Botox is Not Just for Wrinkles

Botox® is the most popular non-surgical procedure in this country because it works, reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by temporarily relaxing the underlying dynamic muscles in the treatment area. But did you know that Botox® is not just for wrinkles? I use it in my practice to correct a wide range of issues from excessive sweating to a gummy smile. So, here are a few of the surprising uses for Botox®.

Lip Flip with Botox® for a Fuller Pout

A scroll through the history books reveals that full, plump lips have been a hallmark of femininity throughout the ages. While a lip augmentation with fillers has become the norm for increasing volume in the lips, a lip flip with Botox® can be a really nice alternative. As opposed to fillers, which literally fill your lips with more volume, with a lip flip, I place Botox® into the muscles around your upper lip so that it relaxes. This causes the edge of the lip to flip out, creating the impression of bigger, fuller lips. It’s a more subtle approach, and is great for patients who desire a really natural look or who are trepidatious about appearing overfilled. I may also use Botox® to a give a slight lift to the corners of the mouth if necessary.

Gummy Smile Correction with Neurotoxins

Smiling is so good for your health. It not only helps lower cortisol, but it also floods your body with happy hormones. Unfortunately, people who are born with a “gummy smile” are often too self-conscious to let themselves smile naturally. A gummy smile is when the lips rest high on the gums exposing a large amount of pink tissue above your teeth. Botox® is an extremely easy and effective procedure for correcting a gummy smile. By precisely placing this neurotoxin into the muscles in the upper lip, I can relax said muscles so that they don’t pull as much. This lowers your smile line so that less of the gums are exposed. It has been a game changer for so many of my patients.

Botox® for Hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating affects approximately 15.3 million people in the United States. It can manifest in any area of the body with sweat glands such as the:

• Underarms
• Hands
• Feet
• Face

Many women also develop it beneath their breasts. It can be painful, embarrassing, and adversely affect your quality of life, making you not want to engage in social activities. Some sufferers complain that it holds them back at work since someone with flop sweat isn’t perceived as being “cool under pressure”. By injecting Botox® into the skin in the area of concern, I can temporarily block the secretion of the chemical that tells your sweat glands to turn on. Extremely effective in most patients, this is a procedure that can truly be life altering.

Alternative Treatment for TMJ

Botox® has also become an effective alternative treatment for TMJ or temporo-mandibular joint disorders. When this joint becomes too tight, it can result in:

• Teeth grinding
• Jaw tension
• Pain
• Headaches

Relaxing your tight muscles with Botox® can be a quick and easy fix for an issue that is often quite debilitating for patients. Not only will it make you feel more comfortable, but grinding the teeth can have serious long-term repercussions as excessive teeth grinding eventually wears down the enamel to the point where the only fix may be a crown or veneers. Another side benefit of relaxing the masseter muscles is that it will also slim down your face, making it more heart shaped.

Nefertiti Lift

Nefertiti was an Egyptian Queen renown for her elongated, elegant neck. As many of us know, after staring at ourselves on various devices over the past year and half, droopy skin and muscles in the neck can be extremely aging. In a Nefertiti Lift, I strategically place Botox® injections into your face, jaw and neck to address:

• Dimpled skin on the chin
• Correct asymmetry in lower face
• Make lower face appear slimmer
• Smooth out lines around the neck
• Reduce lines in the bottom of your face
• Improve definition at the chin/neck juncture
• Lift sagging skin around the mouth to improve “jowling”
• Lessen the appearance of visible platysma bands

The platysma muscles are the vertical bands of muscle that you see when you clench your teeth. With age, they can become quite pronounced.

While the beneficial effects of a Nefertiti lift with Botox® are temporary, it is an effective way to turn-back-the-clock without incisions, anesthesia or downtime. In younger patients, it can work as a form of “prejuvenation”, and in older patients who are not ready for or do not want a surgical intervention, it is lovely way to rejuvenate the lower part of your face and neck so that you look and feel more vital, confident and youthful. 

To find out more about the many uses of Botox® at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us today or call (617) 735- 8735 to schedule a consultation.