The first signs of aging often become apparent sometime in our twenties. It may be deepening smile lines, or perhaps frown lines that stick around longer even after you relax your brow. Normally, these are subtle at first but may start to show up more frequently. Botox and fillers generally begin when a patient has developed some level of more noticeable aging. Patients in their twenties may believe that skincare is their only option. It is not!
Botox works by limiting muscle movements that create wrinkles. As an already preventative procedure, it is logical to consider whether or not Botox can help younger patients prevent future wrinkles.
There are two types of wrinkles that humans present with. First, dynamic wrinkles are wrinkles that appear only with specific muscle movements. For example, raising the eyebrows may cause horizontal lines on the forehead. A younger person will likely see these lines disappear once they relax their brows. These are called dynamic wrinkles. Some dynamic wrinkles may even be present in children or have a genetic component.
If left untreated, dynamic wrinkles may eventually turn into static wrinkles. Static wrinkles are permanent wrinkles that are present whether the face is relaxed or not. Some static wrinkles have nothing to do with muscle movements, but the ones that are may be able to be prevented.
“Baby Botox” is a term used to describe smaller doses of Botulinum toxin administered to younger patients to prevent the formation of wrinkles. The average dose of Botox for a particular area ranges between twenty and thirty units. The average per area dose for preventative Botox is close to five to ten units. Areas such as the crow’s feet which already receive only a small number of units may only receive a couple of units when treated preventatively.
Along with fewer units, baby Botox is administered at longer intervals. Patients may only undergo injections once or twice per year until more regular injections become necessary. This prevents weakening of the muscle prematurely because overtreating at too young of an age may be more harmful than helpful.
Good candidates for baby Botox are individuals in their twenties or early thirties who are beginning to notice very early signs of aging or who simply want to prevent wrinkles in the future. Most healthy people can safely undergo Botulinum toxin injections. Also, since less product is injected, side effects and risks are usually reduced.
Occasionally, patients may benefit more from traditional Botox treatment depending on the severity of their dynamic wrinkles, skin quality, and age. Everyone ages at slightly different rates and thus some patients may start traditional Botox sooner than others. Overall, any person of the right age range who wants to prevent wrinkles and aging is likely a good candidate for preventative Botox injections.
As previously mentioned, it is important not to overtreat at too young of an age. Starting off with small doses at longer intervals than traditional Botox is generally the recommended protocol. However, there are exceptions of treating certain medical conditions such as hyperhidrosis or TMJ. These conditions—and potentially others—may necessitate larger doses of Botox.
A certified injector at Injectco will discuss the patient’s individual goals and examine their anatomy to determine the appropriate amount of Botox to help them prevent future wrinkles.
Injectco offers four locations across the Greater Dallas-Fort Worth area. Each location has highly skilled and experienced injectors who have a passion for what they do. They understand that each patient’s needs and goals are unique. Injectco’s providers do not take a cookie cutter approach to cosmetic injectables. They tailor their treatments to the patient.
To learn more and schedule a free consultation, call us at (817) 214-2610. Patients can also book online or reach out through our contact form.
