Posted December 07, 2008 in Blog, Botox and Facial Fillers, Uncategorized
Mark Frauenfelder recently wrote a very thought provoking article/blog that cited a recent Europian research study on how actually moving the facial muscles affects the brain (http://www.good.is/?p=13784). The study suggests that Botox is masking our normal response to emotional stimuli. Studies have shown that depression is helped by Botox. Patients take less anti-depressant medicine after their Botox treatments. The facial feedback hypothesis mentioned in the article may explain this finding.
Studies and real life are not the same though. Looking at pictures and imitating expressions of happiness and sadness or anger is completely different from real life situations where we are faced with emotional stimuli. When performed properly, patients should still have some movement, and frankly, no one should be able to tell that they have had Botox. The “Botox like” substance was not Botox Cosmetic, FDA approved, manufactured by Allergan. Properly injected, Botox treatments should not completely paralyze the facial muscles as it appears to have been done in this study.
There is a psychiatric / mental problem if people “do not respond with appropriate emotional responses to things that are bad for them”. Botox has nothing to do with their real life emotional response to significant stimuli. Believe me; I am married to a wonderful woman who is fully capable of feeling and “communicating” all of her “appropriate” emotions and signals, even when her Botox is at its peak effectiveness. (“Yes, those jeans don’t make you look fat. darling”).
I don’t believe that my patients are “questing for perfection”; they just desire to look better, be that less wrinkled as well as less angry looking from the perpetual scowl projecting from their mid brow area. They prefer to look rested, appropriately youthful, and healthy. Let’s do a study if feeling good is detrimental to our lives.
Lastly, we are all amazed/mouth agape at those “plastic”, “done” or “unnaturally frightening” Botoxed patients who can’t move a muscle fibre in the upper third of their faces. Blame should be placed on the practioners who have created these Botox “Stepford Wife’s” (or more currently “Desperate Housewife’s”), not on the patients for “questing for perfection”.
Be well, happy, sad, angry, kind, all when appropriate or inappropriate. Most of all enjoy the beauty of life, and treat others well.
Michael A. Persky, MD, FACS
