If you’ve been thinking about getting Botox, chances are you have a lot of opinions to juggle. The modern world has turned personal cosmetic decisions into public debates – especially for younger people who decide to seek treatment. So how can you cut through the noise and decide if Botox is right for you in your twenties and early thirties?
While the average patient start Botox at 40Gillian, now 35, had her first Botox treatment in her 30s. “I knew I was interested in Botox in my twenties, but I was hesitant to get it before my wedding, at 29, because of the advice not to do anything drastic to your appearance before the big day,” she says. Luck. “Now I wish I had. The botox I get is very subtle and subtle and really refreshes my face.”
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Botox procedures for humans ages 20 to 29 years have increased by 28% since 2010, perhaps due to the rise of social media and Zoom calls, although definitive research in this area has yet to be done. Weighing the pros and cons of getting Botox is an essential step for her 4 million Americans who receive these procedures every year.
For Jillian, the potential side effects of the treatment and the cost were her two main concerns. “I was nervous about the fall, but I haven’t experienced it either I was told it is quite rare,” she says. A single unit of Botox costs $10 to $15, with the average treatment consisting of 30 to 40 units.
However, since receiving her first Botox treatment in her 30s, Gillian has had three injections a year, only pausing her procedures during her two pregnancies. (The FDA recommends discontinuing Botox treatments during pregnancy unless “the potential benefit justifies the potential risk[s] to the foetus’, which include miscarriage, malformation and, for the mother, botulism.)
“Obviously, the cost is a downside I had to consider, but in the end I feel it’s worth it as an investment to keep frown lines and crow’s feet at bay,” says Gillian.
What is preventive botox?
Botox is a neurotoxin that blocks the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, thereby reducing the muscles’ ability to contract. “When done smartly, Botox can reduce the muscles’ ability to contract rather than blocking or paralyzing the muscles completely,” he explains. Dr. Kenneth Mark, a cosmetic dermatologist with practices in New York and Colorado. This can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines, such as those that appear on your forehead or around your smile.
“Preventive” Botox is a slippery term in the medical community, and many specialists refuse to use it altogether. “Preventive Botox involves the use of Botox injections before wrinkles and fine lines are etched deep into the skin,” explains the New York and California-based dermatologist. Dr. Karyn Grossman. “Regular Botox usually treats existing lines and wrinkles. Preventive Botox can be beneficial as it helps relax the facial muscles that cause these lines, possibly delaying their formation.”
Once dynamic wrinkles or wrinkles caused by repeated facial expressions form, it can be difficult to reduce their appearance. That said, how old you are isn’t always an indication of how many lines and wrinkles you have.
“Rather than ‘preventive’ Botox, I prefer to use Botox when it’s most appropriate and not just based on age,” says Mark. “For example, you can have an 18-year-old who grew up in the sun and constantly squints and rubs his eyebrows. In this case you can forget about the “preventive” Botox”. On the other hand, he adds, you might have a 40-year-old patient with zero wrinkles. “Instead of preventive Botox,” he notes, “the saying should be ‘preventive and appropriate’ Botox.”
In other words: The decision to get Botox should depend less on how old you are and more on how your skin looks and how you feel about how important it is.
Possible side effects of getting preventative botox at a young age
“There are no long-term health concerns Botox, as it is approved by the FDA for aesthetic reasons for over 20 years,” says Mark.
No studies have shown a long-term negative effect of Botox, although there are possible side effects to be aware of: swelling, pain, and bruising at the injection site. headache and flu symptoms. droopy eyelids; crooked eyebrows; watery or dry eyes; and infections are all rare but possible side effects of Botox. It’s also possible for the toxin to spread to unintended parts of the body, causing toxic botulism that could lead to vision problems, muscle weakness, breathing problems, difficulty speaking or swallowing, an allergic reaction, or bladder problems, according to the Mayo Clinic as well as his own botox label insert.
It is also noted that risks on the product label include anaphylaxis (allergic reaction), difficulty breathing or swallowing, corneal exposure or ulceration due to less blinking, and transmission of viral diseases from the albumin component (extremely low risk).
More research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of these treatments.
Is Botox right for you?
First things first: You always have to consult a doctor if you are considering getting Botox. If you have the time and means, a second opinion can also be valuable.
Mark recommends Botox to his patients when fine lines and wrinkles start to appear. “The advantage of this is that if you wait until it’s too late, then the wrinkles will be so deep that they can’t be fully corrected with Botox alone,” he says. “Then patients will need fillers in addition to Botox. However, when done consistently, meaning every four months for about a year, the patient will experience the full effect or correction from it.”
Kim takes a slightly different approach and doesn’t recommend starting Botox when fine lines and wrinkles first appear. “The FDA indication for botulism toxin is dynamic wrinkles, aka movement wrinkles,” she says, meaning the lines on your face disappear when you relax but appear when you smile or squint. “If a patient comes in with zero movement, I wouldn’t offer toxins. I don’t believe in prophylactic botulinum toxin [Botox]. I would only treat the patient if they have deep lines and wrinkles with movement.”
These different approaches to Botox make it important to have an ongoing dialogue with your dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Come to your introductory appointment with questions and remember: This is it after all yours decision. Just keep in mind that there is no such thing as too much, too soon when it comes to Botox.
“Preventive Botox should usually be used once a year, in low doses, to soften the movements,” says Grossman. “If you use it more than that, you can cause muscle atrophycause the formation of other lines or wrinkles and they are at risk of developing a tolerance to the toxins over time.”
Jillian’s advice? “I would say [whether or not to get Botox] it depends on your priorities. If you don’t mind the wrinkles, it’s great! If you’re not a fan of needles, it might make sense to skip it. It’s definitely a personal decision,” she says, adding that many of her friends have also started receiving treatments. “I’ve also been surprised at how many female friends my age tell me they’ve got it, or ask who I’m seeing if I share that I’ve got it. I think the stigma is less than it used to be, and it’s more normal and understandable that this is something that a lot of people are incorporating into their beauty routine earlier these days.”
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