Does Botox Prevent Wrinkles? Here’s How Preventative Botox Works

When it comes to skin aging, it’s common knowledge that prevention is better than cure. For most people, this means slathering on a cocktail of anti-aging products each and every day, before turning to cosmetic treatments, like Botox, once those fine lines turn into deeper wrinkles.

However, these days, rather than using Botox as a treatment option, more and more young people are turning to the procedure as a wrinkle prevention method instead. Today, we’re going to take a closer look at using Botox as a preventative measure – how does it work, and is it an effective way to slow down the skin aging process? Let’s find out!

What Does Botox Do to Your Face? How Exactly Do Botox Treatments Target Facial Muscles & Fine Lines?

Botox is revered for its ability to smooth away lines and wrinkles.

Available as a powder, Botox is mixed with saline to form a solution that’s then injected into specific facial muscles. This weakens the injected muscle, preventing it from contracting and moving when you make a facial expression.

As a result, the creases that usually develop on the face each time those muscles make a repetitive movement fail to appear, leaving the face looking smooth and line-free.

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Does Preventative Botox Work? Will Getting Botox Now Prevent Future Wrinkles?

It’s a known fact that Botox works well on existing wrinkles, but does Botox prevent wrinkles too?

The answer is a firm yes. In terms of preventive treatments, Botox is extremely effective, which is why it has been gaining so much traction lately among young age groups.

Targeting the muscles most commonly responsible for wrinkles, such as those on the forehead and around the mouth, before they’ve actually caused those wrinkles, means that those wrinkles won’t be able to form to the same extent as they otherwise would have.

You may still experience fine lines in those areas, but at a much later age than without the Botox. Even then, it’s unlikely that those light creases will turn into deep lines and rigid wrinkles.

What makes preventative Botox even more tempting is the fact that the procedure involves minimal pain. It hurts less than laser hair removal, or even the flu shot, making it highly appealing.

Is Botox Good for You or is Botox Bad for You? A Closer Look at the Long-Term Effects of Botox + Before and After Results Over Time

Botox gained FDA approval back in 2002, and it has only gotten safer since. It has now been used widely enough and for long enough for scientists to study the effects of long-term Botox use, and the results are enough to convince many to give the procedure a try.

Negative effects are extremely uncommon. Instead, the main long-term change brought on by Botox is the weakening of the injected muscles. Since they haven’t been used for so long, they can shrink and waste away. However, Botox targets only a few of the many muscles in your face, so you will still be able to make normal facial expressions.

Alternatively, you can avoid this by taking a Botox break every once in a while.

Are there any positive effects of long-term Botox treatments? Yes – peer-reviewed studies show that Botox could potentially be used to treat depression and anxiety [1], making it well worth considering if your mental health has been struggling.

When Should You Start Getting Botox & How Old Do You Have to Be to Get Botox?

Botox is approved for people aged 18 and over. Let’s take a closer look at the effects that Botox has on various age groups:

Getting Botox at 25

If you want to get going with Botox before you start to develop wrinkles, then 25 is the ideal age. Find a board-certified dermatologist that you like and book yourself in for regular treatments – you’ll develop fewer wrinkles, in the long run, making the investment well worthwhile.

Getting Botox at 30

Starting Botox at 30, as opposed to in your 20s, still works well to prevent aging. You’ll need fewer treatments to maintain your results compared to if you were to start Botox at a later stage in your life.

Getting Botox at 50

It’s usually too late for preventative Botox once a person is in their 50s, but Botox is still a great way to minimize the wrinkles and horizontal lines that you currently have.

Is Botox Permanent or Does Botox Make You Look Older When It Wears Off? Here’s What Happens When You Stop Using Botox Injections

Wondering what would happen if you decided to stop using Botox one day in the future? Don’t worry, your face won’t suddenly start to look older.

Instead, studies show that crow’s feet, forehead lines, and glabellar lines are less apparent in patients that have had regular Botox treatments throughout their lives, compared to those who had only had one or two treatments [2].

ALSO READ: Does Microneedling Help Wrinkles

FAQ

Conclusion: Is Botox Worth It When Trying to Prevent Skin Aging?

There’s a reason why more and more people have been turning to Botox as a way to prevent aging, and that’s because it really works. While anti-aging skincare products may be your first point of call, don’t discount the powerful effects that Botox can have too. If you’re prepared to commit to regular treatments, then this could be the key to a wrinkle-free face later on in life.

References
[1] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/botox-treatment-depression-and-social-anxiety/
[2] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamafacialplasticsurgery/article-abstract/481051