Smile More Often as a Way to Look Younger

Individuals who smile more often may have discovered a great way to look younger, according to WebMD.

A study published in Psychology and Aging found that facial expressions play a large role in how people perceive the ages of others. In fact, individuals who were smiling in photos were thought to appear two years younger on average than the person’s real age.

Those with a neutral or angry expression on their face did not have the same perceived lower age.

Researchers thought the fact that the individuals who were smiling in photos were perceived to be younger may be due to facial lines. Though age can bring on smile lines around the eyes and mouth, the fact that these are present when we smile or laugh may mislead the eye. It can be difficult to discern if the wrinkles are permanent or temporary, and simply caused by smiling.

Even if you can’t make it in to your cosmetic surgeon’s office, smiling more often can be a great way to look younger, even if only a couple of years.

The study also found that the age of the person viewing the photos, relative to the subject also played a role in how they perceived the subject’s age. Subjects who were older had an age that was more difficult to discern. Additionally, a subject whose true age was near to the viewer’s age was more easily discerned.

In addition to appearing happier, a simple way to look younger may be a visit to your cosmetic surgeon for a non-surgical treatment, like Botox.

Email Birmingham cosmetic surgeon Dr. Petro to find out more about Botox and other treatments.