Latest Off-Label Uses for Botox

BOTOX® is the most popular non-surgical procedure on the market, and its popularity keeps on growing. In 2010, there were nearly 2.5 Botox procedures performed in the U.S. Botox is most commonly used to treat wrinkles, but it has a slew of other non-cosmetic uses. Since Botox works by relaxing muscles, it is effective for a range of medical conditions involving the muscles. Some people know that it's FDA-approved to treat migraine headaches and excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). But did you do know there are even more uses for Botox? Not all of these uses are FDA approved yet, but many people have used Botox to effectively treat facial tics, voice disorders, stroke paralysis, and incontinence. The off-label use of Botox can provide relief for medical conditions that don't respond to other treatments.

Botox for Facial Tics (Dystonia and Hemifacial Spasms)

Facial tics occur when the muscles in the face contract involuntarily, causing the face to scrunch up against one's will. Dystonia and hemifacial spasms are both types of facial tics; dystonia of the face affects the entire face whereas hemifacial spasms occur on one side of the face only. Facial tics can be distracting, embarrassing, and even dangerous if you're driving or doing other risky activities. Facial tics are notoriously difficult to treat, and up until this point the most effective treatments have been vocal training and other control-oriented preventative measures. Botox is a logical treatment for facial tics because it works by weakening contracted muscles, which are the root cause of facial tics. Botox is injected into the contraction sites, where Botox does the same thing to wrinkle-causing contractions that it does for facial tics: it makes them unable to contract. Botox for the treatment of facial tics is FDA approved, so you can rest assured that it's safe and effective. Since it's for medical use, Botox for the treatment of facial tics may be covered by your insurance provider.

Botox for Voice Disorders (Spasmodic Dysphonia and Stuttering)

Spasmodic dysphonia and stuttering are both voice disorders that cause involuntary irregular speech. Spasmodic dysphonia is a type of focal dystonia, and we know that Botox is FDA-approved for disorders involving dystonia. More specifically, spasmodic dysphonia is a neurological condition that affects the muscles of the larynx, so that speech takes a lot of effort and comes out sounding strained. By injecting Botox into the larynx, these muscles become relaxed and the symptoms of spasmodic dysphonia are greatly reduced. When it comes to stuttering, the effectiveness of Botox has been debated. Many experts have been quick to jump to the conclusion that if Botox works for other voice disorders it should work for stuttering as well. But that might not be the case, depending on what causes the stuttering. The general cause of stuttering is still unknown-- it is likely a genetic disorder, but medical experts are divided on whether stuttering is a result of abnormal motor skills or a complex tic in the voice box. If stuttering is indeed linked to the voice box muscles then Botox could prove to be an effective solution. Although studies have been done on Botox and stuttering, the studies have been flawed and thus the results inconclusive.

Botox for Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence is defined as the inability to control one's bladder, resulting in involuntary urine leakage. Botox has been proven to be particularly useful in the treatment of urge urinary incontinence, which is a type of incontinence that involves a sudden and uncontrollable need to urinate. These sudden urges are caused by muscle abnormalties like spasms and contractions. The symptoms of urge urinal incontinence can cause embarrassment, fear, and an overall lower quality of life. By injecting Botox into the muscles that control the bladder, these muscles are relaxed and the urges stop occurring altogether, or occur less. Botox may also help create more room in the bladder for urine, since it's relaxed. Botox for the treatment of urinary incontinence is currently undergoing FDA testing. Although it hasn't been approved yet, the method is still employed in many doctor's offices and even military hospitals.

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The demand for Botox is constantly rising, thanks to its effectiveness at treating wrinkles and now a host of non-cosmetic disorders. If you'd like to learn more about Botox for either off-label or cosmetic usage, contact us today and we'll set up an appointment with a skilled Botox practitioner in your area