Named Among the Best Plastic Surgeons in Boston
Other common reasons to receive Botox include migraine headaches, hyperhidrosis (armpit sweating), masseter muscle hypertrophy, and square or masculine appearing jaw, bruxism (jaw grinding) with jaw pain, and mental depression.
Releasing the strain of muscles on the face and scalp can also help reduce the frequency and severity of migraine headaches. Patients with frequent migraines causing disruption in school or work schedules can benefit tremendously from Botox treatments when other treatments fail. Improvement with Botox may also be an indication for surgical release.
Forehead nerves, known as the supraorbital and supratrochlear nerves, can be decompressed through cosmetically favorable incisions in the upper eyelid such as those used for an eyelid lift. Eyelid lift, or blepharoplasty, can also be performed simultaneously with releasing compressed nerves causing migraine headaches. This procedure can be performed under local anesthesia with limited downtime and a relatively rapid recovery.
Another common site of nerve compression is the occipital nerves on the back of the head. The occipital nerves can become compressed by the occipital arteries and muscles leading to migraine headaches. Through an incision hidden in the hair on the back of the head, Our team can release and decompress the occipital nerves to help alleviate nerve compression that may be contributing to migraine headaches. No hair is cut and patients recover rapidly and go home on the same day with this short procedure.
Patients with jaw grinding or bruxism and associated pain may find considerable relief with Botox injections into the masseter muscles or temporalis muscles or both. Reducing the strength and tension of these muscles can reduce the strain across the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the frequency of tooth grinding.
Repeated botulinum toxin injection (Botox) into the masseter muscle for patients with masseter muscle overgrowth results in the decreased thickness of the masseter muscle, mandible bone angle remodeling, and decreased mandible angle flair for patients with a square-shaped or masculine appearing jaw.
This treatment is very common in Asian countries such as Korea, China, and Japan for men and women who desire a softer or more delicate and rounded appearing face and jawline. Transgender patients who identify as female may also wish to soften the appearance of the jaw. While Botox offers a non-surgical solution, it is most helpful for mild to moderate masseter hypertrophy and mandible angle flair.
Treatments can be repeated every three to four months in the office. Patients with moderate or severe deformity may consider surgical treatment with jaw contouring, mandible angle reduction, and masseter muscle release.
Excess sweating of the armpits, hands or feet (hyperhidrosis), and muscle spasms may also benefit from Botox Cosmetic. If you wish to decrease armpit sweating during the hot Boston summer months, you might consider a treatment in the spring or summer to get through to the fall.
Despite treatment with anti-depressant medications, some patients with depression continue to feel sad, down, or angry. Many studies have found that treatment of facial wrinkles with botulinum toxins such as Botox Cosmetic also helps alleviate symptoms of depression.
The mechanism is still being investigated, though perhaps the facial feedback mechanisms of fear, anger, or sadness contribute to the benefits of Botox with Depression. Look good and perhaps feel better.
