The answer is – it’s up to you. Typically, thirty to thirty-five was understood as the line in the sand – but does that really add up? How can a universal standard be applied given the diversity of our lives? Two thirty-five year olds can be leagues apart in terms of their experience and genetic predisposition. Even genetically similar individuals can have wildly different responses to long term photo-damage, pollution and stress. It’s widely acknowledged now that any age ‘rule’ is arbitrary and potentially problematic, when what is needed is a case by case approach.
Preventative Botox?
The most contentious aspect of the Botox/age debate has been its preventative use. Practitioners have reported a rise in patients as a young as twenty requesting Botox, unheard of in past decades. This is often condemned as unnecessary and symptomatic of a wider social ill, but there is an aesthetic case for using Botox preventatively. Botox targets a specific imperfection – dynamic wrinkles, the creases in the skin that are caused by underlying muscle movement, i.e. frown lines. These creases are part of our facial physiognomy and in youth disappear when the face is at rest. Later these creases persist and become typical ageing flags – deep furrowed frown lines, glabellar lines between the eyebrows and crow’s feet. The point at which this begins varies greatly from person to person but from the mid-twenties on is typical. To stop or delay the formation of these wrinkles is doubtless an effective way to maintain smooth contours, and in conjunction with a disciplined skincare regimen – including strict sun protection/avoidance – can go a long way in delaying the visible ageing process and potentially reducing the need for later treatment.
If you are thinking about using Botox, preventatively or otherwise, finding a doctor you can communicate with is essential. A reputable practitioner will treat what they see in front of them, rather than an ‘age’ – and as ever, will be more alert to any red flags than someone less qualified. At Santi we see our treatments as part of a holistic approach to wellbeing and put our clients’ welfare first, even if that means dissuading from treatment on occasion.
There are many factors to consider when it comes to Botox, or any anti-ageing treatment: How can we best balance an aesthetic focus with self-care? How far do we want to pursue anti-ageing? Why treat? Wy not treat? These are all personal questions – and there are many avenues to explore, from the all-natural to the chemical, from the gentle to the more invasive. If you are looking to begin preventative measures as you grow older there are myriad options on the table – Botox is simply one of them.