Dr. Charles Runels, MD

BOTOX ® Cosmetic for Depression

There are several ways to treat depression.

• You can change hormones.  This can be done by replacing the low hormones that might cause depression if low (like thyroid and testosterone).
• You can give anti-depressant medications (which change neurotransmitters like dopamine and seratonin).
• You can change actions (running or walking have been proven to help depression...probably by changing both hormones and neurotransmitters).  Some people have even demonstrated that standing in front of a mirror and smiling for a few minutes per day can help depression.

Here's a question that occurred to me:  If exercising the muscles that you use to express happiness causes more happiness, what would happen if you relaxed the facial muscles that you use to express anger or sadness; would this result in less depression and anxiety.

It appears my question wasn't that original.  Here's a link to research published in a recent medical journal that shows that using BOTOX to relax the frown muscles does cause depressed people to feel happier:  details of the research.

For a free BOTOX consultation, call my office at 251-344-4049

Peace & health,

Charles Runels, MD