New Image MedSpa Blog

A recent study quoted in one of the major newspapers claimes that Botox may actually negatitvely affect our ability to process information and to think intelligently. The theory behind the study is that Botox restricts our facial ability to express certain emotions (i.e. frown or raise the eyebrows/crease the forehead, etc.) and furhter theorized that the ability to express facial gestures sends required brain signals and therefore causes lower intelligence, etc. The study caused for some sensational comments in the popular media, but what is the truth? The truth is that the study was done by a graduate student, who tested 40 woman before and after a botox injections (two weeks after). The student administered a test with a set of questions. He/she then timed the woman's ability to answer the questions. In the findings, the 40 women answered the test slower/less accurately after having botox. And from this outcome, the student concluded that Botox injections block certain expressions which then negatively affect brain function. This is laughable. For such a claim to be substantiated, a significantly wider study should have been done. Also, the brain activity (or lack thereof) should have been documented through an instrumented study, not hypotheticals without substance. Furhtermore, Botox has a safety record of well over 15 years, and is widely use by many many smart people none of which have reported having been "stupefied" by Botox. But, this story in fact gained some traction for about a week - all because our "unbiased" media found it sensational.