When should I start to have botox?

Whilst there is no hard and fast rule around the best time to start botox, we can certainly help you decide when it’s the right time for you to start to reap the benefits.

Whether it’s needed immediately or to future-proof your skin, careful and pragmatic treatment with botox is an effective way to manage fine lines and wrinkles.

Understanding botox

Botox temporarily relaxes muscles by blocking the nerve signals, which would otherwise cause them to contract.

By carefully and precisely targeting botox treatment, we can reduce the muscle activity that would normally cause wrinkles, thereby preventing them from forming.

Prevention rather than cure

There is no optimum age to start botox treatment – it very much depends on the combination of your particular skin type, genetics and lifestyle, so we always advise every patient on an individual basis. 

Botox as a treatment is approved for patients who are 18 years and older. However, it is highly unlikely that a young person of that age would have lines and wrinkles to be concerned about.

Our practitioners tend to start to see patients in their late 20s and early 30s who have noticed the beginnings of fine lines. Sometimes patients become aware of the genetic facial lines that reflect those seen in their older relatives – in these circumstances, preventative botox can be an appropriate solution.

Baby steps

Botox can be administered in smaller amounts; this is commonly known as Baby Botox.

For younger patients, or those new to botox treatment, your practitioner may feel that it is the most appropriate solution.

Baby botox contains the same formulation as conventional botox treatments, so it still has the ability to significantly reduce or eliminate lines and wrinkles, whilst allowing full facial movement and expression.

It therefore offers an effective and gentle approach.

Understanding facial anatomy

At Melior Clinics, we are not only experienced in aesthetic practice, our practitioners’ medical training means that they understand how your unique facial anatomy will react to the ageing process.

For example, by understanding how your facial muscles work together to purse your lips or furrow your brow, we can identify where deeper lines and wrinkles are likely to form.

Botox can help to train certain facial muscles not to fall into the habit of always contracting in a certain way, which prevents deeper and more noticeable lines from forming.

Botox and life stage

Patients start to think about botox treatment at any age – and there are often common experiences that our patients share during each particular life stage: 

20s

Often patients in their late 20s start to notice lines and wrinkles that are associated with facial movement – for example when they frown, squint and smile.

These are known as dynamic wrinkles and they are instigated by muscle contraction.

Receiving carefully administered botox in your late 20s would prevent these dynamic wrinkles from forming deeper, more permanent lines.

30s

At this age, patients tend to notice ‘crow’s feet’ around the corners of the eyes. As the skin is thinner here, it is often the area where fine lines first become apparent.

Botox treatment can be an effective way to soften wrinkles in this area. Our practitioners will discuss this with you to ensure you achieve the balance of youthful skin and natural facial expression.

40s

When patients reach their 40s, more defined wrinkles are likely.

As we age, our collagen and elastin levels reduce, so botox can help to improve the texture and overall appearance of skin.  

50s

Patients in their 50s tend to find that wrinkles are deeper and that skin texture has changed. Sun damage or age spots can be more apparent, skin laxity is more noticeable as collagen and elastin continue to reduce with age.

Botox can soften and improve deep set wrinkles before they become too pronounced.

60s

Many patients in their 60s want a fresher, less tired appearance.

Many choose to have aesthetic treatments that hydrate the skin with hyaluronic acid, along with botox treatment to soften wrinkles, rather than undertake more invasive cosmetic treatment.

Care and pragmatism

Our practitioners will always put patient care at the forefront of their approach.

The most important aspect of treatment is that it achieves the desired outcome for the patient, not only for the present time, but for the future of their skin health and vitality.

Overuse of botox can be detrimental, not only aesthetically, but to muscle strength, therefore we will always administer treatment pragmatically, to ensure we take a holistic approach to your appearance now and in the long-term.

We will offer honest advice about whether botox is right for you and the results you want to achieve, as well as provide more general advice regarding skin care.

Talk to us about the most appropriate treatment for you

We offer a free initial consultation where we’ll discuss the most appropriate treatment for your desired outcome. This may be botox or a treatment to improve skin texture such as Profhilo or peels.

If you’re happy, you can go ahead with your treatment immediately.

You can have your treatment at one of our Save Face accredited clinics at Huntingdon, Harley Street, Peterborough or Sevenoaks.

You can book online or, if you prefer, call us on 0330 024 1300.