Botox As a Preventive Measure - Antiaging

Botox can definitely be used preventatively. I recently wrote a paper about this, looking at twins, one of whom has been using Botox for years and one who has not. The one who has not been using Botox is significantly more wrinkled and looks older. We are seeing more and more patients in their mid to late 20's starting to get small amounts of Botox to prevent wrinkles from showing up. We use half doses of Botox to partially relax the muscles so that you look natural and can still make all facial expressions, but you are not creasing the skin as much. The Botox keeps your expressive lines shallow so that they will not etch into your skin. Because we would be using small amounts of Botox, the price would not be that much. Hope that helps!

Many patients understand that preventing a wrinkle from forming is better than waiting for a wrinkle to form and then treating.  Preventative botox can keep you from early aging.

Botox can prevent wrinkles by relaxing the dynamic muscles that cause them. Even in your early 20s, getting periodic treatments with botulinum toxin can quiet the muscles sufficiently that they may not produce as many or as deep wrinkles later in life. Also, repeated use of Botox may prevent your mind from always squeezing these muscles which will minimize their use so they no longer crease the skin. If you are using Botox as prevention, you may need fewer treatments than if you were using it to smooth wrinkles that are already present. Please consult with a board-certified dermatologist to find out if you are a candidate for wrinkle prevention with Botox and to discuss a realistic maintenance schedule.

Thank you for your question. Patients are starting to use Botox at younger and younger ages. They can even start in their 20s and typically want to retain the smooth appearance of the forehead/frown region and their crows feet to prevent the lines from appearing in the future. The treatment lasts for several months but in some patients, they can last even 6 months.

Facial wrinkles can be static (always present) or dynamic (only present during certain expressions).  Most wrinkles start out as dynamic and over time become static.  This process can be accelerated by sun exposure, smoking, or genetics.  Once wrinkles become static, it is impossible to make them invisible with Botox.  If you treat the wrinkles in the dynamic phase and prevent the creases from forming repeatedly, you can theoretically prevent or delay those permanent creases from forming.  More and more patients are starting Botox in their twenties to prevent early formation of facial creases.  This is especially true if you live in a sunny area where constant squinting and sun exposure can accelerate the formation of static wrinkles. Cost considerations aside, it is perfectly reasonable to employ Botox as a "preventative" measure. 

Botox only works on wrinkles that are due to regular use of facial muscles. Also, you need to be able to stop those muscles from moving safely (so you can't use it for every wrinkle on your face). Your face is supposed to wrinkle when you talk or make expressions. When you start to notice those wrinkles even when you are not making expressions, it's time to consider if Botox may be right for you. Most women do not "need" Botox until they are in their 30s or 40s, but younger patients sometimes use it to treat signs of premature aging from sun exposure, tobacco or drug abuse, or bad genes. Do not waste your money until the wrinkles are there. Also, consider other treatments like retinoid creams and good nutrition, hydration, and skin care to delay the need.

While we do have a good number of young Botox patients, most are in their twenties and are just beginning to see fine lines in the forehead or crow's feet area.
In Southern California, because of heavy sun exposure, it's not uncommon to see a patient in their twenties that can benefit from Botox, but we don't advise using it before any lines or wrinkles are present..

Botox works well for dynamic wrinkles on the face and neck. These wrinkles do not start as severe wrinkles, rather they gradually progress with age, stress, and sun exposure.
Botox is effective only on dynamic wrinkles of the face. If you have these, even mildly, at a younger age, the early use of Botox will be preventative in nature to stop the progression of the wrinkles.

gg96,
It is best to start Botox before the wrinkles develop. The reasoning is that continued stress leads to dermal atrophy and breakdown of the structural integrity of the dermis (wrinkles). If you start Botox early, then you are decreasing the stress on the skin and, thus, helping to prevent wrinkles.
I hope this is helpful.
David Shafer, MD
New York City

Hi gg,
You should wait until you at least start to show a little crinkle (much smaller that a wrinkle) in your forehead. Following the advice of the other doctors will suit you very well in preventing wrinkles. We have many tools to help patients look young and healthy, but nothing beats the youth that Mother Nature has given you.
Don't frown; you can wait for the earliest signs of age before committing yourself to Botox. Be well.
Dr. P