More than Skin Deep: 6 Unexpected Uses for Botox

There was a time not too long ago when injecting your face with botulinum toxin was considered an extreme and quite possibly dangerous path to beauty. Now Botox is a fixed part of women’s beauty vocabulary and you’ll be hard stretched to find a woman over 35 (or even 25 in some places!) that hasn’t made the seasonal Botox touch up a regular part of her skincare routine.

Of course there are pressures for women to look younger and personally I feel it’s perfectly natural for everyone to want to look and feel youthful and fresh for as long as possible. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with not wanting to look worn and haggard when you’re full of energy inside; even if that means making the most of what the cosmetics industry and modern medicine have to offer. When administered correctly and in moderation, Botox is a wonderful face refresher and can be virtually undetectable. Whilst it’s practically become a synonym for wrinkle correction in the past decade, it seems that the perks of Botox aren’t just skin deep. “The beauty of Botox is in its temporary nature,” says American Board certified dermatologist, Dr. Razan Kadry. “You can explore alternative treatments without the risk of potential regret!” Read on as she reveals six unexpected health and beauty uses for this wonder jab.

1- Excessive Sweating

Excessive sweating or hyperhydrosis can be reduced in one session with Botox injections directly in the affected areas, usually palms, underarms and soles of the feet. The effects can be life-changing and last for months.

2- Sagging Neck

The neck is one of the first places to show signs of ageing and can be the hardest to treat. Botox can be injected in to the platysmal muscles in the neck to smooth wrinkles and sagging skin and seemingly “lift” the entire area.

3- Nose Correction

Depending on the anatomy of your face, Botox can be used to raise the tip of your nose. By paralysing the depressor muscle, the nose will stay raised even when smiling. The effects can last between six to eight months and the risks are minimal compared to surgical options.

4- Correcting a Protruding Chin or Overly Muscular Jaw

Botox can be used to reshape the lower third of the face as it can change the physical mass of the muscle and make it less prominent. The results also last around six to eight months.

5- Obesity

Although it’s not readily available as yet, numerous studies have shown that when Botox was injected in to the stomach muscles of obese adults, the patients felt significantly more full for longer after eating, in turn helping them to lose weight.

6- “Gummy” Smile

For those that have an excessively “gummy” smile, Botox can be used to relax the muscles and decrease the amount of gum area shown by reducing the elevation of the lip when smiling.

Have you tried Botox? What did you use it for?