People often ask me about starting Botox® at different ages. What’s the right age to start doing preventative Botox®? Is there an age where, if you haven’t used it yet, it’s too late to start? While there might not be clear simple answers to these questions, I’d like to try to discuss the thought process of starting cosmetic Botox® treatments to give you some information on when the time is right.

What is Botox® and How Does it Work?

Let’s talk about how Botox® injections work. It’s a neuromodulator, and its primary goal is to decrease facial movements by blocking signals between the nerves and the muscles. It’s these facial movements, like squinting, scowling, or raising our eyebrows, that create unwanted wrinkles on our foreheads and around our eyes. So, by reducing these movements, we can decrease these “dynamic lines”.

Benefits of Starting Preventative Botox® Young

In younger adults, before the lines have formed, we can use wrinkle-free injections to prevent them from coming at all. Small regular doses by a trained practitioner, can delay aging better than any cream or spa treatment. I have many patients in their 20s who do preventative Botox® treatments, and I know when I see them years from now, they’ll have far fewer facial lines than the patients who don’t.

Beginning Cosmetic Botox® Later Down the Road

So, too early isn’t a problem, but have you waited too long? Once we’ve “gained enough life experience”, there can be deep lines on our faces that show up even without facial movements. Once upon a time, these “resting lines” used to be dynamic, but now stay even when the motions stop.

Botox® can’t magically wipe these away. That’s not to say it can’t help though. With repeated treatments, we can heal and soften resting lines, even if we can’t fully remove them.

How to Decide When the Time is Right

The key is to think of the different goals and outcomes at different ages and see if those match your expectations. For young adults, particularly if they have a family history of early facial aging, (yes, I recommend looking at old photos for more than just the awful outfits) starting earlier works best to prevent wrinkles. The doses will be small, but consistency will be very important to control the signs of aging.

Whereas for those thinking of starting a few decades later in life, there are definitely benefits to be had, but different targets are set, and different benefits are gained. Lines can be softened, even if not fully erased, and the deepening that would have continued can be paused.

Final Thoughts

Whatever your age and whatever your goals of treatment are, the best plan is always to come by for an assessment. If you’re looking for Botox® in Calgary and have concerns about the best areas to get Botox® or how often you need to schedule appointments, book a free Botox® consultation with me at Rejuvenation and bring all your questions.