At Gold Skin Care Center in Nashville, TN, we provide compassionate care for any skin issue, including lines and wrinkles. And we use only the most proven treatments available. That’s why we often recommend Botox; even after decades on the market, it remains one of the most popular of all cosmetic therapies. The reasons are simple: patients and providers alike trust its safety and efficacy.
At What Age Should I Get Botox?
We are a society obsessed with time, likely because it’s the most measurable facet of life. Never stopping, always rolling into the next minute or day, time is an impressive opponent. Not only does it pause for nothing and nobody, but it also leaves indelible facial imprints like lines, creases, and wrinkles.
Depending on how often you emote – some people are more expressive than others – and a host of other factors like genetics and skincare routines, some people see tiny lines in their late 20s. Others reach their 40s before visible signs of aging develop. With this in mind, you can get Botox at almost any age (over 18). What’s more important is identifying your goals; once those are in place, you can then decide when to begin this skin-smoothing regimen.
A Discussion on Treatment Goals
Not everyone chooses this injectable for the same reasons. Sure, the end results are the same with smoother skin for a longer period of time; but some people elect to have treatment as a preventative measure. Botox is designed to specifically stop the appearance of dynamic wrinkles, which are those caused by repetitive muscle movements. Such wrinkles commonly show at the edges of your mouth, the sides of your nose, near the eyes, and across the forehead.
By temporarily relaxing, or freezing, these muscles with targeted injections, we can help stop their movement and the wrinkles that then ensue. Many times, our staff can tell where a patient might need preventative treatment simply by looking at his or her face. To illustrate, a patient who routinely furrows her brow and/or purses her lips will start to see the first lines in her forehead and around her mouth.
The Preventative Approach
While we can’t predict when those wrinkles will develop, we can inject treatment to “teach” a person’s muscles to no longer contract in those habitual ways. This significantly reduces the odds that a patient will develop permanent wrinkles in what might otherwise be trouble spots. And when started early enough, this approach can reverse lines. Meaning therapy should begin sooner rather than later.
All Other Treatment Goals
We understand, however, that not everyone wants or needs to start treatment in their 20s. For those who wait, Botox can still deliver beautiful results. The goal simply shifts from preventative to corrective.
The truth is that many providers recommend waiting on treatment until between the ages of 30 and 35. This is when most patients start to see the earliest suggestions of lines and wrinkles, and starting treatment now is a great way to keep those signs from becoming deeply etched in the skin. It’s not simply time that takes a toll on your appearance, other factors can cause wrinkles, including:
- Sunbathing, including tanning beds
- Smoking
- Drinking alcohol
- Experiencing long bouts of stress
Treatment for 30-Somethings
This last point, stress, has shown to impede the growth of the skin’s natural barrier, meaning it slows the skin’s ability to heal itself. This barrier helps retain moisture for plump and dewy tissues. Without it, skin starts to age prematurely. And research tells us women between the ages of 35 and 44 endure the most stress of any age group.
We mention this because many patients associate lines and wrinkles with only elderly faces. The truth is that ongoing distress and sadness, which in turn cause scowling and frowning, can evoke wrinkles that form with muscle memory. Starting treatment now can give overworked skin and muscles the break they desperately need.
Forties Are Not Too Late
Let’s start this discussion by repeating that you can start treatment at any age. More important than the number of birthdays you’ve had are lifestyle, skin color, and skin type. Caucasian patients who have diligently applied sunscreen and avoided smoking can often wait until their 40s to start treatment. Patients with skin of color can often wait even longer, until age 45 or 50, because they are less susceptible to the effects of photoaging (sun damage).
It’s important to understand age does not determine the appropriate time to start treatment. The severity of your dynamic wrinkles themselves is a much better indicator. Once wrinkles that form on the upper portion of your face start showing even when your face is at rest, causing what’s known as static wrinkles, it’s a good idea to jumpstart therapy.
How to Get Broader Results
We need to point out that patients in their 40s often complement Botox with other treatments, such as dermal fillers that can restore lost volume and further smooth creases. This is a great way to get broader results and more fully rejuvenate your face – without the need for surgery and long recovery periods.
Fifty Is Just a Number
If you’re thinking it’s too late to opt for treatment in your 50s and older, we’re happy to tell you this is not the case. We’re able to use pinpointed injections that soften wrinkles before they grow too prominent. While it’s true that menopause will change your skin by this point, it’s just as true that treatment can still work its magic. This remains constant even if your skin is:
- Less elastic
- Prone to more age spots
- Thinner and rougher in texture
If you need more reasons to consider treatment in your 50s, keep in mind that it can help correct the effects of lower levels of estrogen, tanning, and routine alcohol consumption. Research shows that women between the ages of 45 and 64 often drink alcohol, which affects skin through dehydration and depleted levels of minerals and vitamins. Yet this injectable can help, especially when combined with dermal fillers.
Setting the Record Straight
Some patients wrongly believe that a preventative regimen in your 20s or 30s will force you to continue injectables for the rest of your life. But in reality, patients require fewer treatments over time. Some choose to schedule maintenance sessions every four to six months, while others return just every year or so. Don’t let the fear of ongoing therapy scare you, because the need is likely to be less often than you think.
An equally untrue myth convinces some people that treatment freezes the face. The real premise of therapy is to relax specific muscles to stop the formation of wrinkles. You’ll remain able to show emotion, as other facial muscles retain the ability to contract as normal. And you’ll still look like you; the biggest difference will be a smoother, softer surface that appears more refreshed.
Wrinkles Do Not Grow Worse After Treatment
We’re not sure where this myth came from, but starting and then stopping treatment will not make your wrinkles worse. Instead, once the effects of this injectable wear off, lines will simply return to their pre-treatment state.
Even if you choose at some point to stop Botox, it will pay dividends in giving you a long-lasting younger appearance; throughout treatment, wrinkles cannot grow deeper so that, for your face, time essentially freezes. This is reason enough to have just one session.
Any Age Is the Perfect Age
Because there’s no hard and fast rule with treatment, you can embark on a regimen at any point: 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, or even older. Decide what you want from this injectable and then move forward as appropriate. And if you’re still wondering whether or not treatment is right for you, we can help. We’ll review your skin and then make a professional recommendation. Schedule your consultation today by calling Gold Skin Care Center in Nashville, TN.
