Can looking better make us happier?

Can looking better make us happier?

Well-being is also a matter of skin

“I want a superficial thought, one that makes the skin look splendid“… Sang Manuel Agnelli with the Afterhours. A line that, at first listen, almost sounds like a provocation. But what if there were something much deeper than we imagine hidden behind that “superficial thought”?

Our skin is the final boundary between us and the world, but it is also the primary and universal language with which we communicate (whether we intend to or not). It flushes when we feel embarrassed, turns pale in the face of fear, sweats when we are under stress, lights up with enthusiasm, or dulls during periods of extreme fatigue.
Our face and body are a constantly changing atlas, upon which emotions, experiences, and time leave traces that we often tend to overlook in our daily lives, but which are immediately intelligible to others.
It is no coincidence that when we are going through a difficult time, the phrase we hear most often is: “You look worn out.” Our face provides a snapshot of what we are not yet able to say or realize.

For decades, we thought the relationship worked in one direction: the mind influences the body. Today we know that “the body speaks” and is also capable of engaging in a dialogue with the brain, changing the way we perceive ourselves, our emotions, and even our psychological well-being. This proves that identity, body image, and mental health are deeply intertwined.

The face is not a mirror. It is an emotional atlas

Charles Darwin was among the first to intuit that facial expressions do not just serve to communicate emotions to others, but can also influence and reinforce the emotional experience within the individual. More than a century later, psychologists developed what we now know as the “facial feedback hypothesis” (<aux translate="no">facial feedback hypothesis</aux>): according to which stimuli coming from the peripheral nervous system (i.e., induced by muscle movements, such as those of the face, toward the brain) directly influence our emotional experiences.

In other words, we don’t just smile because we are happy. In part, we can also feel happier because we are smiling, drawing our interlocutor (thanks to their mirror neurons) in the same emotional direction.
The Laughter yoga is a practice that, for example, leverages this insight by combining yogic breathing with self-induced laughter exercises. By exploiting the body's inability to distinguish between fake and spontaneous laughter, it helps achieve significant stress-relief benefits and releases endorphins and serotonin.

Can Botox also affect your mood?

These theories are finding multiple applications and new confirmation in the field of aesthetic medicine as well. Several clinical studies have observed that the injection of Botox into the glabella region — the area between the eyebrows involved in expressing anger and worry — has been associated with a reduction in depressive symptoms in patients with major depression resistant to conventional treatments. This is because patients who receive botulinum injections have a reduced ability to furrow their brow and therefore receive less negative feedback associated with that action.

The researchers themselves urge caution, however: botulinum is not currently an approved therapy for depression and further studies are needed to understand its mechanisms and identify its potential clinical benefits.

Not just a matter of wrinkles, but of conscious choices

Both psychologists and aesthetic doctors focused on personalized results emphasize that the true differentiator of an effective medical consultation is not “which aesthetic treatment” is requested by the patient, but “why” go ahead and do it.
If the choice stems from a personal desire, from realistic expectations and good psychological health, it can be a positive element in one's wellness journey, with significant improvements to self-esteem as well.
Not because a “perfect” face automatically makes you happy, but because feeling in harmony with your image again can bridge the gap between how we perceive ourselves and how we see ourselves in the mirror.

However, when it becomes a compulsive pursuit of perfection or an attempt to fill a deeper void, no aesthetic treatment can replace proper psychological support.

“When you look good, you feel good”

This is a recurring phrase in many celebrity interviews. But it is especially relevant for “everyday people,” carrying particular weight for those experiencing discomfort linked to medical conditions or treatments that impact body image.

Feeling and looking better triggers significant neuro-physiological benefits, including reduced perceived stress and the activation of the brain's reward and motivation circuits. These changes can translate into greater psychophysical well-being, fostering concentration, social relationships, self-confidence, and quality of life.

This clinical awareness is the foundation of the global organization “Look Good Feel Better”, which is dedicated to improving the appearance and self-confidence of people undergoing cancer treatment. It is also the driving force behind the BEyond at BTX Bar, with its aesthetic medicine treatments dedicated to oncology patients, to feel comfortable in your own skin again, without shame or guilt.

“You better”, your act of self-care

The most forward-thinking goal isn't to look younger. It’s to “recognize yourself.” Our claim “You better” is an invitation to see “the best version of yourself” in the mirror, especially on an emotional level. Without constantly seeing a face that looks tired, angry, or disconnected from how we feel (or want to feel) inside.

The most advanced aesthetic medicine doesn't promise to change who we are. Instead, it seeks to bridge the gap between identity, emotions, and self-perception.