Effects of lavender olfactory input on cosmetic procedures

To evaluate the effects of the aroma of essential oil of lavender against placebo on subjects' pain perceptions and levels of anxiety when undergoing elective cosmetic facial injections of botulinum toxin type A (BOTOX(®) COSMETIC) for the correction of glabellar wrinkles.

Subjects (N=30) who had not previously received any cosmetic facial injections were randomized to essential oil of lavender aroma exposure or to placebo during elective cosmetic facial injections of BOTOX(®) (12 U) for the correction of glabellar wrinkles. Evaluations of subjects' pain perceptions and levels of anxiety assessed by the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP) measurements were taken at baseline, before, and after injections.

Subjects exposed to essential lavender oil showed a significant reduction in HR after the injection as compared to the pre-injection HR. Subjects exposed to the placebo did not show any significant difference in BP or HR between pre-injection and postinjection.

Although essential oil of lavender did not have an effect on the subjects' perception of pain during a facial injection, subjects showed significant increases in parasympathetic activity when exposed to the lavender aroma. Lavender aromatherapy has the potential to ease anxiety in patients undergoing minimally invasive facial cosmetic procedures.