Botox Cosmetics increase overall quality of life and self-esteem

Chicago Facial Plastic Surgeon, Steven H. Dayan, MD, FACS, publishes a study in the November 2010 issue of Dermatologic Surgery, a prominent Dermatology journal, demonstrating that increases in overall quality of life and self-esteem were observed in participants treated with Botulinum Toxin Type A or Botox Cosmetic. In this double-blind randomized placebo-controlled survey, Dr. Dayan and DeNova research worked with one hundred participants who were treated with either Botox Cosmetic or a saline placebo for facial wrinkles.

Study participants were photographed and randomized to receive injections of Botox Cosmetic to the glabellar area (between the eyebrows), forehead, and crow's feet or injections of a saline solution. It is not uncommon after treatment with Botox for patients to report an increase in satisfaction with their appearance. Many individuals recently treated with Botox report an elevation in mood, claiming to be happier. All participants in this study finished a health outcomes survey consisting of quality of life enjoyment and satisfaction questionnaire, before injections and two weeks and three months after injections.

Statistically significant improvements in participants treated with Botox Cosmetic were observed in answers to quality of life questions pertaining to physical health, mood, household activities, overall life satisfaction, body satisfaction, self-consciousness, intellect, self-worth, appearance, comprehension, weight satisfaction, attractiveness, and sense of well-being. Increases in overall self-esteem and appearance-,social-, and performance-related self-esteem were observed in participants treated with Botox Cosmetic.

Findings revealed that Botox injections result in improvements in quality of life and self-esteem. In addition, Botox-naive participants (participants who never received injections before) demonstrated a greater improvement in quality of life and self-esteem when compared to participants previously exposed to Botox. Moreover, Botox-familiar participants demonstrated sustained improvement in quality of life and self-esteem relative to Botox-naive participants, even when injected with placebo.

"The findings in this study ask us to think much differently about Cosmetic Botox treatments," says, lead investigator Steven H. Dayan, MD, FACS, Chicago Center for Facial Plastic Surgery, Clinical Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology at University of Illinois at Chicago, Adjunct Professor at DePaul University.  "We have long known the physically enhancing benefits of Botox treatments, but to now have data that indicates Botox also improves one psyche, self-esteem and quality of life is very significant. This probably contributes to the widespread popularity of the product. The question now has to be asked is if getting Botox makes people feel better about themselves, could this translate into them being more productive in their professional lives and happier in their personal lives?"

Findings demonstrated that individuals who received Botox had significantly greater satisfaction with household activities, performance-related self-esteem, and social-related self-esteem. Others have shown that those who have and feel more positive about themselves are more productive in the workplace and in their personal relationships. The data shows that Botox has the potential for transformative results that significantly boost self-esteem and quality of life.