A closer look

Botulinum toxin isn't just for ironing out Hollywood forehead wrinkles; it's a literal lifesaver for paralyzed urinary systems. After a severe spinal cord injury, the brain loses communication with the bladder, causing it to spasm violently and dangerously push urine backward into the kidneys. Urologists now inject Botox directly into the bladder muscle, paralyzing the rogue spasms and preventing total renal failure in paraplegic patients.