An injection of Botox may seem like a simple way to erase those unattractive frown lines between the eyebrows, but it turns out that that’s not all that gets wiped out in the process. A study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggests that while smoothing out the facial expressions that denote negative emotions, Botox  may also dull a person’s ability to understand such emotions. It’s an interesting and provocative finding in its own right, and it has implications for Botox patients’ relationships that are likely to raise an eyebrow or two as well!

Researchers recruited 40 women seeking Botox injections for frown lines on their foreheads. The women were asked to read 3 passages, each consisting of 20 sentences that described a different emotion: Happiness, sadness or anger.

Examples:

• Happiness: “You spring up the stairs to your lover’s apartment.”
• Sadness: “You hold back your tears as you enter the funeral home.”
• Anger: “The pushy telemarketer won’t let you return to dinner.”

The readers were asked to press a computer button when they had read and understood the sentence. Then the women received Botox injections in their corrugator supercilii, or frown muscles, a very common area treated with Botox. Two weeks later, the women were asked to read three more sets of sentences that were similar to the ones they had read before.  When asked to read and comprehend the sentences, the amount of time it took to read and comprehend the happy sentence was the same as before the treatment; however, the amount of time it took to read and comprehend the sad and angry sentences was greater than before the treatment.  Although the differences involved fractions of a second, the results were statistically significant.

According to lead researcher David A. Havas, a doctoral student in the department of psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, it appears that the inability to react to information about sadness or anger with an appropriate facial expression interfered with how the information made them feel. As Havas explained it, negative experiences and negative information both trigger signals from the nervous system that lead to physical changes, including contraction of the facial muscles that form a frown. Then those facial muscles send feedback to the nervous system that aids in the further comprehension of the message. “Botox interrupts this loop,” he said. “When you can’t frown, your brain doesn’t receive the feedback that facilitates timely comprehension of the sadness or anger conveyed in that message.”

The Effect on Relationships

Okay, maybe the possibility of evading feelings of sadness and anger has some appeal, at least at first glance. But would this really improve your life? It isn’t hard to imagine how Botox could end up making your responses to other people seem less understanding and less caring. As Havas put it, “Communication is an exquisitely timed interplay between people. Subtle differences in timing while interpreting messages can have cascading effects.” A listener whose response to a sad story is delayed even a fraction of a second might be perceived as not being understanding or empathetic.

Our facial expressions provide nonverbal cues that are important in communicating with people, especially those with whom we are closest, such as family members, friends, significant others, even coworkers. “In normal conversation, the face is alive with activity, and we automatically mimic one another’s facial expressions; the more mimicry, the more the sense of interpersonal reaction,” says Havas. “On that basis, I would suspect that people who use Botox could be seen as less trustworthy or connectable.”

The appeal of Botox treatment is obvious; obvious signs of aging are less than desirable.  But this study indicates that the negative consequences, ironically of erasing the lines caused by negative emotions, of using Botox might not be worth the smooth outcome!

Source(s):

David A. Havas, doctoral candidate, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Reprinted with the permission of:
Bottom Line Publications/Daily Health News
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If you or someone you know suffers with stubborn migraines that drugs can’t touch, you may find help from, of all things, Botox. Famous for erasing wrinkles, if not only temporarily, this neurotoxin from the bacteria that causes botulism has been shown in a new study to provide dramatic relief for a very specific subgroup of migraine sufferers. Alan M. Rapoport, MD, clinical professor of neurology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and founder and director-emeritus of the New England Center for Headache in Stamford, Connecticut, stated that for some, Botox provides “amazing” relief.

The discovery of Botox for migraine pain was an incidental accident. Back in the 1990s, a California ENT surgeon observed that a number of patients he injected with Botox to remove wrinkles said that they were experiencing fewer headaches. Though doctors initially interpreted that to mean that Botox could reduce tension-type headaches, it turned out that only migraines responded. It’s believed that Botox helps these patients by preventing release of certain inflammatory chemicals that affect the nerves in the head and neck.

Who Feels Better?

Curiously, Botox does not help patients who have occasional migraines; but it can offer relief for 40% to 50% of chronic sufferers of a particular type: Ocular migraines (described as crushing, imploding or eye-popping), the kind that are felt in the eyes. It effectively relieves the number, intensity and duration of headaches.

The standard treatment with Botox for headache is to inject tiny amounts over the bridge of the nose and above the eyebrows and in the temples in a quick (10 minutes or so) in-office procedure. If you get migraine pain in other areas, injections can be tried in those spots as well. While some patients notice some benefit within a few days, most find it takes up to three weeks to get real relief, says Dr. Rapoport, adding that relief usually lasts for three or four months. These Botox treatments can be given again and again. Dr. Rapoport told me that he has treated one woman this way for eight years with continuing success.

Botox for migraine is an off-label use, although the FDA is currently weighing its approval for chronic migraine. According to Dr. Rapoport, the statistics support its safety, with 95% of patients experiencing no side effects at all. At about $350 to $900 per treatment for the medicine alone (treatment can take one to two vials per visit), relief can be costly. But for chronic sufferers, the cost is perhaps well worth it. For some lucky patients, insurance will even lower the cost.

Source(s):

Alan M. Rapoport, MD, clinical professor of neurology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles and founder and director-emeritus of the New England Center for Headache, Stamford, Connecticut.

Reprinted with the permission of:
Bottom Line Publications/Daily Health News
Boardroom Inc.
281 Tresser Blvd., 8th Floor
Stamford, CT 06901
www.BottomLineSecrets.com