Home // All // Is it Ever Too Late to Start Botulinum Toxin?
Is it Ever Too Late to Start Botulinum Toxin?
Is it Ever Too Late to Start Botulinum Toxin?
Apr 14, 2022
Before botulinum toxin was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cosmetic purposes back in 2002, to minimise frown wrinkles, it had already been used to treat medical ailments such as muscle spasms, excessive underarm sweating and eyelid tics.
“Botulinum toxin has a 30-year track record for both medical and cosmetic uses because it’s generally very safe, relatively affordable, and consistently meets expectations,” says Dr. Isabelle Yeoh of the IYAC Aesthetic Clinic.
Today, botulinum toxin has become an accepted and widely used method of delaying the onset of facial wrinkles. And not just frown lines and crow’s feet, botulinum toxin is increasingly used in the lower face to smooth a bulky jawline and upper neck wrinkles.
So, when is the best time to start using botulinum toxin?
“The thinking on botulinum toxin nowadays is a preventative approach, to try and stay looking the same for as long as possible,” says Dr. Yeoh. Dr. Yeoh recommends starting in your 20s to 30s, when skin is still taut and facial muscles are firm, to in essence, put the brakes on ageing before the wrinkles and lines take hold. An ongoing routine of botulinum toxin can help maintain a youthful, slimmer, V-shaped face.
It’s generally recommended to repeat botulinum toxin every three to six months when the goal is wrinkle abatement and skin tightening. For jaw slimming and reducing hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), once every six to eight months is sufficient.
Is it too late to start botulinum toxin if my face has started to sag?
“Once the face has started to hollow out, generally by your mid-40s, we recommend combining botulinum toxin with hyaluronic acid (a natural hydrating substance in our skin) administered as fillers or skinboosters, to soften the hollows and achieve a more natural-looking result,” Dr. Yeoh says.
Is botulinum toxin a viable option post menopause?
You can start a course of botulinum toxin at any age, but the question is, does using botulinum toxin in your late 50s, 60s and beyond look natural?
“The answer is no, it may not always look natural, because botulinum toxin only relaxes wrinkles, it is not addressing the loss of collagen, muscle and bone density. Only when all the issues are addressed simultaneously will you achieve the most natural-looking result,” Dr. Yeoh says.
In using botulinum toxin for a non-surgical facelift, Dr. Yeoh says the technique lifts, firms and tightens the whole face by injecting small amounts of diluted botulinum toxin directly into the skin, and not into the muscle as in conventional botulinum toxin treatments, helping to achieve a natural look at any age.
