Botox is the most popular choice for surgery-free wrinkle reduction and the most commonly performed cosmetic non-surgical procedure in the United States. Since it was approved by the FDA in 2002, millions of patients have benefited from these easy, non-invasive treatments. It may seem that it is only for older people who have already developed wrinkles and want to make them disappear, but that’s not true. Patients from as young as 18 to as old as 65 can benefit from this treatment.
How It Works
Derived from botulin toxin injected by a board-certified dermatologist, the treatment works by temporarily paralyzing the muscles in areas that are at risk for forming wrinkles. As it wears off, the muscles stretch out, smoothing away the wrinkles in the skin above them. The full benefits will appear two to three weeks after the initial treatment, and can last up to three months.
Benefits for Young Patients
For younger women, in their 20s to early 30s, wrinkles may not be a concern. But it’s important to think of the future. Early treatments with Botox can stop wrinkles before they start and ensure better-looking skin later in life. It can remove the fine lines that naturally form around your eyes and forehead, the forerunners of more serious wrinkles, and help preserve youthful looks without looking unnatural. For young patients, injections may not even be necessary — your dermatologist can provide superficial, non-invasive applications that help target wrinkle problem spots.
What Older Patients Should Know
Once you pass into your 40s, your skin naturally loses some of its resiliency and elasticity and, with it, the ability to recover from wrinkling. And the decades of exposure to sunlight and repetitive facial expressions will have taken their toll, creating wrinkles that are too deep to treat by one method alone. But Botox can still benefit older women by reducing the appearance of fine wrinkles and tightening the skin while restoring a younger-looking appearance. Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Tony Nakhla is able to create a regimen that combines Botox with other treatments, including dermal fillers, laser resurfacing, and/or Thermage, to reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
To learn more about Botox and how it can work for you, contact OC Skin Institute and see one of our board-certified dermatologists. Young or old, it’s never too early or too late to take care of your face and ensure that you have the best skin possible!