Is 50 Too Late To Start Botox?
Botulinum toxin injections are a popular, safe, and effective treatment for dynamic wrinkles on the upper third of the face.
Since this is its primary use in aesthetic medicine, most people associate Botox with aging.
Such a connection certainly exists. However, that doesn't mean there is a perfect age to start Botox treatments.
Starting from your twenties and beyond Botulinum toxin injection can deliver various benefits at any age.
The benefits when you are twenty-five may differ from when you are fifty-five, but that does not mean there is such a thing as starting too early or too late.
The latter is a predominant concern for most potential users.
Many ask themselves: Is 50 too late to start Botox? The simple answer is no.
However, this question is not as simple as it seems and, therefore, deserves a more complex answer.
Overview
It is essential to state that Botox is safe at any age.
Of course, there is little point in starting Botox treatments before your twenties because you will spend time and money without any visible improvements.
But, the upper limit does not exist. Many people enjoy Botox in their sixties and seventies. Although, aging does curb its effects.
With the safety issue out of the way, we can discuss the effectiveness of Botox.
Botulinum toxin injections work. Botox treatment is one of the few highly effective, minimally invasive aesthetic procedures.
However, there are some limitations. They are primarily caused by the Botulinum toxin's mechanism of action.
The substance relaxes the facial muscles and prevents wrinkle-producing movements, such as squinting and frowning. In that way, it also improves the appearance of dynamic wrinkles.
But, it cannot help with static wrinkles usually located in the lower two-thirds of the face.
Botox usually wears off after six months, but the secondary effects remain.
The fact that some of your facial muscles couldn’t move for some time means they also couldn’t create more damage (wrinkles).
That shows that Botox also has a preventive anti-aging role. So, for maximum results, it is better to start Botox earlier in life. But, better late than never.
The Benefits of Botox in Different Life Stages
Here is how Botox can help you prevent and fix age-related damage on your skin in different stages of life:
· Botox in your twenties – The twenties are not a time when we have many wrinkles. However, if any are present, it is usually the dynamic wrinkles caused by repetitive movements of the face. You might notice them when you smile, frown, or squint.
Luckily, Botox works best on such wrinkles.
Starting with small doses of Botulinum toxin (baby Botox) in your twenties can help you prevent the development of deeper wrinkles.
· Botox in your thirties – It is not unusual to develop the first noticeable wrinkles when you are in your thirties.
They are often subtle and people around you might not even see them.
That's because they haven't set in yet. In other words, these wrinkles are still not permanent.
However, once you are thirty, your muscles have developed habitual movements.
Their contractions are starting to create deeper wrinkles.
So, the best way to prevent that is to immobilize the responsible facial muscles.
Botox does just that. Starting treatments in your early thirties will soften your wrinkles and prevent them from settling in.
· Botox in your forties - If you are just starting Botox in your forties, chances are you already have defined wrinkles.
At this age, skin cells take longer to regenerate, and elastin and collagen in the skin break down faster.
That's not a cause for great concern. Most people start Botox between the ages of forty and fifty-four.
The reason is, of course, that wrinkles are easily noticeable at this age.
It is the same time when lifestyle and dietary habits begin to catch up, and the aging process seems to accelerate.
Luckily Botox still has plenty to offer in your forties.
Unlike the typical skincare routines that may start losing the battle against aging already. Botox can deliver moderate to drastic improvements in the following areas:
o Frown lines (the 11’s)
o Around the eyes (crow’s feet)
o Forehead lines
Botox When You Are Fifty
Fifty is not too late to start Botox.
You can still have many benefits without any additional risks.
Let's face it, starting in your fifties is earlier than in your sixties.
If you haven't used Botox before fifty, your skin probably already shows deeper wrinkles.
There might be other signs of aging too. These may include loss of volume (saggy skin), pigmentation issues, and texture changes.
This is also the time when menopause impacts the skin. Due to lower estrogen levels female skin can have problems with retaining moisture and thus be more prone to dryness and wrinkling.
The skin of women over fifty often needs more help than just Botox to achieve a radical improvement in physical appearance.
However, Botox is particularly effective in treating frown lines at this age in combination with dermal fillers it can also effectively improve other deep and stubborn wrinkles.
The vital challenge for women over fifty that are just starting aesthetic treatments, such as Botox, is to maintain a natural look. So, talk to your doctor about your expectations and they will be able to recommend the best treatment plan.
The Final Word
Botulinum toxin injections are the best non-surgical way to temporarily improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on the upper third of your face. That means to erase or soften those frown lines, crow’s feet, forehead lines, etc. For preventive purposes, it is better to start the treatments early. But, even if you start when you are fifty you will still enjoy visible improvements in your physical appearance.
References:
· de Maio M, Swift A, Signorini M, Fagien S; Aesthetic Leaders in Facial Aesthetics Consensus Committee. Facial Assessment and Injection Guide for Botulinum Toxin and Injectable Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: Focus on the Upper Face. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2017;140(2):265e-276e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000003544
· Blitzer A, Brin MF, Keen MS, Aviv JE. Botulinum toxin for the treatment of hyperfunctional lines of the face. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1993;119(9):1018-1022. doi:10.1001/archotol.1993.01880210108015
· Carruthers J, Carruthers A. The evolution of botulinum neurotoxin type A for cosmetic applications. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2007;9(3):186-192. doi:10.1080/14764170701411470
· Dessy LA, Fallico N, Mazzocchi M, Scuderi N. Botulinum toxin for glabellar lines: a review of the efficacy and safety of currently available products. Am J Clin Dermatol. 2011;12(6):377-388. doi:10.2165/11592100-000000000-00000
