Botox is the most commonly used injectable in the management of wrinkles. A small dose of this neurotoxin when injected into your tense facial muscles causes a temporary paralysis that in turn relaxes the muscles and softens the overlying wrinkles.

Prejuvenation / preventive Botox is a trendy term that’s been making rounds in the cosmetic industry for quite some time now.

Preventive Botox is the practice of injecting Botox as a preventive measure in your early years to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles thus slowing down the skin ageing process.

Sounds too good to be true but does this even work?

Well it does, according to a groundbreaking study done in 2006 by Plastic surgeon William Binder who did a 13 yearlong study on identical twins. One twin received injections twice / thrice a year for her frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead lines while the other twin was treated only for her crow’s feet.

The results concluded that the lines were not as evident and the twin who was treated looked 5 years younger than her sister.

Dr Binder concluded that long-term treatment with small doses of Botox could not only prevent the formation of dynamic wrinkles but also help in delaying the onset of static wrinkles without any major side effects.

So when is the right time to start Botox?

Let’s not forget that we all age differently and a wide range of factors including lifestyle, genetics and even how expressive we are contribute to the patterns of lines and wrinkles we acquire with age.

Eventually as long as we keep making expressions we will all develop fine lines and wrinkles.

I don’t think there’s actually a right time or a wrong time to start preventive Botox as any cosmetic procedure is a personal decision but if you don’t love your wrinkles then you could start at the first onset of fine lines that appear typically in your late 20s or early 30s. The idea is to get them before they become etched onto your skin. (It’s not necessary to start Botox if you haven’t seen lines and wrinkles yet)

If you have healthy skin and haven’t developed lines or wrinkles you could talk to your doctor and start an antiaging skin care regime using small quantities of Retin-A and loads of sun sunscreen.
Also keeping yourself hydrated, getting sound sleep and eating healthy can help a great deal in maintaining a healthy glowing complexion.

“ I will never be an old man. To me, old age is always 15 years older than I am “ – Francis Bacon Sr