Study Examines Botox Before Corrective Jaw Surgery
New research suggests a common facial treatment given before jaw surgery could ease postsurgical discomfort and lessen the need for opioids during recovery. A new study suggests that injections of botulinum toxin type A—commonly known as Botox—given before corrective jaw surgery may reduce postoperative pain and decrease opioid use during recovery, an important consideration amid growing concerns about opioid dependency. The research appears in the May issue of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (JOMS), the peer-reviewed official journal of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS). Researchers found that patients who received Botox injections into their jaw muscles prior to surgery reported lower pain levels and used fewer opioid pain medications in the two weeks following their procedure compared with patients who received a placebo. These findings suggest that Botox could help patients use fewer opioids during their e...
