Botox stops frowning and makes one happier—study

The very common anti-wrinkles treatment, working to smoothen fine lines by paralyzing face muscles, forces people to stop frowning when they are unhappy.

The underlying theory here is that if one is unable to physically frown then the brain feels there may be less to frown about, scientists claim.

Due to the reason that the poison numbs the facial muscles and relaxes expression, Botox users seem to have a more positive outlook, and suffer less from depression.

40 people studied
The study looked at 40 volunteers who had small doses of Botox injected into their forehead area.

They were then asked to read aloud a series of statements ranging from angry to sad to happy.

While reading out the statements, their response time was recorded by the researchers.

The researchers evaluated the participants’ reactions both before and after being injected with the treatment.

Results of the study
The participants took longer to read out the “negative” statements after the treatment as compared to prior the treatment.

Researcher David Havas told the Telegraph, “This delay was small but critical because it implies that the brain was processing the negative emotion more slowly after the drug's injection”.

When one’s face stops frowning, the brain automatically decides that there’s less to frown about.

Normally, the brain sends signals to the brain periphery to frown, and the extent of the frown is then sent back to the brain.

But after a Botox treatment, that loop is disrupted, and the intensity of the emotion and of our ability to understand it when embodied in language is disrupted.

Havas said: "There is a long-standing idea in psychology called the facial feedback hypothesis. Essentially, it says, when you're smiling, the whole world smiles with you. It's an old song, but it's right. Actually, this study suggests the opposite: When you're not frowning, the world seems less angry and less sad."

However, we need to be careful with the treatment as having Botox in the lower part of your face can obstruct a normal smile and have the opposite effect.