Does Botox Mute Emotions?

While Botox helps fight the effects of aging, it might also be in a fight with the emotions of patients. According to a recent study, Botox can actually inhibit the ability of patients to empathize with others as well as block their ability to feel deep emotions.

A Study on the Effects of Botox on Emotions

One of the reasons Botox is so popular is the fact that it only gives temporary results. If the patient is not happy with the results from the injections, they will fade away as time passes. Botox works by paralyzing muscles in the face that are involved in facial expressions. New research suggests that the muscles in the face don’t ever fully recover from being injected with Botox.

A study led by Tanya L. Chartrand, professor of marketing and psychology at Duke University, and David T. Neal, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Southern California was conducted in order to test the abilities of women to decipher emotions after being injected. When the women in the study were shown a set of photographs of human eyes, the women injected with Botox were significantly less able to match the eyes in the photograph with the human emotions shown by the eyes than adults studying the photos who didn’t have Botox.

According to a nurse practitioner involved in the study, Botox is creating faces that are frozen and unable to feel any sort of deep emotion. As an example, people frown when they are sad and smile when they are happy. The expressions made by the face are a window into the emotions a person is feeling. In other words, Botox takes away the ability to show real and genuine emotions. Why does this happen? Botox doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier so the impact it has on any emotions are simply caused by the ability it has to restrict facial movements.

The participants of the study were also given a questionnaire dealing with depression and anxiety. The research team found that people who were given Botox injections to keep them from frowning were happier than those who had a full range of emotions including the ability to frown and be sad. In fact, the recipients of Botox had less anxiety and felt happier. However, the happiness didn’t come from the feeling that they were better looking than others since they did not feel that way before the injections. Rather, their happiness seems to come from the inability to frown and show their sadness.

Is the Inability to Show Emotion worth cheating the Aging Process?

The thought of growing old is one most people dread. People want to be able to enjoy a youthful look for as long as possible. Sadly, this goes against the natural order of things. Although growing old is an inevitable occurrence, Botox is one of the most popular methods of concealing old age. Although there are a lot of benefits that can be associated with the procedure, it also has a lot of adverse effects such as the inability to show emotions. Botox dilutes certain insecurities and inhibits the ability to feel deep emotions and empathize with others.

Some of the other side effects of Botox are:

• Pain, swelling or bruising at the injection site
• Headache or flu-like symptoms
• Droopy eyelid or cockeyed eyebrows
• Crooked smile or drooling
• Eye dryness or excessive tearing
• Muscle weakness
• Vision problems
• Trouble speaking or swallowing
• Breathing problems
• Loss of bladder control

With more studies have been carried out on the side effects of the procedure, a few questions have been raised regarding retrograde botulinum toxin transmission (transfer of the toxin to the central nervous system). This is a serious condition that shouldn't be taken lightly as it could be the foundation of more severe side effects and, if not attended to in time, the death of the patient.

The Future of Botox Injections

What can current and future Botox patients take from this study? The ability of Botox to inhibit and impact the abilities of patients to feel emotions might be cutting into their ability to live a life filled with the full range of human emotions. In order to experience a life that includes all of the emotions the human condition has to offer, undergoing Botox treatments might not be the way to go for people who don’t mind experiencing sadness along with joy. Before undergoing any type of Botox treatment on the body, patients need to schedule a consultation with a board-certified doctor. The doctor will examine the patient and determine if Botox is the best option to achieve the desired results. The doctor will also explain if there are any alternative treatments to fight fine lines and wrinkles on the face. Finally, the cosmetic doctor will set realistic expectations for the procedure so the patient will not be surprised or disappointed by the final results achieved by undergoing a Botox treatment.