- Botox injections are expensive and a big commitment to be effective.
- A dermatologist said there’s no perfect time to start — it depends on your needs and budget.
- Starting preventative Botox early can reduce the amount of Botox you need later.
If it seems like everyone is getting botox injections these days, you’re not alone. While in the past it seemed that Botox was a procedure done mostly by middle-aged people, it is becoming more and more popular with people. in their early 20s and 30s. It might make you wonder — when is the right time to start?
Of course, no one “needs” Botox, but deciding when to start it can be difficult. This is because Botox can have other benefits besides reducing wrinkles.
Dr. Stacey Toole, a dermatologist who practices in Missouri, told Insider that she started Botox because she wanted the look of a brow lift. Others start it early to prevent wrinkles. Tull said there is no universal age for when people should start Botox, just as there is no age when wrinkles can appear.
The main thing to remember, Tull said, is that Botox is more effective over time. “The longer you’ve used Botox, the less you’ll need and the less often you’ll need it,” Toole told Insider.
This could be good news for some people, as Botox is not cheap. In an imposing $466 per session on averagesome are already choosing it lower doses or look for ways to make it injections take longer to reduce costs.
If you’re interested in getting Botox, Tull shared three signs it might be time to consider getting it, depending on your skin and budget.
1. You have prominent expression lines
One of the most obvious reasons people get Botox is to reduce wrinkles in their skin. But the timing really varies from person to person, according to Tull.
“I have 18-year-old patients with severe expression lines who get Botox just to soften their look,” he said. At the same time, he noted that “some people have no need to start early at all” and don’t develop lines until later in life.
The good news is that even if you already have wrinkles, Botox can make them disappear. It just takes more time.
“Even deep lines will eventually disappear if you don’t allow the muscles to wrinkle the skin,” Tull said. “Having said that, I always tell patients that it probably took years for the lines to build, so they have to be patient waiting for them to go away.”
2. You have drier skin or spend too much time in the sun
If you’re interested in preventative Botox, Tull said there are some skin types that may be prone to premature wrinkling.
For example, people who have dry skin or have spent in the past long time outside without sunscreen they are more likely to show signs of skin aging earlier, he said. She also suggested looking at your parents’ skin to see if they have significant wrinkles.
“If you fall into any of the above categories, consider starting Botox at a young age to soften expression lines,” she said.
3. You can afford to get regular botox
The most important thing about starting Botox is not when you start, but how regularly you book sessions, Tull said. Because the results of Botox treatments should last about three months, going just once or twice a year won’t do much in the long run—except set you back a few hundred dollars.
Tull tells her patients to think of Botox like a cast. When you break your arm and wear a brace for a long time, your muscles can weaken from disuse. With Botox, the muscles that cause your wrinkles can also lose their strength – which in this case is a good thing. But if you go too long between injections, it gives them time to recover and create fresh folds.
Botox injections can be an expensive commitment. If you’re concerned about fine lines, there are cheaper alternatives out there, from retinol products to face patches.
