For years, BOTOX has been the most popular anti-wrinkle treatment in the world, becoming a household name and often a “gateway” to aesthetic procedures for both women and men. One of the more recent trends we’ve noticed with BOTOX at our Fort Worth practice is younger patients considering “preventative” BOTOX injections.
Plastic surgery practices and medspas across the country are seeing this trend, and one of the most frequently asked questions we hear is, “What age is best for starting BOTOX injections?” This is a great question and one, as you might guess, that has no simple answer. The reasons women and men get BOTOX differ depending on their ages, but there is not necessarily a “best” age for the treatment.
In this blog post, I’ll briefly explain how BOTOX works—and why it’s different than dermal fillers—and then describe how BOTOX injections can help you maintain smoother, wrinkle-free skin in your 20s, 30s, and 40s.
What Is BOTOX?
BOTOX is sort of a “wonder drug” because it’s been approved by the FDA for multiple cosmetic and medical uses. We’re focusing on the aesthetic use of BOTOX in this post, but it can also treat excessive underarm sweating and migraine headaches among many other conditions.
BOTOX minimizes what are called “dynamic” wrinkles or expression lines—wrinkles and lines caused by a lifetime of frowning, smiling, squinting, and other facial expressions. The repetition of these movements gradually etches lines into our skin, such as crow’s feet, worry lines, and forehead wrinkles.
BOTOX is what’s known as a neuromodulator. Injections target tiny muscles used to change expressions and temporarily immobilizes them to soften and smooth the skin. Dermal fillers, on the other hand, add volume to areas where the natural aging process, sun exposure, and other factors cause the loss of collagen and tissue.
BOTOX In Your 20s
People as young as 18 can actually get BOTOX injections but there is rarely any cosmetic reason to do so. Most of the patients we see in their 20s say they want injections to prevent the onset of wrinkles. A better word is probably “delay” because wrinkles eventually develop at some point.
People in their mid to late 20s who are starting to notice faint signs of crow’s feet, forehead wrinkles, or frown lines and want to prevent them from continuing to deepen can benefit from BOTOX injections. BOTOX is also effective at this age for limiting the development of marionette lines around the mouth. If you don’t see those lines when your face is at rest, then it’s probably best to wait on starting BOTOX injections.
The key is that you choose a trained, experienced injector because it’s critical that the treatments aren’t overdone at this age. Less is more truly applies here.
BOTOX In Your 30s
Even women and men who use sunscreen and take care of their skin usually see wrinkles develop in their 30s. If you enjoyed spending time outside and weren’t super diligent about using sunscreen, it’s almost certain that your face is starting to show a few signs of aging. After age 30 is when most people start noticing crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes because the skin is typically thinner in this area than other parts of the face.
The goal of BOTOX injections is to look more youthful, but not to erase any expressive lines. Crow’s feet often form when someone smiles, so you want to maintain that ability to express your emotions. Even though the amount of BOTOX used depends on the specific patient, it’s still a good idea for the injector to take a conservative approach.
BOTOX in your 30s can also minimize the “11s,” the vertical lines between the eyes that many people start to notice at this point.
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BOTOX In Your 40s
Even though the trend for BOTOX is that patients are getting younger, many of the people we see for first-time injections are in their 40s. This is when the crow’s feet that show up when you smile start to appear more pronounced even when you’re not smiling. Stress really starts showing up in your face after age 40 and that’s another reason we see men and women coming in for BOTOX injections. Men who want to communicate a youthful vitality at work are starting to see nonsurgical aesthetic treatments of all kinds as a way to achieve those goals.
BOTOX In Your 50s (and Beyond)
For many women and men, BOTOX has already become a staple of their skincare regimen by the time they reach their 50s. However, many of our new patients are in this age range, having finally decided to invest in themselves. While lines and creases are more deeply etched by this stage, many people in their 50s find that regular BOTOX injections help them look refreshed and feel years younger—proof that it’s never too late to take care of yourself. We also have many patients beyond middle age who use BOTOX to help enhance and prolong the results of their eyelid surgery or facelift.
BOTOX Alone Isn’t Enough
Skincare doesn’t begin and end with any single treatment. Following a daily regimen that includes professional-grade skincare products, limiting sun exposure, and keeping hydrated are all essential for people who want to maintain a youthful appearance.
If you’ve been thinking about getting BOTOX injections—or any other aesthetic treatment—contact our practice using the online form to request a consultation or call us at (817) 228-4315 to schedule an appointment.
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