Preventative Botox treatments involve the use of injectable prescriptions to stop facial wrinkles from forming, and they are becoming increasingly popular among Millennials. In fact, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reported a 28% increase from 2010 to 2017 in the number of Botox procedures performed on individuals between the ages of 20 and 29.
Botox to Prevent Wrinkles: Here’s What You Need to Know
A preventative Botox procedure helps an individual minimize the risk of fine lines, furrows and other visible signs of aging in the face caused by excess muscle movement. It generally requires just minutes to complete and involves a series of small, subcutaneous injections. Additionally, a preventative Botox procedure is typically pain-free, and a patient can usually return to his or her normal activities immediately following treatment.
Preventative Botox may prove to be a safe, effective option to treat visible signs of aging in the face before they occur. To better understand why Millennials and others are choosing preventative Botox treatments, let’s first consider the skin’s natural aging process.
When Do the First Signs of Aging in the Skin Appear?
A person’s skin may start to show signs of aging in his or her 20s. At this point, an individual’s skin may display one or more of the following signs of aging:
- Upper eyelid drooping that makes the eyes appear smaller than ever before
- Fine lines around the nose
- Crow’s feet
- Sunken upper lip
For people in their 30s, fine, vertical facial lines may form. Also, repetitive facial movements like smiling, frowning and squinting cause facial wrinkles, and these wrinkles become ingrained in the skin over time. As a result, facial wrinkles eventually become visible, even when the facial muscles are relaxed.
When people reach their 40s, the skin loses volume and elasticity. This leads to facial lines and folds that cause the skin to sag.
What Skin Changes Occur As a Person Ages?
A person may experience a variety of skin changes as he or she grows older. These include:
- Rough skin
- Development of benign tumors or other skin lesions
- “Slack” skin (occurs due to the loss of elastin and causes the skin to hang loosely)
- Loss of fat below the skin
- Bone loss around the mouth and chin
- Cartilage loss in the nose
Meanwhile, the skin’s aging process varies based on a number of factors. These factors include:
- Diet
- Genetics
- Lifestyle
- Sleep
A lack of sun protection sometimes accelerates the skin’s aging process, too. Excess exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays causes an overproduction of melanin inside the skin. This leads to hyperpigmentation that makes the skin appear dark and uneven, along with the formation of dark circles under the eyes.
When to Start Preventative Botox
Using Botox to prevent wrinkles can be a viable option for patients 18 years of age and older. But, it is important to note that there is no ideal age to begin preventative Botox.
Millennials should keep an eye out for fine lines in the face. These lines may seem minor and have little to no impact on a Millennial’s facial appearance. If left untreated, fine lines in the face can escalate, to the point where they lead to full-brown wrinkles.
Is Preventative Botox Right for You?
Preventative Botox often helps people in their late 20s and early 30s take a proactive approach to address facial wrinkles and other visible signs of aging in the face. However, preventative Botox is not necessarily the ideal facial rejuvenation treatment for all individuals, at all times. To determine if preventative Botox can deliver the desired results, it is important to meet with expert facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Babak Azizzadeh.
Dr. Azizzadeh is a world-renowned facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon who has performed many Botox procedures over the years. He can assess a Millennial to determine if Botox or other treatments can be used to prevent wrinkles, nasolabial folds, and other visible signs of aging in the face.
What to Expect During a Preventative Botox Treatment Consultation with Dr. Azizzadeh
Dr. Babak Azizzadeh is happy to meet with individuals who are considering a preventative Botox treatment, and he requests a patient consultation before he administers a Botox treatment. This consultation allows Dr. Azizzadeh to learn about a patient and find out why he or she is considering preventative Botox. Plus, Dr. Azizzadeh analyzes a patient’s facial features and uses state-of-the-art tools like the Vectra imaging system to help determine if preventative Botox can help a patient combat visible signs of aging in the face.
If Dr. Azizzadeh believes a patient is a good candidate for preventative Botox, he develops a custom treatment plan. Dr. Azizzadeh determines how much Botox should be used, how often injections should be performed, and which areas of the face should be treated. He also discusses the treatment plan with his patient, so he or she knows exactly what to expect during Botox procedures.
What to Expect During a Preventative Botox Procedure
A typical preventative Botox treatment requires about 15 minutes to complete. During the procedure, Dr. Azizzadeh injects Botox into specific areas of a patient’s face.
Following preventative Botox injections, a patient may experience redness, bruising, or swelling. These symptoms generally subside in the days following treatment.
A preventative Botox patient will begin to see the results of treatment within a few days of their procedure. The full results of Botox usually become visible within about two weeks of treatment, and these results last up to four months.
Preventative Botox Before and After
Before preventative Botox, Dr. Azizzadeh information about any medications or herbal supplements that a patient currently uses. Dr. Azizzadeh may recommend a patient temporarily stop taking certain medications or supplements if he believes they may affect the safety or efficacy of treatment.
Dr. Azizzadeh provides skin care instructions for preventative Botox patients. He recommends patients apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or greater any time they go outdoors in the days and weeks following a preventative Botox treatment. Dr. Azizzadeh also asks patients to wear a hat and other accessories to cover the treatment area.
If patients experience swelling or redness after preventative Botox injections, Dr. Azizzadeh recommends they avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight or heat until these symptoms have subsided. Patients who are concerned about ongoing swelling, redness, or other side effects that arise after preventative Botox are encouraged to reach out for additional assistance.
Dr. Azizzadeh tracks the results of a preventative Botox treatment plan. He requests follow-up appointments in the weeks after a patient receives their first Botox injections to ensure that the patient can reap the full benefits of treatment.
Schedule a Preventative Botox Treatment Consultation with Dr. Azizzadeh
For those who are weighing the pros and cons of a preventative Botox procedure, a consultation with Dr. Azizzadeh is ideal.
Dr. Azizzadeh is happy to discuss preventative Botox and help Millennials determine if it can help them stop frown lines, wrinkles, and other cosmetic issues before they cause long-lasting damage. To schedule an in-person or virtual consultation to discuss preventative Botox consultation with Dr. Azizzadeh, please contact us online or call us today at 310-657-2203.