Botox does wonders for wrinkles by paralyzing underlying muscles… so, naturally, researchers were inspired to pump it into swollen prostate glands.
Of course, it worked wonders there, too:
Four out of five patients, or 80 percent, were able to completely empty their bladders within a week to one month after the injection, as the Botox caused the prostate gland to relax, putting less pressure on the urethra. Patients did not experience any significant side effects, including stress urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction.
According to Dr. Chancellor, Botox reduces the size of the prostate gland through a cellular process called apoptosis, in which the prostate cells die in a programmed manner. This reduction in size can improve urine flow and decrease residual urine left in the bladder.
It’s a pilot study, but it’s based on findings from as far back as 1998. The premise is actually simple: denervating prostate tissue triggers cell death, and botox is a safer way to denervate, compared to surgery.
Given the prevalence of enlarged prostates, we don’t think it will be long before male Botox customers outnumber the women…