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In the past, Botox was thought to be a cosmetic procedure that older women got to fit in with the younger flock of twenty-something-year-old women flooding in to replace them in the hierarchy of beauty. But now, having seen the Kardashians do Botox before 40 and noticing the age of Botox recipients growing smaller and smaller, it appears these procedures are being more normalized for their preventative benefits.
Dr. Samuel Lin — a Haute Beauty expert and double-board certified plastic surgeon who practices in Boston — believes the ‘selfie’ generation stimulates the desire for faster fulfillment, which drives the younger populations of people to opt for invasive and non-invasive procedures to achieve that perfect look. Drawing research from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), he noted that more than 700,000 rejuvenation procedures were performed on patients between the ages of 13 and 29 in 2018. But what remains the logic behind injecting young faces with Botox despite no signs of aging?
It appears that more and more millennials are requesting Botox to prevent wrinkle formation instead of correcting the signs of aging as they appear. Also known as Preventative Botox, such procedures are thought to negate the need for surgical correction regarding age for a long time. This is because Botox temporarily blocks the nerve signals that are responsible for pulling the facial skin as a result of making facial expressions. Hence, weakening these muscles hinders skin pulling, and consequently prevents the formation of wrinkles. In fact, preventative Botox may reduce the need for Botox in the future.
Nevertheless, Dr. Lin opines that people in their twenties should carefully weigh the risks against the benefits of getting Botox. Like any other procedure, preventative Botox comes with side effects. Therefore, young candidates — especially those without wrinkles — should consider doing these procedures for the right reasons and not merely to achieve social status.
But what about those special formulations of Botox crafted for younger patients who wish to prevent the development of dynamic wrinkles in the first place? Ergo the introduction of Baby Botox, which simply uses fewer units of micro-injections to provide subtle, natural results that still allow the facial muscles to remain active without “freezing” them entirely. In fact, the idea is to soften the appearance of wrinkles, not to eliminate them.
Haute Beauty expert and board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Michele S. Green uses a gentle approach to administering Baby Botox: After applying a topical numbing cream, she injects small amounts of Botox into the predetermined injection sites. For example, while she may use 25 units of Botox for a traditional procedure, Dr. Green may use closer to 15 units of Botox for a Baby Botox session.
So, does it make sense for millennials and younger patients to undergo Botox procedures? Yes: Preventative Botox options, such as Baby Botox, can certainly smooth the skin and hinder the formation of any wrinkles or signs of aging. But is it recommended? Well, that’s up to you and your cosmetic specialist. If you’re young and considering Botox, we suggest you do your research and choose a board-certified physician with experience handling such preventative treatments.
