Why Botox may be bad for your social life

Botox may kill your wrinkles, but it could also cost you your social life, a new study suggests.

Research from the University of Wisconsin-Madison published in the journal Psychological Science found that the wrinkle-smoothing treatment not only stops frown lines, it also increases the amount of time it takes to react to emotional events - potentially leading to socially awkward encounters.

The study monitored the speed at which 40 volunteers processed written statements before and after receiving Botox injections around the mouth. Scenarios in the statements included such negative events as being ignored on their birthday or being interrupted by a telemarketer at dinner.

The subjects took "significantly longer" to grasp and react to the negative concepts after the injections deadened their frown muscles, according to the study.

“Blocking facial expression diminishes the experience of emotion,” lead researcher David Havas told Britain's Sunday Times. “Our faces are normally alive with activity, which contributes to our understanding of each other, and there is a strong link between our facial expression and our ability to comprehend the meaning of language.

“If people seem slow in reacting to what they are being told, it is likely to be interpreted as a lack of sympathy or interest.”

Subjects reacted to positive news at normal speed, but that could be because this study focused on frown muscles and not smile areas like crow's feet, Havas said.

nydailynews.com