What’s the Best Age to Start Having BOTOX®?

People are often curious about what age they should begin treatments with BOTOX^®. Thousand Oaks-based board-certified dermatologist Dr. Peterson Pierre says that even though the treatment is FDA-approved for patients aged 18 and older, the right age to start these treatments will vary from patient to patient.

It’s common for a person’s first fine lines to begin to appear after age 25—but anyone who looks in the mirror and sees them may be wondering how soon is too soon to start having wrinkle injections. The truth is that there’s no one exact age to start having BOTOX^® since each person’s skin type and goals are unique. There’s also no age limit for these injections, so patients can have them well into their 60s or older if they so choose.

Each patient is assessed on an individual basis so that the injector can determine the best option for their specific situation.

Short of not moving our faces at all to talk, show emotions, communicate, or chew, there’s not much that can be done to fully prevent the effects of aging from developing. If you have an expressive face and are starting to notice dynamic wrinkles form when you’re young, the right age for you might be your early 20s. These days, a larger group of patients in their 20s are having what’s known as preventative BOTOX^®. It’s unlikely that before the age of 25 you will have enough facial wrinkles to need botulinum toxin treatments. 

By having the injections at a younger age, you can prevent the development of new wrinkles and stop existing wrinkles from becoming deeper. It’s often much easier to prevent signs of aging than to reduce them after they’ve formed. However, many patients start having BOTOX^® at around the age of 30.

Experts recommend that you consider having wrinkle injections when you start noticing forehead wrinkles, frown lines, or other expression wrinkles on the face. In addition to having BOTOX^®, you should also try to prevent wrinkles by maintaining healthy lifestyle choices such as applying sunscreen, wearing sun protective clothing, getting enough rest, and finding ways to reduce stress.

To help you stay ahead of the game, here are some of the ways your skin changes throughout each decade of your life, as well as how you should approach skin care. 

20s

It’s common for the skin to look dull and tired sometimes when you’re in your 20s. Although it might seem like a good thing that your skin becomes drier in your 20s after coping with hormonal breakouts in your teens, the drier your skin gets the more likely it will be for wrinkles to show. Since your body produces fewer antioxidants in your 20s, you should incorporate more of them in your diet and skin products to keep your skin in great shape. 

30s

Unfortunately, the skin products that were effective for you in your 20s may not work as well several years later. Your skin may become thinner and weaker as your body is producing less collagen and elastin. You may start to notice some fine lines, the effects of sun damage that happened when you were younger, and loss of volume from your cheeks. It will be more important than ever to include an antioxidant such as niacinamide (vitamin B3) into your routine in addition to the regular cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection.

40s

The skin is going through some more significant changes at this age. This is when it will begin to lose elasticity in a more noticeable way while wrinkles deepen, and sun damage becomes more prominent. Incorporate anti-aging ingredients such as peptides, retinol, and glycolic acid into your routine. 

Learn more about BOTOX^® from Thousand Oaks’ Pierre Skin Care Institute. They also provide various other cosmetic procedures such as lasers and facial fillers to reduce wrinkles and improve the appearance of the skin. Call 805-496-9190 or submit a contact form online to set up a consultation if you would like to find out more about minimally invasive wrinkle treatments.