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Botulinum toxin type A improves mood and emotional well-being by relaxing facial muscles, disrupting negative feedback loops, modulating amygdala activity, and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A), best known for smoothing wrinkles, may also help regulate emotions and improve mental well-being, according to a recent literature review. Robert J Vanaria and other authors reviewed the link between facial anatomy, emotional expression, and the impact of BoNT-A on mood regulation.
The review, published after an extensive PubMed search of relevant literature from 2000 onwards, analyzed 46 studies that examined the toxin’s influence on emotions through the lens of the facial feedback hypothesis. This theory proposes that facial muscle activity not only reflects but also reinforces emotional experiences. According to the findings, BoNT-A injections—particularly in the glabellar region (between the eyebrows)—can relax specific muscles, interrupt feedback loops connected with negative emotions, and foster a more positive emotional state.
Neuroimaging and clinical evidence indicate that such treatment can modulate activity in the amygdala, the brain region central to processing fear and mood, thereby alleviating symptoms of depression and anxiety. Beyond individual mood enhancement, BoNT-A may improve social interactions and interpersonal dynamics. By softening expressions linked to anger or distress, it can encourage positive emotional contagion, strengthen resilience, and contribute to more favorable self-perception.
The review highlights that BoNT-A’s benefits extend far beyond aesthetics, positioning it as a potential adjunct therapy for emotional regulation and psychological well-being. While further clinical studies are needed to fully establish its therapeutic applications, the dual cosmetic and mental health benefits underscore its growing value in dermatology and psychiatry alike.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
The Face of Emotion: Botulinum Toxin, Emotional Anatomy, and Mood Modulation
Robert J Vanaria et al.
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