What Does Preventative Botox Mean?

Because Botox injections are commonly used to treat wrinkles associated with aging, they’ve often been thought of as a treatment for older people.  But lately it’s become quite popular for younger people, those in their 20s and 30s, to use preventative Botox.  What does preventative Botox mean?  In this article we’ll go over the reasons why younger people are opting to use Botox to prevent wrinkles from forming in the first place.

What Is Botox And How Does It Work?

Botox is the brand name of a neurotoxin created by certain species of bacteria.  It’s been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use in cosmetic purposes and other medical treatments.  When used in cosmetic procedures, it’s injected into areas on the forehead and around the eyes and mouth to relax facial muscles which can cause wrinkles to appear in the skin over time.  Botox has risen to become the most common non-surgical cosmetic treatment in the world.  

What Does Preventative Botox Mean?

Although Botox has long been used to reduce the appearance of existing facial wrinkles, it’s also been found to prevent them from appearing in the first place.  This is why Botox treatments have become so popular among younger generations.  It’s been found that the most effective time to start treating wrinkles is soon after they first become noticeable.  Wrinkles occur any time you use your facial muscles, but as we get older and the skin loses its elasticity, it doesn’t snap back into place as quickly as it used to resulting in permanent wrinkles.  Once this process begins to happen appears to be the best time to start Botox treatments.

Can Using Botox At A Young Age Cause Dependency?

It’s important to know that Botox cannot be used as a cosmetic procedure on anyone under the age of 18.  There’s also no proof that using it at a young age will cause any kind of dependency or require that it’s used more frequently as the patient ages.  In fact, it’s been found that preventative Botox procedures may reduce the number of times a patient receives the treatment over time.  Touch ups among younger people are typically less frequent than found with older patients.