I'm going to let you in on a little secret: I've worked in the beauty industry for almost a decade, so believe me when I say, I've had access to all the celeb anti-aging secrets you could dream of. My point is that there's one very specific reason I don't look my age... Botox.
Of course, I'm all for a balanced diet and skin products and supplements that actually work, but if I had to single out one way to look like your best, most well-rested self — well, it's Botox, baby. But if you've never had injections, or if you've seen one too many botched Botox victims (or, as I like to call them, the overly-injected), you might be worried... and you might have some questions. So to put your mind at ease, I consulted my go-to skin guru (and the only person I let touch my face, TBH): The inimitable Nurse Jamie. Keep reading to find out everything you ever wanted to know about preventative Botox.
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What's the difference between Botox and fillers?
Botox and fillers are different. "Botox or neurotoxins soften or temporarily "freeze" muscles, while fillers add volume," shares Nurse Jamie. Fillers are great for lips and other areas you want to plump, but if you're just getting started, I highly recommend starting with Botox. (To clarify, Botox is actually just the name brand of a neurotoxin. It goes by other name brands like Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeveau, but for consistency sake, we'll stick with Botox.)
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What is Botox best for?
"Neurotoxins such as Botox only work on wrinkles that are caused by muscle movement," explains Nurse Jamie. So if you're starting to notice expression lines like horizontal forehead creases, laugh lines that extend from your nose to the corners of your mouth and frown lines between the eyebrows, those are all areas you can and should address with Botox. So how do you know it's the right time for you to give it a go? According to Nurse Jamie, "As soon as you see a line without making an expression, that's when you should start using Botox."
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What's the deal with "preventative" Botox?
Personally, I was 28 when I got a little injected between my brows and on my forehead. I'm so glad I did, since the pro confirms that starting early helps to prevent the worsening of fine lines and wrinkles. In fact, according to her, it's small amounts (with precise placement) of "neurotoxins or "freezers" that lessen certain muscle movement. It's that small amounts detail that's key here: Make sure your injector doesn't overdo it. "If you over-paralyze (aka over-inject) a muscle for an extended period of time, it can cause the muscle to atrophy in the injected area and not bounce back as well over time," explains Jamie. (Read: The goal is to look perky, not puffy.)
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Even Botox has its limits
I should also note: While Botox is insanely magical, it has its limitations. If you're someone with significant soft tissue sagging, you might be a better candidate for a face lift. On the other hand, if you start and maintain your Botox appointments early, you might never need surgery (see how that works?). Also, for safety reasons, "those who are pregnant or nursing should not get injectables. It's also not recommended for people with auto-immune deficiencies. Always check with your provider if you have auto-immune issues or other health concerns," recommends the pro.
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