Most people know that Botox can be used to correct wrinkles— but did you know it can also prevent them? Botox can both prevent wrinkles from forming and prevent existing wrinkles from deepening. Because of this, it’s very common for people in their 20s to get Botox before they even start seeing wrinkles pop up. But how exactly does preventative Botox work? And why should you get preventative Botox? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and more.
Understanding Preventative Botox: Dynamic vs. Static Wrinkles
To understand how preventative Botox works— and how it can help you prevent wrinkles— it’s important to understand the two different types of wrinkles. First, there are static wrinkles, which are wrinkles that are caused by collagen loss. As we age, our skin looses collagen, which leads to a loss of elasticity and an increase in sagging, which causes wrinkles. Then, there are dynamic wrinkles, which are caused by repetitively moving the face. For example, repeatedly furrowing the brow can lead to those pesky “11” lines between the eyebrows.
People tend to start seeing dynamic wrinkle before they see their first static wrinkles. But, luckily, that’s where preventative Botox can be an enormous help. Dynamic wrinkles are caused by repetitive movements. But Botox can halt those repetitive movements by relaxing the muscles in the face. This can stop dynamic wrinkles from appearing or lessen the progression of existing dynamic wrinkles.
Why Get Preventative Botox (And When)
People get preventative Botox to slow down the appearance of wrinkles. As we mentioned in the last section, dynamic wrinkles tend to start popping up before static wrinkles. Many people don’t think of wrinkles as something they’ll need to deal with in their 20s. However, dynamic wrinkles very often start showing up before we even hit 30. Even people in their early 20s can start seeing dynamic wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles can appear quite early if someone is naturally very expressive or tends to move their face one specific way.
So when should you get preventative Botox? Generally, we would say you can start getting preventative Botox whenever you start to feel concerned about your wrinkles, but also before they get very deep. Preventative Botox works best for smoothing more “light” wrinkles and preventing wrinkles from forming altogether. Some people start getting preventative Botox before they even see a single wrinkle appear, while others start getting it once they begin to see lines forming.
The Wrinkles Preventative Botox Can Fight
Now that you understand how Botox can prevent wrinkles and why people get preventative Botox, let’s talk about some of specific types of wrinkles Botox can prevent.
11 Lines
11 lines are the two parallel lines that pop up when we repeatedly furrow our brows. These lines are also sometimes called “worry lines,” since we tend to furrow our brows when we’re upset or frowning. 11 lines are a common concern among our patients, as these lines can feel quite noticeable. But, through injecting Botox into the brow area, you can prevent 11s from appearing. Or, if you’re already starting to see 11 lines, Botox can halt their progression.
Forehead Lines
Dynamic forehead wrinkles are extremely common. People tend to move their forehead very often, like when they are surprised, laughing, stressed, or even just when speaking expressively. Botox can be applied to the forehead and/or brow areas to prevent these lines from appearing or worsening.
Bunny Lines
Bunny lines are the small lines that can appear on the sides of the nose when it is crinkled. Often, people crinkle their nose when they smile or laugh. Certain people are more prone to bunny lines than others, simply due to how they move their face naturally. If you tend to unconsciously crinkle your nose when smiling or laughing, you may start to see bunny lines pop up at quite a young age. However, Botox can easily smooth out fine bunny lines and stop this repetitive motion, which helps prevent them from getting deep or pronounced.
Crow’s Feet
Crow’s feet are the lines that form around the outside of our eyes. These are commonly caused by smiling, laughing, squinting, or frowning. Botox can be applied to the muscles that cause our face to form crow’s feet. This can relax existing crow’s feet, stop crow’s feet from forming, or stop crow’s feet from worsening.
What to Know Before Getting Preventative Botox
If you’re considering trying preventative Botox, it’s important to go to an experienced provider who has a strong understanding of how the muscles in the face move. Preventative Botox is not a “one size fits all” type of treatment. What may work for someone else’s wrinkles may not be what’s best for you, since everyone moves their face slightly differently. So, it’s very important to only get preventative Botox from a provider who understands how the facial muscles move, as well as how your unique facial muscles move.
At the Z Center for Cosmetic Health, all of our Botox treatments are performed by Dr. Zadeh himself. Dr. Zadeh is a board certified plastic surgeon that has an intimate understanding of the facial anatomy, which allows him to administer precise injections that provide optimal, natural looking results.
If you’re considering trying preventative Botox, contact us today to make a consultation appointment with Dr. Zadeh. At your appointment, Dr. Zadeh will listen to your aesthetic concerns, examine your face and facial motions, and develop an optimal treatment strategy for your unique concerns.