The Rise of Preventive Botox

It was Sydney Brown’s mother who first noticed her frown. A few years ago, during video calls, her mother pointed to a wrinkle between her daughter’s eyebrows. They decided that it was the right time for Sydney, then 23, to start anti-fold injections. Sydney now has both botox and lip filler. She is satisfied with her decision and says that she and her friends will "do everything it takes to feel more confident and" to look their best. If that comes in the form of cosmetic surgery, then be it.

The Procedure

Sydney’s mother, Dr. Hayley Brown, an award-winning plastic surgeon, regularly injects small quantities of botox into her daughter’s forehead. She says that her daughter looks less tired, feels more confident, and, like Dr. Brown, believes that no invasive operation needs to smooth deeper lines later in life. The use of anti-fold injections in the way Sydney is known as "preventive botox". Botox users in their 20s and early 30s hope to prevent lines from forming or to aim to fold before it becomes a fold.

The Effectiveness of Preventive Botox

The less you contract with your muscles, the less your skin falls and reduces the appearance of wrinkles. Around 900,000 botox injections are carried out in the UK every year. The percentage of 18 to 34-year-olds that choose cosmetic tweaks is growing worldwide, making up almost a quarter of the customers. Dr. Javed Hussain, a doctor and medical director of his company, Neo Derm, says that by relaxing the muscles that pull together, we reduce the number of skin folds. This prevents the lines from becoming so deep.

The Risks and Concerns

Not all experts agree that preventive botox is an effective way to prevent signs of aging. Nora Nugent, advisor of plastic surgeons and president of the British Association of aesthetic plastic surgeons (Baaps), does not recommend getting Botox at such a young age, and says that it is a waste of money to start too early. She prefers customers to already have weak lines – until then she can see the nuances of how a face age so that she can adjust your treatment. Ashton Collins, director of Save Face, an organization that is committed to better regulating the cosmetics industry, said that she saw patients at the age of 18 with Botox-related complications after being treated by "unscrupulous practitioners".

Building a Tolerance

Ashton Collins warns that Botox is too early and if it is not carried out carefully, inappropriate treatment can cause changed expressions over a long period of time, an asymmetrical face, and in some cases a longer-term muscle atrophy that can take years to recover. She says that botulinum toxin at such an early age is endangered to build a tolerance for it. There are a number of views when it comes to the preventive power of Botox, but all experts agree that cleaning, moisture, and daily use of sunscreens can help to age our skin prematurely. And if you use treatments like Botox, you will find a practitioner who is accredited with a medical background.

The Long-Term Effects

What happens if you use Botox regularly for all your life, we still don’t have good research. It is difficult to find a cohort of people who can study over several decades. The health of the skin is a multi-factorial – lifestyle, environment, stress level, nutrition, and movement regimens play in the way our skin ties. And given the fact that Botox only lasts three to six months, each longitudinal study would have to ensure that the participants carry out regular charges. Sydney will continue to have anti-fold injections. She fully trusts her mother that she looks young and, above all, natural. She says her mother will stop her from having too much and not recognizing her own face by becoming "botox blind" or "filling blind".