The best part about BOTOX is that its safe and appropriate at any time of year. When and why you choose to start this treatment can vary from individual to individual.
When should you start using Botox?
You can start as early as your later teen years, but you probably don’t need to. There’s no age limit for having Botox, but it should not be used for cosmetic reasons on people under the age of 18.
Each patient should be assessed individually to have the best treatment recommended by a qualified consultant. For some, this may mean starting Botox treatment as soon as your early 20’s if you’re prone to wrinkles and want to prevent them from occurring.
There are risks of having Botox too young. In some cases, muscles that have been treated can be susceptible to atrophy (also known as muscle weakness) from lack of use. These under-used muscles can give the face less volume as they become smaller and weaker from lack of use.
When should you stop using Botox?
There is no age limit for people who want to have Botox. Most enjoy the benefits of Botox when they are in their 60’s and older.
The right age to start Botox depends on your skin:
As per Health & Aesthetics UK
| Your age | Why you might choose to have Botox |
|---|---|
| 20s | You want to prevent wrinkles occurring in your early 30s |
| 30s | You’ve started to notice a few wrinkles—particularly crow’s feet and brow lines—and you want to stop them from becoming deep-set |
| 40s | You start to notice deeper lines around your eyes, particularly crow’s feet, forehead and frown lines and upper eyelids. |
| 50s | Lines between your eyes particularly become more pronounced as changes due to the menopause make your skin drier and more prone to wrinkles. |
| 60s | You want to look fresher, with rejuvenated skin, rather than wanting to appear 30 years younger. |
In your 20’s: Think Prejuvenation
Prejuvenation refers to slowing aging before it sets in. The facial muscles that cause wrinkles can be trained to move less, preventing wrinkles from etching their way into skin. Most prejuvenation is in skin protection and skin care but 72 percent of facial plastic surgeons last year in the UK for example, saw an increase in cosmetic surgery or injectables in patients under age 30.
Your 30’s: Smooth fine lines
You’re most likely to start seeing crow’s feet around the corners of your eyes at this age. Your thirties is also when you first start to see fine lines developing between your brows. Regularly receiving injections every 3 to 6 months will help slow the development of those pesky 11’s, softening them and preventing them from getting deeper.
Treating crow’s feet with Botox is an effective way to soften wrinkles in this area. However, speak to your practitioner about what you want to achieve, as wrinkles around the eyes are a crucial part of a natural smile. Too much Botox in this area can mean your smile looks unbalanced or insincere. An experienced practitioner will soften your crow’s feet rather than freeze them completely and give them that unnatural look.
Your 40’s: Curtail Crow’s Feet
When in your 40’s, anti-ageing creams and skincare routines are unlikely to have much of an impact on wrinkles, and for many, this means the appearance of crows’ feet around the eyes. More than half of facial plastic surgeons say people seek out cosmetic procedures to stay competitive in the workforce and to look as young as they feel. But a natural-looking outcome is paramount for patients, with 41 percent stating a fear of looking unnatural as their top concern when considering cosmetic enhancements.
In your 60’s: The Fresher look
Even if you’ve looked after your skin your whole life, by the time you reach 60 the gradual breakdown of collagen (which starts in your 20s) means you’re likely to have wrinkles. The extent of your wrinkles will depend on how well you’ve cared for your skin. If you’ve smoked, drank alcohol regularly or enjoyed sunbathing, you’re likely to have more wrinkles.
For many, many want to look ‘fresher’ and ‘less tired’ with non-surgical cosmetic treatments, rather than looking ‘overdone’ with more invasive cosmetic surgery. Botox—often combined with other treatments at this age—offers the ideal way to improve what you already have rather than completely transforming how you look.
Whatever your age, Botox offers natural-looking results and even better, is a non-surgical option. If you would like to learn more or discuss options for you, please get in touch for a consultation on 021 434 2564 or email [email protected]
