Have you heard of “preventive BOTOX” or, as it’s already being called more generally, “prejuvenation”? A recent news story out of Florida shows a trend seen nationally as more and more patients in their 20s — and even some teens — specifically seek BOTOX injections. My Seattle facial plastic surgery practice has seen its share of younger patients coming in for BOTOX.
The theory of getting BOTOX injections at an early age is based on the idea that the repeated movements of facial muscles lead to the frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead wrinkles that become etched in our faces as we age. If you begin immobilizing those muscles earlier with BOTOX injections, the thinking goes, it will at least delay the onset of those lines.
There are a handful of studies that support the concept, including one that traced signs of aging in identical twins, one of whom used BOTOX for years while the other twin had no treatments.
Ultimately, using BOTOX or any other cosmetic treatment to improve or prevent signs of aging is a personal decision that should be based on certain conditions that make someone a good candidate for anti-aging treatments. The criteria include:
- Existing weakness in targeted muscles
- Eyelid ptosis (drooping)
- Deep facial scars
- Very thick facial skin
Noticeable facial asymmetry