Six Surprising Uses For Common Injectables

Are you considering Botox, Juvéderm, or some other method of smoothing winkles? You may be shocked to learn just how many uses have been discovered for these fillers and injectables winkle releasers.

From cosmetically reducing the appearance of crow’s feet and forehead lines to therapeutic relief in the neck and hands, these revolutionary treatments have seemingly limitless applications. Below are six uses for common injectables that may surprise you.

Approved more than 30 years ago, Botox has been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat numerous medical and cosmetic conditions. What’s more, Allergan – the company that owns Botox – has almost 800 potential usages patented!

The first surprising FDA-approved application is to address severe neck spasms. Often utilized to treat the disorder cervical dystonia, an injection can help alleviate symptoms such as severe neck pain and abnormal head positioning.

Another application is to help individuals who have crossed eyes, or strabismus, which affects roughly 4% of Americans. Botox injections into the eye muscles can address this disorder by working to line up the eyes in the same direction.

Getting the green light in 2004, Botox can also be used to help those who suffer from excessive underarm sweating. The condition is known medically as severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis and the drug has proven to be a successful therapeutic approach. It can be used for overly sweaty hands and feet, as well.

A fourth life-improving use is for treating men and women with overactive bladders. Incontinence can become an issue as we age or after women have children. Medication injections can help reduce the number of leaks. However, it can potentially cause the bladder to shut down.

Approved in 2010, Botox can also be used to help those with chronic migraines. People who receive injections in certain spots on their heads have shown to have less frequent migraines over three months. Then again, there is a debate over true effectiveness versus results stemming from the placebo effect.

A final surprising use of injectables is to assist doctors addressing cleft lip and palate conditions in babies. While not FDA-approved yet, this relatively new purpose is intended to hold the muscles still after surgery, allowing them to heal and subsequently improve the appearance of scars.

For more information on injectables, along with six more surprising applications, please see the accompanying resource.

Courtesy Of Radiance Medspa