At What Age Should I Start Getting Botox?

Botox is the most common non-surgical treatment in the United States and Botox has become a household term. With so many different indications for Botox so many people are getting a treatment and it is no longer taboo. One of the most common questions is how early a person can get Botox.

What is Botox?

Botox is a purified protein used to treat wrinkles associated with facial expressions. Common areas of treatment with Botox include the horizontal lines on the forehead seen when raising the eyebrows, the vertical lines between the brows seen when frowning, and crow’s feet around the eyes seen when smiling or squinting. Botox is also used in other areas to shape the lower face, smooth out the chin, address a gummy smile, provide a pout to the lips, improve neck bands, treat migraine headaches, decrease sweating in the underarms, and more. When injected into the skin, Botox will relax the muscles and smoothen out the overlying wrinkles. Full results are seen two weeks after a Botoxtreatment and most people enjoy their results from a Botox treatment for three to four months, at which point a maintenance Botox treatment is recommended.

I want to look natural

Many people are concerned about how their appearance will change after a Botox treatment. This is understandable given the amount of both positive and negative publicity there has been around Botox and other cosmetic treatments. When done properly, Botox will provide a natural appearance that makes a person look more youthful and rested.

Is Botox painful?

One of the most common questions regarding Botox is whether the treatment is painful. We use a painless technique to maximize our patients comfort during the treatment. This starts by reconstituting the Botox with preserved saline, which contains benzyl alcohol, to decrease the discomfort with the injection. We use a tiny needle, similar to the size of the needle used for TB test on the forearm. During the Botox treatment, we provide a relaxing environment by playing a calming video with gentle music. We provide stress balls to our patients to hold during their Botox treatment. We apply cold air on the area which serves to numb the skin. We also use the Beauty Bar, which is a vibration device which distracts the patient from the Botox injection itself. Finally, with experience, Dr. Alex developed a technique to inject to minimize pain. This includes pinching the area, pushing the skin into the needle (as opposed to pushing the needle into the skin), using a slight rotation, and using gentle pressure. Most patients are surprised at how comfortable the Botox treatment is.

How long does a Botox treatment take?

The treatment time for a Botox treatment is very short. In our office, we take photographs of our patients with a neutral facial expression and with various other expressions depending on the area(s) treated before the Botox first treatment. The Botox treatment involves cleaning of the area and the placement of the product takes only a few minutes. Most people can expect to be out of the office in 15-30 minutes.

When can I get my first Botox treatment?

A common misconception is that Botox is only for those who are in their 60's or 70's. On the contrary, we have a lot of patients in their 20's who receive Botox. This is either for prevention or for those who have expressive faces. Dr. Alexfinds that the younger a person is when one starts receiving Botox treatments the more signs of aging will be delayed. In other words, Botox can be used to prevent wrinkles from either appearing in the first place or from getting deeper over time.

Is Botox safe?

The safety record of Botox is well established. Botox has been used for over 20 years for a variety of treatments with minimal side effects. Botox is amongst the safest treatments for treating facial wrinkles.

What are the risks of a Botox treatment?

With any injection such as Botox, there are risks such as pain, bleeding, bruising, redness, swelling, tenderness, and infection. We take special precautions to minimize these risks such as using a painless technique. We also treat bruises with a laser as early as the next day. Bruises usually resolve within two weeks if untreated. After a laser treatment bruises usually resolve in 1-3 days, but may still take two weeks for full resolution. In addition to these risks, with Botox there is also a risk that the product spreads or diffuses to nearby structures. Spread of Botox to nearby muscles can lead to side effects such as the temporary appearance of droopy eyelids or a temporary asymmetric smile.

What should I do after a Botox treatment?

After a Botox treatment, avoid heat exposure, alcohol consumption, and strenuous exercise for 24 hours and not lie down flat for four hours. This is because all of these activities may possibly lead to the movement of the Botoxand consequent side effects such as droopy eyelids as described above.

How much does a Botox treatment cost?

The investment for a Botox treatment varies from office to office. It depends on the region, office, and injector. The total investment also depends on how much Botox is required, the areas treated, and the individual. For example, if someone has a larger forehead, a higher dose of Botox will be required. If multiple areas such as frown lines and crow’s feet will be treated the investment will be more than that if only a single area is treated. In general, men have stronger muscles than women both on the body and on the face. For this reason, men usually require higher doses of Botox than women. The investment range for a Botoxtreatment is $200 - $500 per area. Areas include frown lines, crow’s feet, etc.

Dr. Alex has performed over 10,000 cosmetic treatments with many satisfied patients. Contact us to schedule an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Alex in our Encino, CA office.


Contact us Today

Our Location

Hours of Operation

Office

Monday:

10:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

10:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

10:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

10:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

10:00 am-4:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed