Botox Uses and Indications

Botox was originally used to fight spasms of the eye muscles that led to problems with vision, and it was found accidentally to help the nearby wrinkles! Botox has also been helpful in other types of medical muscle spasm, spasticity due to stroke or cerebral palsy, and a type of neck spasm that causes twisting, called torticollis. Recently, Botox has been shown to give some relief in patients with severe, unremitting (more than half of each month) migraine headaches that do not respond... more

Along with some other on and off label uses of Botox such as for migraines, hyperhidrosis, facial tics and other muscle spasm conditions, TMJ disorders can be treated with Botox. I have had several patients who had failed almost every other treatment options but have found tremendous pain relief with Botox treatments.

Botox was originally used for muscle spasm. What was noticed after treatment, was that facial lines of animation were also treated and the patient looked better.  It can also be used for excessive sweating.

Allergen, the producer of Botox, is busy looking for many applications of Botox BESIDE smoothing of active wrinkles and greatly reduce excessive arm pit sweating. I and fellow Plastic surgeons have used Botox to non surgically lift the brows and the corners of the mouth, to gently drop an over lifted upper lip in a Gummy smile and to smooth the vertical neck pillars. It has ALSO been used in involuntary blinking, overactive bladder, migraine, cluster and tension headaches, lower back pain... more

Botox has two forms: medical and cosmetic. Within this regard there are certain indications which are approved by the FDA and others that are considered "off-label" use. Medical uses are discovered everyday. Although medical indications were primarily to treat facial spasms and specifically eyelid spasms called blepharospasm, investigators have claimed medical indications for: blephaharospasm spastic dysphonia, torticollis anal fissures Bell's palsy migrainesa excessive sweating... more

Common medical uses for BOTOX are: Migraine Treatments – By relaxing the muscles in the face and neck that press on nerves, BOTOX® injections can successfully treat a majority of patients suffering from migraine headaches. In fact, in clinical studies nearly 18% of patients that received the placebo (injection without medicine) complained of headaches, compared to only 13% of patients receiving BOTOX® treatments. Blepharospasm Treatments (Eyelid Spasm) – Blepharospasm... more