I bet we’ve all found ourselves thinking quite frequently ‘oh, I hope I see results’ as we sit in the treatment chair (tweakments can cost substantial time and money after all!). But, what if we told you that the secret to better outcomes might actually stem from the power of your mind?
It sounds a bit mystical – and we aren’t taking anything away from the expertise of practitioners here. But, scientific research is increasingly supporting the idea that our mindset influences how we heal, experience pain, and, yes, how successful we perceive our results to be.
We spoke to two leading aesthetic doctors – Dr Sam Robson and Dr Ahmed El Muntasar – to unpick the role of the ‘placebo effect’ in our tweakment journeys and to discover whether a positive mental outlook really can maximise your results…
What is the placebo effect?
“The placebo effect is a phenomenon whereby a person experiences real improvements in symptoms or wellbeing after receiving a treatment, but these improvements are driven by the patient’s expectations and beliefs, rather than the physical effects of the treatment itself,” explains the Aberdeen-based aesthetic practitioner Dr Sam Robson. “In other words, if a person believes that a treatment will work, their brain can generate positive changes, such as reducing pain, improving mood, or enhancing overall satisfaction. And, yes, the placebo effect can play a significant role in the outcomes of aesthetic tweakments.”
How can a positive mindset improve aesthetic results?
“The placebo effect is something I see frequently in my clinic, with patient expectations often shaping their experiences and satisfaction with tweakments,” continues Robson. “Patients who approach a treatment with confidence tend to report greater satisfaction and their positive outlook can make minor improvements feel more impactful. In skin treatments like microneedling or LED light therapy, a positive mindset may lead patients to notice improvements in skin tone and texture faster. It can also increase the likelihood that patients will adhere to post-treatment routines, which can improve and even extend their results.”
Does a negative mindset have consequences too?
Unfortunately, yes – especially if you are sceptical about the tweakment in the first place. (So, be wary of using scepticism as a self-preservation tactic!).
In a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy, “if patients are worried about or have a very negative expectation about a treatment, they can end up being quite disappointed and dissatisfied with the results,” says the London-based GP and aesthetic practitioner Dr Ahmed El Muntasar. “That’s because this mindset can cause you to hyper-focus on every kind of minor imperfection and any potential side effects.”
Equally, having too high expectations has consequences too. “In some cases, patients with high expectations for dramatic changes may interpret subtle, gradual improvements as inadequate,” Dr Robson warns. “This group may also be less likely to comply with aftercare advice,” which can reduce the treatment’s overall benefits as part of a vicious cycle.
Positivity can improve downtime too!
Not only can people ‘think’ their way to better results, positivity can help with managing side effects as well, according to Dr Robson: “I’ve observed that patients who expect minimal downtime often experience quicker healing, with less awareness of redness or swelling.”
Positivity can even have a physical effect on your body. “A positive mindset reduces stress, which is beneficial for the body’s healing processes, and lower stress levels can also positively affect immune function, potentially resulting in less swelling, bruising, and discomfort,” confirms Dr Robson. “This reinforces just how powerful mindset can be – not just in how results are perceived but also in how the body responds to the treatment overall.”
On the other hand: “when patients are very anxious and stressed, this can impact their inflammatory response and can actually heighten it, exaggerating every possible side effect,” warns El Muntasar. “These patients are also more likely to fixate and focus on the smallest swelling and bruising, even if it’s not really visible. This is why it’s important to address a patient’s mindset before a treatment is carried out.”
What sort of procedures are influenced most by the placebo effect?
“I actually find the placebo effect more noticeable with subtle treatments: things like a moisturiser for skincare, or a skin booster, or a collagen stimulant, where the results are a bit more gradual and less dramatic” reveals Dr El Muntasar. “If a patient goes into a treatment feeling very positive and having a strong belief in the treatment’s efficacy, they’re more likely to notice an improvement, even if the results are subtle. Whereas, someone who has come in slightly on the fence may need more obvious outcomes to feel positive about the results.”
Similarly, for injectables such as toxin and dermal fillers, “a patient’s mindset can shape how “natural” or “satisfactory” they perceive the outcome to be,” says Dr Robson. “Patients who have seen results on social media are also, in my honest opinion, predisposed to expect much more from a treatment – so managing expectations is key.”
How to navigate the placebo effect when having tweakments?
Firstly, knowing about it helps! Then, it’s a good idea to speak openly with your practitioner, who should be able to balance encouraging your excitement with managing expectations.
“I tend to err on the cautious side when advising on outcomes – although my intention is to “under promise and over deliver”,” reveals Dr Robson. “I am aware that this can reinforce a negative placebo effect, so it is vital to get to know your patients well and have a detailed documented consultation ahead of any procedure.”
“It is really important that as clinicians we educate our patients about what they can expect during and after treatment,” agrees Dr El Muntasar. “I think the patient’s mindset is almost as powerful as the treatment itself, so my advice to patients is to approach tweakments with a really balanced perspective.”
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