headaches. Botox manufacturer Allergan later tested this on individuals with chronic migraines, and Botox was approved as a treatment in 2010. It is currently questioned if this is a placebo effect or a true medical impact, but the FDA has approved it.
The procedure involves plastic surgeons giving injections, 31 in total, on different spots of the neck and head. The effects last around three months.
Overactive Bladder
Dr. Linda Brubaker, who works as a Dean and Chief Diversity Officer at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, discovered this Botox use. In a study, she found that 70% of women she treated with Botox reported three urinations a day, compared to five from the start.
However, this comes with a catch, as the Botox can actually shut down the bladder too much. This leads to needing a catheter. However, despite this, the FDA still approved this use.
Underarm Sweating
Excessive underarm sweating is the last on our list of unheard of Botox uses and was discovered when patients were noticed to sweat less after being treated for facial spasms. After this discovery, Allergan began to study if it could be a successful therapy for people with a condition called “Primary Axillary Hyperhidrosis.”
Botox was approved by the FDA in 2004 for this treatment and can also be used to treat sweaty hands and feet.
These are just some of the uses of Botox that have been approved by the FDA for more than cosmetic reasons. There are some others, including those not approved by the FDA quite yet. If you’re interested in learning more about Botox uses, please contact us.
We’ll be glad to give you more information.