Neurotoxins Uses You Didn’t Know About

While most everyone is familiar with Botox, a botulinum toxin injection, and other neurotoxins such as Dysport , Xeomin, and the newly FDA approved Daxxify that smooth out facial wrinkles by temporarily relaxing muscles to prevent repetitive movements that produce crows’ feet and laugh lines, many don’t know about the plethora of other conditions that neuromodulator injections can treat.

At Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa, Dr. Olga Bachilo treats a number of cosmetic conditions with safe and effective neurotoxin injections that can help patients look younger while avoiding more aggressive procedures.

Neurotoxin injections may also be used in combination with surgical procedures to achieve a more comprehensive improvement.

What are neurotoxin injections?

Neurotoxin injections such as Dysport are widely used in cosmetic medicine. In fact, neuromodulator injections are the most often performed cosmetic procedure in the U.S. and are primarily used to smooth out dynamic wrinkles that develop as a consequence of repetitive facial movements such as squinting, smiling, frowning, laughing, and other facial expressions. When injected into the target area, neurotoxins temporarily relax the muscles underneath the skin to prevent repetitive contractions that may cause wrinkles and lines.

Neurotoxin formulas are created in the laboratory from certain microbes that may produce toxic reactions in the body under certain circumstances. However, neurotoxin injections are completely safe when administered by a licensed and experienced physician such as Dr. Olga Bachilo, a board-certified plastic surgeon and specialist in surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic procedures to rejuvenate and improve the appearance of the face and body.

In addition to treating wrinkles, doctors also use neurotoxin injections to treat certain neuromuscular conditions, such as migraines, muscle spasms, and hyperhidrosis, which refers to a condition that produces abnormal and/or excessive sweating in various areas of the body such as the armpits, hands, feet, or face.

But Botox and other neurotoxin treatments also have many other uses in medicine, such as the treatment of involuntary movement disorders and disorders affecting muscle tone, in addition to spasticity typically associated with patients who have cerebral palsy or multiple sclerosis, or have undergone a stroke or other form of brain trauma.

Off-Label uses of Neurotoxin Injections

The term “off-label” refers to the use of a certain medication for conditions other than what that medication is currently approved to treat.

For example, while Botox has been FDA-approved for use as a treatment for excessive sweating in certain areas of the body, it has not undergone the same amount of rigorous investigation and testing for safety and efficacy as a treatment for treating excessive sweating in other areas.

While many off-label treatments have not yet been approved by the FDA, doctors have already detected their efficacy in clinical observations, and are providing these treatments for their patients who seek simple, inexpensive alternatives to surgical cosmetic treatments.

Nefertiti Neck Lift

A Nefertiti neck lift is a cosmetic procedure that is performed by injecting Botox or another neurotoxin into the lower part of the face, as well as the jawline and neck.

The procedure is named for the famed Egyptian Queen Nefertiti, known for her elegant, elongated neck. The Nefertiti lift temporarily tightens the bands of platysma muscles that run along the neck, extending vertically from the lower face to the collarbone.

The Nefertiti neck lift produces the following improvements to the neck, jawline, and lower face:

• Diminishes lines along the lower part of the face
• Smooths out dimpled skin along the chin and jawline
• Diminishes folds and sagging skin in the lower facial region
• Balances and restores symmetry to the lower face, jawline, and neck
• Diminishes lines and wrinkles on the neck, such as the “turkey neck” effect
• Enhances contour and definition of the jawline

Results typically last for about 3-6 months in most patients, so you’ll need regular follow-up treatments to maintain your youthful look.

Masseters Injections or the “V Line” Procedure

The masseter muscle is one of the four muscles that we use when we chewing. The masseter muscle is a powerful muscle that elevates the mandible and produces the ability to open and close the jaw.  As we age, the masseter muscle becomes thicker over years of use, causing a squaring of the lower face and jawline that creates an aged appearance and contributes to the formation of jowls. It also contributes to teeth grinding in your sleep, and can cause migraines due to that.

By injecting Xeomin or other neurotoxins into the masseter muscle, the size of your masseter muscle may be gradually reduced over time, producing a slimmer and more youthful-looking V-shaped jawline. This procedure is often referred to as masseter Botox, masseter reduction, “V Line,” or jaw reduction.

The full effect of the V Line treatment typically takes about 4 to 6 weeks to become fully visible, with results typically lasting between 4 and 6 months in most patients. The gradual tapering of the jawline is produced over time, creating a natural slimming appearance that looks as if you’d simply lost weight in your face.

Microtox or Microbotox to Shrink Pores

Microtox or microbotox refers to the injection of compound microdroplets of highly diluted onabotulinum toxin A into the outer layer of the dermis, as a treatment to decrease visibility and size of pores, and to improve the overall texture of the skin.

Several studies have been conducted on the use of Botox to treat enlarged pores and control sebum production in the sebaceous glands, allowing the pores to rest from intense activity and shrink in size. Botox injections may also decrease contractions in certain muscles – in particular, the arrector pili, a tiny muscle that helps attach hair follicles to the skin.

A study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology in May of 2021 found that a single microbotox treatment session effectively reduced pore size and delivered patient satisfaction in a majority of patients. In fact, an improvement was observed in 87.2% of participants. After a single treatment session, average improvement score of pore size determined by a dermatologist observer was about 3.7 on a scale of 0‐4.

One year after treatment, average patient satisfaction was reported to be 4.7, with dermoscopic evaluation as well as patient-reported reduction in pore size and skin improvement. No serious adverse events or long‐term side effects were reported.

Researchers also noted that, in addition to reducing the size of facial pores, Microtox treatments also improved skin texture and oiliness in the vast majority of patients.

Excessive and/or Abnormal Sweating

Known medically as hyperhidrosis, excessive and/or abnormal sweating affects about 1% of the general population. The condition may severely affect one’s ability to perform daily activities, and may lead to embarrassment in social situations, dramatically affecting the patient’s quality of life.  Hyperhidrosis may occur in one or more areas of the body, including the axillary region, palms of the hands, soles of the feet, or facial region.

Botulinum A neurotoxin (Botox) has been proven effective in reducing perspiration in normal skin and cases of palmar hyperhidrosis, or sweating of the palm of the hands.

Because neurotoxins are actually purified proteins that temporarily block the nerve signals that trigger sweating, neurotoxin injections effectively keep the glands from producing too much perspiration.

You may be an ideal candidate for neuromodulators treatment if your hyperhidrosis does not improve with prescription antiperspirants. While Botox is officially FDA-approved for use in the axillary region, its “off-label” use in other areas, such as the hands, feet, and face has also demonstrated great efficacy. Neurotoxin treatments for hyperhidrosis produce results that may last for about 3-4 months.

Migraines

Another use of neurotoxin injections is to treat migraines. The procedure is performed by injecting botulinum toxin into various points in the head and neck. Migraine treatments with neuromodulator are FDA-approved only for people age 18 and over who experience chronic migraines, defined as experiencing at least 15 migraine days per month.

Studies have shown that about half the patients who received two rounds of Botox injections reported a 50% reduction in the number of migraine days each month. After the fifth round of treatment, about 70% of participants reported at least a 50% reduction in migraine days.

Scientists believe that neurotoxins are effective at treating migraines because they block chemicals known as neurotransmitters that transport pain signals from the brain. By blocking that pathway, neurotoxin injections block the chemicals from reaching the nerve endings in the head and neck, preventing migraine pain.

To learn more about how neurotoxin injections may help you achieve your aesthetic goals with little to no recovery time, and amazing results, contact Glamour Plastic Surgery and Med Spa today, and schedule your first appointment with Dr. Bachilo. Your journey to a new you begins today!