Contact:
Jodi-Ann Bailey
Public Affairs Associate
(718) 780-5367
jsb9010@nyp.org
Brooklyn, NY – April 30, 2009 – The popularity of Botox (botulinum toxin type A) is largely attributed to its use as a cosmetic treatment that decreases the appearance of wrinkles, frown lines, crow’s feet and other “imperfections.” In recent years, the drug’s use by Hollywood celebrities has propelled it into stardom, making botulinum injections the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure performed by plastic surgeons in the
However, many Americans are unaware of Botox’s other medical uses. In fact, a recent article in the New York Times mentioned that only five percent of stroke patients who could benefit from the drug know about it. The drug was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1989 for medical use to treat eye muscle disorders. Since then, physicians have used the drug for “off label” purposes. Off label use of the drug is widely accepted and many insurance companies will reimburse for its usage.
At
Photo Caption:
Miran Salgado, M.D., chairman of neurosciences at NYM, examines a patient with blepharospasm, a condition marked by increased blinking and involuntary eye closure that can be treated with Botox.
“In addition, the drug is also used at the Hospital to treat other movement disorders such as cervical dystonia (involuntary contracting of the neck muscles, causing abnormal movements and awkward posture of the head and neck), hemifacial spasms and blepharospasms (a condition marked by increased blinking and involuntary eye closure),” said Miran Salgado, M.D., chairman of neurosciences. “We also use the drug to treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and excessive drooling.”
Botulinum toxin works by blocking the release of acetylcholine, a substance that transmits signals from the nerves to the muscles and can cause the muscles to overreact and tense up if present in large amounts. Once the drug is injected into the affected area, muscle spasms may stop or become greatly reduced. The use of the drug has very few risks. However, the effects of Botox are not permanent and generally wear off in three to four months, at which time the injection is repeated.
For more information about the Hospital’s neurology services or to schedule an appointment, please call 718 246-8820.
New York Methodist Hospital, a voluntary, acute-care teaching facility located in Brooklyn’s Park Slope, houses 651 inpatient beds (including bassinets) and provides services to over 34,000 inpatients each year. An additional 350,000 outpatient visits and services are logged annually. The Hospital offers Institutes in the following areas: Advanced and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Asthma and Lung Disease; Cancer Care; Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery; Digestive and Liver Disorders; Diabetes and Other Endocrine Disorders; Vascular Medicine and Surgery; Family Care; Neurosciences; Orthopedic Medicine and Surgery and Women’s Health. The Hospital, founded in 1881, has undergone extensive renovation and modernization over the years. New York Methodist is affiliated with the Weill College of Medicine at
