According to a research team at Cardiff University in Wales – yes.

In a new study about the psychological effects of BOTOX, researchers found that patients who smooth out their frown lines seem to enjoy a boost in mood.

Dr Michael Lewis, experimental psychologist at the university's school of psychology, recruited 25 women to take part in the research, which was carried out with Court House Clinics, London. Twelve received BOTOX injections into the frown lines between their eyebrows, while the remaining 13 had other cosmetic treatments. Two weeks later all 25 participants completed questionnaires, including the Irritability-Depression-Anxiety Scale test.

Dr. Lewis found that the BOTOX patients were significantly less irritable, anxious, and depressed than the other group. And while it is easy to assume that the participant’s positive attitude is solely a response to their new, younger look – that’s not the case. Both groups reporting being equally satisfied with their cosmetic procedures and resulting appearance.

This small scale study reinforces the idea of “facial feedback” originally suggested by Charles Darwin. Darwin’s hypothesis was that facial expression can influence your mood – and there’s a growing body of evidence that this is true. If the act of frowning makes you unhappier then conversely smiling should result in happiness.

And although the study did not  specifically include Juvederm facial filler, because Juvederm also reduces frown lines and wrinkles it could be inferred that the combination of Juvederm and BOTOX would have an even greater psychological effect.

While this was a very small scale study, it does lend itself to the idea that BOTOX offers a little “pick-me-up” in more ways than one.

 Categoried under:  BOTOX®, Juvéderm™