You may get Botox with the hope of becoming happier. However, it might have the opposite effect—and not because of a botched job.
A recent study in Nature suggests that getting Botox in the forehead might affect how the brain processes emotions.
"The research found that participants who received these injections exhibited altered activity in their amygdala, a region of the brain that is involved in processing emotions, when they viewed emotional facial expressions, suggesting that immobilizing facial muscles may impact how we interpret others' emotions," says Dr. Zishan Khan, MD, a board-certified child, adolescent and adult psychiatrist with Mindpath Health.
? SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week ?
Previous research suggested that not being able to frown might lower depression.
What gives? The author of the Nature study and mental health experts weighed in on how Botox might affect happiness and other tools for mental health help.
Related: I Can't Stop Thinking About This Stress-Relief Method From Ancient Greece
Shauna Stark, MS, CCRP, the chief of staff and assistant dean of research operations at UCI School of Medicine, is the study's lead author. Stark and her team wanted to explore whether inactivating the glabellar (frown) muscles would impact the processing of emotional faces. The glabellar muscles may be responsible for your mouth frowning, but you can actually find them in your forehead and between the eyebrows.
The study put what's known as the "facial feedback hypothesis" to the test.
Unfamiliar?
Dr. Khan says that it dates back to the work of Charles Darwin and Williams James in the 19th century and suggests that facial movements can influence emotional experiences. When we smile, we feel happier, and it might go further: Ever notice that people tend to smile back at you? That's because the theory posits that we unconsciously mimic expressions, and it can trigger or intensify an emotion.
However, Botox can inactivate the muscles we use to express emotions. How might that influence processing? That's what Stark wanted to find out. Stark explains that she and her team measured brain activity in 10 healthy females who hadn't used Botox using an MRI. The participants looked at pictures of angry or happy faces during the MRI. They scanned the participants before inactivating their frown muscles, then again about two to three weeks after the Botox went into full effect.
Stark says the researchers didn't find a difference in participants' ability to identify facial expressions as happy or angry. However, happy emotions saw a change.
"But we found differences in activity in both the amygdala, a structure important for emotional processing, and the fusiform gyrus, a region involved in the processing and recognizing faces when the glabellar regions were inactivated by botulinum toxin," Stark explained. "We interpreted these findings to support the facial feedback hypothesis, reflecting that inactivation of facial muscles can impact the neural activity for emotional processing."
In other words: "When these cues are absent, individuals may experience difficulty in interpreting emotional states, which can, in turn, affect their own emotional responses," says Dr. Christina Geiselhart, LCSW with Thriveworks.
Related: 5 Ways Phone Scrolling is Harming Your Health
What the Study Doesn't Tell Us
While the research is interesting, mental health professionals caution it's not conclusive and has limitations. Dr. Khan notes that the study:
Had a small sample size (10 women), which limits how applicable it is to the general populationIt only focused on immediate post-Botox effects. Longer-term studies are needed to explore whether the mood-related impacts of Botox are permanent.It also only looked at Botox injections in the forehead region—what about other areas?Stark agrees that there were limitations but believes the research provides additional knowledge.
"This study contributes to a growing literature demonstrating the importance of facial muscles as a feedback loop for emotional processing that may be important for the treatment of mood and personality disorders, such as major depressive disorder," Stark says.
This literature includes research, such as a 2012 study, that indicates that using Botox to prevent frowning might help reduce depression symptoms.
The theory behind these results will sound familiar.
"We don’t know exactly why this is the case, but Charles Darwin and William James hypothesized that emotional facial expression creates feedback signals that sense the body's position and movement ... and maintain and reinforce the expressed emotions," says Dr. Gary Small, MD, chair of psychiatry at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Should you try Botox for depression? That's a tricky question.
"The FDA has not approved Botox as a treatment for depression, but some psychiatrists have prescribed it off-label," Dr. Small says. "Botox treatment may offer the benefit of improved self-esteem, which could lift mood. I recommend that people discuss the potential benefits and risks of any medical treatment with their doctor."
Dr. Khan offered similar sentiments.
"While emerging research on Botox's role in emotional processing and depression is intriguing, it remains in the very early stages," Dr. Khan says. "Individuals should rely on established treatments and consult healthcare providers when considering new therapeutic options."
Related: This Subtle TV Habit Could Be an Early Sign of Dementia
Understanding the signs of depression can help you get the help you need.
"I remember the features of major depression with the following mnemonic: SIG E CAPS," Dr. Small says.
These signs are:
Sleep impairment or insomniaInterest impairment or anhedonia (not enjoying activities you usually to love)Guilt feelingsEnergy downConcentration difficultiesAppetite lossPsychomotor retardation (thinking and/or moving more slowly than is usual for you)Suicidal thinkingHelp is available.
"For some individuals, therapy provides an opportunity to learn coping strategies and gain insight into how their brain functions, enabling them to work more effectively with their thoughts and behaviors," Dr. Geiselhart says.
We've spoken a bunch about facial muscle activation and deactivation. However, Dr. Geiselhart says that you can activate techniques in therapy to reduce fatigue and address feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Dr. Khan says that other resources include:
Medication management. "Please do not hesitate to discuss antidepressant medications with a psychiatrist, as they can be very helpful when indicated and are extremely safe," Dr. Khan says. "Do not let the misinformation being promoted for decades, especially recently, scare you from using proven treatments that can actually be lifesaving."Lifestyle modifications. Dr. Khan recommends regular exercise, good sleep hygiene and a healthy diet.Community support. Reach out to friends, family and groups. "Don’t deal with this alone," Dr. Khan says.Up Next:
Related: Jane Seymour Delivers Unfiltered Opinions on Aging: 'You Can Age Super Fast If You Give Up' (Exclusive)
Sources
Modulation of amygdala activity for emotional faces due to botulinum toxin type A injections that prevent frowning. Nature.Dr. Zishan Khan, MDShauna Stark, MS, CCRPDr. Christina Geiselhart, LCSWFacing depression with botulinum toxin: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Psychiatric Research.
Dr. Gary Small, MD
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Getting Botox In This Part Of Your Face Could Actually Decrease Your Happiness )
Also on site :
- Sen. Thom Tillis Announces Retirement After Trump Threatens Primary Race
- Marshall says he believes Trump megabill ‘will help shrink the debt’
- Joey Chestnut's Intense 'Burping Exercises' He Completes Ahead of Competitions