Botox is the most popular cosmetic treatment in the country, so you probably know that it’s commonly used to treat lines and wrinkles. However, Botox has a long history and a story with lots of twists and turns — there’s a lot more to know about this treatment! Here are 5 facts you might not have known about Botox:
Botox has about 200 years of history.
At first, Botox was used medically rather than cosmetically. In the 1970s and 80s, it was a popular drug for treating eye conditions. Eventually, it was used to treat face and neck spasms.
In the late 1980s and 90s, Botox was finally recognized for its cosmetic capabilities. It was FDA-approved in 2002 and has grown more popular ever since!
Botox can be used to accentuate your upper lip.
Called a Botox “Lip Flip,” this treatment is a series of Botox injections to the upper lip.
Most lip-augmentation procedures involve dermal fillers, but the Lip Flip uses Botox only. It involves the meticulous placements of just a few units of Botox into the muscle around the upper lip. The muscle relaxes and the lip flips outward, giving your mouth a poutier, less gummy look.
Botox can treat wrinkles, but it can also treat migraines and hyperhidrosis.
Botox became the only FDA approved treatment for migraines when it was approved in 2010. The Botox is injected into the nerve endings around pain fibers responsible for headaches, blocking the release of neurochemicals involved in pain transmission.
Hyperhidrosis is the formal word for excessive sweating. When Botox is injected into the treatment area — which could include the hands, feet, armpits, and forehead — it blocks the nerve signals responsible for creating sweat.
Botox may help treat depression.
Have you ever heard of laughter therapy? Laughing releases endorphins, so the idea behind laughter therapy is that your brain is unable to tell the difference between fake laughter and real laughter. So, if you force yourself to fake-laugh, your brain thinks you’re laughing for real and releases endorphins.
The same is true for the opposite emotions and sad expressions, like frowning and pouting. However, when you get Botox, it makes it more difficult to frown and make sad and angry faces. (It doesn’t affect your ability to smile, though!) According to this study in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, the fact that Botox prevents sad expressions means that it has an antidepressant effect on patients.
Botox can be used to prevent wrinkles from an early age.
Most people associate Botox with people in their 40s, 50s, 60s, or above. However, Botox is gaining popularity among patients in their 20s and 30s for its preventative abilities. When a person in their early 20s notices lines beginning to form on their forehead, they can get Botox to smooth those lines and prevent them from deepening. Nevertheless, you must be at least 18 to get Botox.