As seen on EVliving.com
By Susan Van Dyke, MD
Fillers and Botox are a mainstay of cosmetic dermatology, the science of looking younger without surgery. Traditionally, fillers erase the deep folds that bracket your mouth, also known as “parentheses,” and Botox softens the frown lines between your eyebrows, also know as the “11s.” These are the FDA-approved uses of the injectables and can go a long way to restore youthfulness in your skin and improve your overall appearance. But, there is so much more than can be achieved with these versatile products!
Here is a list of some of the best alternative uses for Botox and fillers.
Most of these alternative treatments are considered “off label,” which means they are not FDA-approved uses. Licensed physicians, however, are permitted to use injectable products for several “off label” uses, so always seek a physician’s expert advice to find out which treatments are appropriate for you.
1. The Gummy Smile: If you show more gum than teeth when you grin, you may find yourself trying to limit your smiling. Help can be obtained with the just a few units of Botox under your nose to prevent the skin above your upper-lip from lifting too much.
2. Down in the Mouth: A little Botox placed precisely in the muscles that turn the corners of the mouth down helps to prevent that unpleasant resting “frown.”
3. Sagging Earlobes: With age comes flabby earlobes that don’t hold up those great earrings. Fillers can plump up the earlobes back to a full, youthful state.
4. Hollow Under-Eyes: Sometimes the look of bags or darkness under the eyes is caused by the loss of volume beneath the eyes. You can get an instant refresher by restoring that volume with fillers.
5. Uneven Nose: Remarkable, non-surgical results can be achieved for noses. Crookedness, humps and dropped tips can all be corrected without surgery. If you do not have a problem with nasal functionality, it makes sense to see what a filler can do to restore the nose’s look.
6. Weak Chin: If you want a stronger chin, but you are not ready for a surgical implant, fillers are a great alternative to enhance the chin’s appearance. Fillers can also be used beyond the chin to produce a stronger jawline.
7. Excessive Sweating: Botox works wonders for excessive sweating, especially on the palms and under the arms. In fact, it is FDA-approved for excessive underarm sweating and helps control the condition by temporarily blocking the signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. Decreased sweating can last up to a year or more.
8. Non-Traditional Wrinkles: Crow’s feet, bunny lines from scrunching your nose, chin puckering, as well as wrinkles on the neck and chest can all be improved with Botox and fillers. It just takes a well-trained injector to know where to appropriately administer the injectables for each problematic area.
9. Early Jowls & Hollow Cheeks: Many areas that thin out and sag over time can benefit from fillers. This is especially true with early jowls and hollow cheeks. Fillers can re-inflate the cheek area for a more rested, younger look and can camouflage early jowls with injections along the jawline.
10. Face in Need of a Lift: The “Botox Brow Lift” has become a very popular, successful treatment. Another effective, stand-alone lifting treatment can be done under the brow to achieve an over-the-eye lift. Botox and fillers are used together for a “Liquid Facelift,” a non-surgical alternative to the well-known facelift.
The versatility that can be achieved by exploring the alternative uses for fillers and Botox may surprise you. These groundbreaking procedures will produce results that can last for four months to more than a year. If you are thrilled with the look, upkeep simply requires touch-ups determined by your injector. Using fillers and Botox in this manner is a great, non-invasive alternative to surgery or an easy way to test out the waters. And, if you opt to have the surgical alternative in the future, the fillers or Botox will not interfere.
Always remember, to get the best results from any use of an injectable, be sure that your provider has the experience to produce the results you seek, safely.
About Dr. Susan Van Dyke
Susan Van Dyke, M.D. is a board certified dermatologist who has performed more than 10,000 non-invasive cosmetic procedures and has received the “Physician’s Recognition Award” from the American Medical Association each practicing year. She is a top consultant and national physician trainer for Medicis, Allergan, Thermage and Lumenis; on the advisory board for Valeant Pharmaceuticals and the speakers’ bureaus for Clinique Medical and Obagi; a “Platinum Plus” BOTOX Cosmetic and Juvéderm Provider; and her practice is designated as a BOTOX Cosmetic National Training Center. Dr. Van Dyke is recognized as an expert in “combination therapy” by the American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery and is typically one of the first to launch the latest proven therapies in cosmetic medicine. For more information on Dr. Van Dyke and her practice, Van Dyke Laser & Skin, visit www.VanDykeLaser.com.