It's Official: Botox Makes Us Feel Better About Ourselves

Patient satisfaction with overall facial appearance increases by 28 percent with botulinum toxin type A injections to the glabellar rhytids, according to new research in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

In the study, satisfaction rate was determined based on participating patients’ completion of the FACE-Q survey, a newly developed and validated patient-reported outcome instrument that can be used for measuring patient’s own perceptions of cosmetic facial procedures. The survey consists of 63 questions asking patients to evaluate their overall appearance, age appearance, and the appearance of cheeks, nasolabial folds, lower face and jawline, chin and neck.

Researchers examined 57 female patients who completed the FACE-Q survey. After the baseline survey, the patients received injections of one brand of botulinum toxin type A, (Botox, Dysport or Xeomin) in the region between the brows. Two weeks post-injection, the patients completed the FACE-Q survey again. The percentage changes in patient responses from the first to second surveys were assessed to determine how the injections affected patient satisfaction with their facial appearance.

Patients said that they believe they look an average of 5.6 years younger post-injection with any of the botulinum toxin type A products, (Botox, Dysport and Xeomin).  The average age of the 57 patients with pre- and post-neurotoxin FACE-Q responses was 49.6 years (range of 32 – 75 years old).

After receiving the injections, patients reported a 38 percent improvement in symmetry, 12 percent improvement in balance, 31 percent improvement in appearance at the end of the day, 36 percent improvement in freshness, 47 percent increase in restfulness, 24 percent improvement in appearance of profile, 29  percent improvement in appearance in photos, 23 percent improvement in appearance when waking up, and 23 percent improvement in appearance under bright lights.

“This indicates that patients’ satisfaction with their overall facial appearance was statistically significantly greater after receiving the injections, and certainly accounts for the continued success of neurotoxin popularity to reduce the signs of aging,” says lead researcher Ivona Percec, MD, PhD, director of Basic Science Research and associate director of Cosmetic Surgery in the division of Plastic Surgery at Penn in Philadelphia.

“This new study reaffirms the efficacy of botulinum toxin type A and the satisfaction it brings to patients,” agrees Daniel C. Mills, President of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and a Laguna Beach, Calif. plastic surgeon.