The Ed.
Well-Known Member
Experts writing in the Journal of Aesthetic Nursing have warned that Botox may stunt emotional growth. Referring largely to the trend of preventative Botox treatments, the newly published research suggests "frozen faces" could stop young people from learning how to express emotions fully.
The trend for preventative Botox has grown amongst the under 25s and is becoming more and more widespread but a leading body of UK plastic surgeons says injecting teenagers for cosmetic reasons is "morally wrong".
Experts blame reality TV shows and celebrity culture for the growing trend. Nurse practitioner Helen Collier, who was responsible for the research, suggests that our culture has idealised the "inexpressive frozen face."
Collier discusses the well-known psychological theory, the facial feedback hypothesis, that suggests adolescents learn how best to relate to people by mimicking their facial expressions.
"As a human being our ability to demonstrate a wide range of emotions is very dependent on facial expressions. Emotions such as empathy and sympathy help us to survive and grow into confident and communicative adults."
The "growing generation of blank faces", as she says, could be responsible for harming their ability to correctly convey their feelings. "If you wipe those expressions out, this might stunt their emotional and social development," she says.
Collier warns that while most of the effects of Botox are temporary, she does say that research suggests that muscles don't fully recover.
"Though most of the effects of the toxin are temporary, research suggests the muscles don't fully recover from injections. We really need to understand the consequences of starting treatments too soon."
Dr Michael Lewis, a researcher in psychology at Cardiff University, says, "The expressions we make on our face affect the emotions we feel. We smile because we are happy, but smiling also makes us happy. Treatment with drugs like Botox prevents the patient from being able to make a particular expression and can therefore have an effect on our learning to feel emotions naturally."
Rajiv Grover, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, concurs with the research and expresses concerns over the long-term psychological effects that this could have on young people.
"Injecting teenagers with Botox for cosmetic purposes is morally wrong and something that no ethical practitioner would do. This can only exacerbate body image issues at a vulnerable time."
Ms Collier's research will be presented at the Clinical Cosmetic and Reconstructive Expo in October.
Until then...geek on!
The Ed.
The trend for preventative Botox has grown amongst the under 25s and is becoming more and more widespread but a leading body of UK plastic surgeons says injecting teenagers for cosmetic reasons is "morally wrong".
Experts blame reality TV shows and celebrity culture for the growing trend. Nurse practitioner Helen Collier, who was responsible for the research, suggests that our culture has idealised the "inexpressive frozen face."
Collier discusses the well-known psychological theory, the facial feedback hypothesis, that suggests adolescents learn how best to relate to people by mimicking their facial expressions.
"As a human being our ability to demonstrate a wide range of emotions is very dependent on facial expressions. Emotions such as empathy and sympathy help us to survive and grow into confident and communicative adults."
The "growing generation of blank faces", as she says, could be responsible for harming their ability to correctly convey their feelings. "If you wipe those expressions out, this might stunt their emotional and social development," she says.
Collier warns that while most of the effects of Botox are temporary, she does say that research suggests that muscles don't fully recover.
"Though most of the effects of the toxin are temporary, research suggests the muscles don't fully recover from injections. We really need to understand the consequences of starting treatments too soon."
Dr Michael Lewis, a researcher in psychology at Cardiff University, says, "The expressions we make on our face affect the emotions we feel. We smile because we are happy, but smiling also makes us happy. Treatment with drugs like Botox prevents the patient from being able to make a particular expression and can therefore have an effect on our learning to feel emotions naturally."
Rajiv Grover, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, concurs with the research and expresses concerns over the long-term psychological effects that this could have on young people.
"Injecting teenagers with Botox for cosmetic purposes is morally wrong and something that no ethical practitioner would do. This can only exacerbate body image issues at a vulnerable time."
Ms Collier's research will be presented at the Clinical Cosmetic and Reconstructive Expo in October.
Until then...geek on!
The Ed.
