Prevention vs Correction: Botox in Your Twenties

Prevention vs Correction: Botox in Your Twenties

Neuromodulators (i.e Botox, Dysport, Xeomin) are a wonderful treatment in the world of anti-aging, but when do you start getting these injections? Most women in their 30’s, 40’s, and 50’s get treatments like Botox to correct fine lines and wrinkles that have accrued from years of movement. What if there was a way to prevent such deep lines from forming in the first place? As we all know, prevention is always easier than correction in almost all aspects of life, but is prevention of wrinkles even possible? Loss of collagen and elastin in the skin as well as repeated movement from facial muscles are how those stubborn lines appear. By getting injections, it is preventing you from moving those facial muscles that allow those folds in the skin as you talk or make expressions.

Twenties: Too Early for Botox?

Working in the Med Spa industry, I am blessed to be surrounded by lasers, facials and injections to keep my skin looking rejuvenated and as youthful as it should. I started to notice the “eleven” lines in between my brows a few years ago which brought to my attention how much I squint or furrow my brows to create said lines. The first time I had Botox was at 23 years old. It was a low dose, meaning not many units, and was only in between the brows to prevent me for furrowing them. Since then my “eleven’s” have diminished completely and it has made me more conscious of making that face. My Mother (whom I love very much) has deep “eleven’s” between her brows from making the same faces I do. Although I enjoy taking after my Mother in many ways, I am trying to avoid the deeper lines as much as I can. By starting Botox at a younger age, prevention becomes more possible.

Selfies: Pre-Mature Aging

Since technology has become a bigger influence in all of our lives, taking a selfie is now a common thing. In fact the “faux surprise face” (expressions in the pictures above) has become the new “duck face” meaning raising the eyebrows happens over and over again just for pictures alone! That repeated motion plus not so great skin care habits (i.e tanning, smoking, drinking) has started to take a toll on premature aging in young adults. Even friends or acquaintances close to my age are already starting to look 5-10 years older than they really are.

Who Would be a Candidate for Preventative Botox?

Your face is supposed to wrinkle when you talk or make expressions. When you start to notice those lines even when you are not making expressions, it could be time to consider Botox. Now this does not necessarily mean that only Botox will help you on your anti-aging journey. Take a look at your lifestyle choices and skin care routine before going to the needle. Activities such as tanning, smoking and even drinking can break down collagen giving you pre-mature aging. The more dehydrated and dry your skin is the more those fine lines and wrinkles start to show. Using a skin care line that is medical grade or full of peptides and antioxidants is a great first line of defense. A Retinol cream is another product to include in your skin care regime and of course always a sunscreen. An everyday sunscreen can help prevent those harmful UVA and UVB rays from damaging the skin and making you look older than you feel.

The Bottom Line

Regardless of how old you are you should never feel pressured to get Botox. These treatments are not cheap and can be the reason many people don’t start their Botox journey until later in life. Getting Botox at a younger age may be frowned upon by some, but I disagree. I will inevitably age like the rest of the world but I will do so fighting my way there. Luckily for me I have a wonderful injector who is very knowledgeable and would never do a treatment on me that she doesn’t think I need. This is important so I don’t end up looking over done even at an early age. I love my natural looking results and plan to continue my smooth forehead and non-eleven brows look for as long as I can!