Explainer | When to start Botox and why people in their 20s are getting it: preventative Botox helps stop wrinkles and fine lines forming

A wave of people in their 20s and early 30s have started to show interest in Botox as a way to stop wrinkles forming, not just to soften pre-existing lines

Experts say there is no right age for Botox and it should be determined on a case-by-case basis. However, many doctors will refuse to perform it on young people

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Preventative Botox involves using Botox to prevent lines and wrinkles forming rather than in a corrective way once they are established. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 4:15am, 29 Sep 2022Updated: 5:16am, 29 Sep 2022

Wrinkles and fine lines are to be expected as we age. It is a natural process that our skin goes through and should not be a cause of shame – and nor should the use of Botox to smooth them out, either.

Botox, or botulinum toxin, has been a beauty staple for decades. Its anti-ageing properties were discovered after an experiment in the 1970s to treat crossed eyes yielded an unexpected side effect – injecting it into a person’s face lessened wrinkles.

Botox works by blocking chemical signals from nerves that cause muscles to contract. This temporarily lessens their ability to form wrinkles. That is why, when used on areas of the face where lines have already formed, Botox will help relax and soften them so they appear less prominent.

But if Botox can relax the muscles that crease your skin, why not use it to deter them from showing up in the first place?

Botox works by injecting botulinum toxin that blocks chemical signals from nerves that cause muscles to contract. This temporarily lessens their ability to form wrinkles.

While it has become the go-to treatment for people in their 30s and 40s looking to diminish their smile and frown lines, a wave of people in their 20s and early 30s have shown interest in Botox as a way to stop wrinkles from forming in the first place.

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