Wrinkles are an inevitable part of getting older. They’re nothing to be ashamed of, but whether you decide to leave them be or lessen their appearance is up to you. The choices we make when we are young show up on our faces as we get older, which is why preventative Botox is growing in popularity.
What Is Preventative Botox?
For how popular Botox is, it’s still stigmatized. People think it gives you a frozen face – which it can, if you have too much injected. Others think that you should let yourself age naturally and that it’s vain to want to prevent wrinkles from forming. In truth, Botox is more common than people think, and done right, it won’t make you look frozen.
Whether or not you get Botox is a personal choice, and one that you should feel comfortable with. It’s much easier to prevent wrinkles than it is to treat them, after all. If you are someone who wants to look young for as long as possible, preventative Botox could be an excellent treatment option for you.
Preventative Botox is when you get Botox in order to prevent wrinkles from appearing. If you have it injected in the early stages of noticing fine lines, it can keep those fine lines from turning into wrinkles.
Does Preventative Botox Work?
In short, yes. The younger that you start getting Botox, the less you’ll need of it the older that you get. This is because prevention is always easier than treating wrinkles that have already formed. By preventing wrinkles from forming, you can enjoy smooth skin for longer.
Does Getting Preventative Botox Mean That You’ll Never Get Wrinkles?
If you’re someone in their 20s or 30s who is interested in preventing the signs of aging, the idea of preventing them entirely can be exhilarating. You may be overjoyed at the idea of miracle injections that keep you looking 25 for years on end.
However, while Botox can prevent dynamic wrinkles, it can’t prevent all wrinkles and it doesn’t mean you’ll never get them.
It Works Best For Dynamic Wrinkles
Botox weakens your muscles by blocking the nerve responses that tell your muscles to form expressions. This is how it prevents dynamic wrinkles – the wrinkles you notice when you make an expression.
Dynamic wrinkles are typically only noticeable when you’re using the muscles, and then when you relax them, your face looks smooth again. Over time, dynamic wrinkles can turn into static wrinkles – the wrinkles that you see even when you’re not using the muscles.
Since Botox limits your ability to use these muscles, it prevents the wrinkles that form from making expressions over and over and over. It also helps with this because when you can’t use muscles, you end up using them less.
So, if you’re an expressive person prone to frowning and squinting, preventative Botox can train you to stop doing this, which ergo prevents the wrinkles from these repeated expressions. This is also how Botox can improve your mental health – if you can’t frown, this can help you be more positive, similar to how smiling even if you’re in a foul mood can help somewhat.
You Still Need To Take Care Of Your Skin
However, preventative Botox can’t stave off wrinkles entirely. You can get static wrinkles from skin damage, such as from sun exposure. Your diet can also affect your skin aging, as can your lifestyle in general.
This is why you need to ensure that you’re wearing sunscreen every day and maintaining healthy habits.
If you notice static wrinkles, fillers can minimize their appearance. While Botox can reduce the appearance of static wrinkles, it works best for dynamic wrinkles. You can combine Botox and fillers for optimal results. When you go to your consultation, your provider will be able to tell you what treatments will work best for you.
When Should You Start Preventative Botox?
There’s no definitive answer here. Botox is FDA-approved for people 18 years and older, so technically, you can even start getting it as a teenager. However, most people start in their mid-20s to mid-30s.
When you notice fine lines that could turn into wrinkles, this is when people usually start preventative Botox. If you’re a very expressive person and you notice dynamic wrinkles, this could also be a good time to start.
If you’re not a good candidate for Botox, your provider should turn you away and recommend other things that you can do or people you can see, like a dermatologist.
Are You Considering Preventative Botox?
Intermountain Aesthetics offers Botox, as well as other treatments that can help with anti-aging, such as facials, chemical peels, and fillers. If you’re considering Botox, schedule a consultation and let us help you determine the best treatment option for you.
