Is Happiness Skin Deep? Cosmetic Procedures May Help Us Feel Better
Botox, Dermal Filler Brockville, More Than A Cosmetic Treatment
It turns out that women and men’s motivation behind cosmetic enhancement is complex. It’s not just about looking more aesthetically pleasing but about feeling better too. These are the findings of a recent study published in JAMA Dermatology on Aug 15, 2018. Although the majority of participants reported that treating or preventing the signs of aging was fundamentally important, a surprising revelation was that more than 30% of them sought procedures such as Botox, dermal filler and photo rejuvenation for health and wellness reasons. In other words, looking better helped these patients feel better.
This relationship between looking good and feeling good makes perfect sense. The positive emotions we experience from seeing a youthful face staring back at us in the mirror can have a cascade of life-altering effects. There’s no doubt that feeling attractive and vibrant puts a spring in our step and inspires us to keep making positive lifestyle choices. Healthy eating habits, staying fit and taking care of our skin perpetuates a positive feedback loop. It inspires us to maintain our appearance by making small, incremental improvements with the help of non-invasive cosmetic procedures. It’s an internal reward system that keeps us looking and feeling great. In fact, this explains why non-surgical facial rejuvenation is the fastest growing segment of the beauty industry and why it’s so popular across all age groups.
Botox Improves Mood After Only Two Weeks
The connection between rejuvenating skin treatments and feeling good doesn’t end there. Another interesting study published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry suggests that Botox can elevate mood levels and even went as far as to claim that “Botox is a viable method for treating depression.” In the study patients injected with a neuromodulator for cosmetic reasons reported feeling less depressed in just two weeks. To be clear, Botox is not currently approved for treating depression but there’s compelling evidence that it may be in the future.
Exactly how neuromodulators work to improve mood requires more research. One theory to explain this phenomenon is called the Facial Feedback Hypothesis. It explores the idea that when we smile, laugh or frown, our brain takes a cue from our facial muscles signaling us to feel the emotions corresponding to our expressions. Looking angry, sad or unhappy can perpetuate these negative feelings. Remarkably, the reverse happens to be true as well. When our faces are prevented from making negative expressions we tend to stop feeling that way. In a sense, having regular Botox treatments to soften lines and wrinkles can disable the mechanism that’s responsible for feeling bad and boost feelings of happiness and wellbeing.
Give us a call at 613-342-0220 to find out more about all the non-surgical procedures offered at Brockville MediSpa that can help you look more vibrant and youthful. We invite you to book a personalized consultation with Dr. Steyn. Look better without looking different!
