What Is Preventative Botox & When Should I Start?

Let’s start with the basics. What is Botox? Botox, as well as Xeomin, Dysport and Jeuveau, are all neuromodulators, or what we call "wrinkle reducers". Neuromodulators block the receptor for a muscle to fire. By blocking the muscle from contracting, the result is smoothed lines and wrinkles.

Okay, but what if I don’t have wrinkles yet, is this still helpful? Yes! Since wrinkles happen with repetitive movement, wrinkle reducers can prevent the lines from forming in the first place. Many clients start with treatment are on the forehead, between the brows, and crow's feet.

Everyone’s anatomy is different, so there is no “right” age to begin preventative treatment. Some people see wrinkles that bother them in their early twenties, while others might not see anything until they’re forty or fifty. Either way, we believe the best time to start treatment is before lines appear or get too deep.

What is the treatment like? First of all, for most, it’s all way less scary than it sounds. The treatment itself is quick and most people say a flu shot hurts worse! Bruising at the injection site happens occasionally and is totally normal. Bruising, if any, should disappear within a few days. We recommend avoiding alcohol and aspirin products 24 hours before treatment to minimize the risk of bruising. You might also experience redness or small bumps on the injection sites following treatment––also normal. Some clients go back to work immediately or straight to dinner – each client reacts differently depending on his or her level of skin sensitivity. 

You’ll begin to see results in about 48 hours, with full results in 7 to14 days. Results typically last anywhere from 3 to 6 months and depend on how quickly your body metabolizes the product, your anatomy, and your individual aesthetic goals.