Botox has become so popular even women in their early 20s are rushing to get a fix, but the practice raises the question: is getting the treatment before you have wrinkles a wise precaution or a complete waste of money?
Dr Josh Wall, medical director of Contour Clinics, supports women getting Botox in their 20s.
The medical professional also shared the best areas on your face to target.
Contour Clinics medical director Dr Josh Wall (pictured) recently revealed why he supports women getting Botox in their 20s
What is preventative Botox and who is suitable for it?
Preventative Botox is injections for your face that claim to keep wrinkles from appearing.
The effectiveness can vary, and while the procedure can’t stop wrinkles from forming, the injections can stop you from seeing them.
‘Wrinkles form due to contraction of underlying facial muscles,’ Dr Wall told Beauty Heaven.
‘Over time, lines that were once there only when moving, now become a permanent crease. By relaxing these muscles in a targeted fashion, we can prevent deep permanent lines from forming in the first place.’
Dr Wall said the earlier you begin, the easier it is to target the lines.
!['By relaxing muscles [with Botox] in a targeted fashion, we can prevent deep permanent lines from forming in the first place,' Dr Wall said (stock image)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/02/24/23/25147386-8039795-image-a-21_1582588026329.jpg)
‘By relaxing muscles [with Botox] in a targeted fashion, we can prevent deep permanent lines from forming in the first place,’ Dr Wall said (stock image)
Is Botox in your 20s common and advisable?
More and more young women in their 20s are having Botox, not only to prevent the signs of ageing but also to change their expression.
‘Botox isn’t only for erasing wrinkles. It can stop you from frowning or squinting,’ Dr Wall said.
He added that not everyone wants to get rid of the signs of ageing, but rather they want to stop themselves from permanently frowning or having something called ‘resting b**ch face’.
Others hope to prevent themselves from squinting in the sun.
What are the best places to have Botox?
Put simply, the best places to get Botox on your face is wherever you can see a line beginning to form.
Dr Wall said the most popular areas are foreheads and the crows’ feet around the eyes, but such wrinkles can start anywhere – including your marionette lines (lines around the mouth) and any frown lines.
Once you start, aren’t you locked in?
A common misconception about Botox is that once you’ve had one treatment, you’re locked in for life to maintain the smooth visage, and also starting on a slippery slope to more extensive cosmetic procedures.
‘Your face returns to exactly how it was prior to treatment. It actually will put a pause on the wrinkle forming process,’ Dr Wall said.
This means you can opt out at any time.
Cosmetic physician Dr Phoebe Jones has revealed the best age to start a relationship with injectables – and it’s long before most wrinkles even start to set in
What age should you start?
While you can start at any time provided you are of legal age, there is a ‘magic number’ that many experts recommend.
‘If I had to put an age on it, I would say around 27. This is the age when we start to lose collagen and elasticity in the skin,’ Sydney-based cosmetic physician Dr Phoebe Jones told FEMAIL.
‘For the majority of people, starting smaller doses of anti-wrinkle injections in their late 20s or early 30s is ideal for preventative purposes,’ she said.
If areas are left untreated, Dr Jones said it becomes harder to get rid of deep-set lines in your 40s and 50s.
Lifestyle factors such as smoking, sunbathing and excessive drinking produce premature ageing, requiring those people to start on Botox earlier.