I get this question asked at least once a week. When the FDA approved Botox Cosmetic in 2002, they recommended not using it on children younger than 18 years old. That being said, other preparations of botulinium toxin (the active ingredient in Botox Cosmetic) are routinely used to treat muscle spasms in children with muscle dystrophy.
When patients ask me when can they start using Botox, my response is always the same: You should start before you need it! Botox and other neuromodulators are a great preventive measure to delay the appearance of wrinkles on your face. It is most commonly used to improve the frown lines between your eyebrows, forehead lines, and smile lines on the side of your eyes. It can also be used to give you a slimmer face when injected into your mastication muscles, and in some cases, it can elevate the corners of the mouth.
More and more patients in their 20s and 30s are using Botox and facial fillers regularly.My goal in the past year has been to change people’s mentality that injectables and plastic surgery in general is for older people. This is not the case anymore. In fact, I see Botox and fillers as a maintenance treatment, just like getting your nails or your hair done. I strongly believe that if people take care of their skin with a good skincare regimen and complement it with Botox treatments every 3-4 months, they will delay the aging process significantly. In many cases, the routine use of neuromodulators will delay or even prevent further need for more invasive procedures.
In a nutshell, more and more patients are using Botox and facial fillers at an early stage in their lives as a preventive measure. Sooner is better than later. The most important thing is to find someone with the adequate training to do your injections in order to avoid complications, which are almost 100% related to the technique and not to the actual substance.
For more information or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Rodriguez-Feliz, please call us at 305-595-2969 or visit us at www.miamiplasticsurgery.com.
