Can Botox Prevent Wrinkles?

To some, wrinkles are a sign of a life well-lived, and they wear those creases like a badge of honor. But for many, wrinkles mean something very different: They mean we’ve neglected our skin over the years or that we’re older than we feel (or older than we admit). 

It turns out that most people would rather not show off their wrinkly skin, which explains why the worldwide skincare industry is booming and expected to rake in about $189 billion by 2025. 

But rather than spending all that money on treating damaged skin, doesn’t it make more sense to prevent the problems from cropping up in the first place?

We think so. At Holladay Dermatology & Aesthetics in Holladay, Utah, we believe that taking care of your skin is a high priority and can help you delay the signs of aging. In fact, for those serious about stopping the lines before they make an appearance, we offer preventive BotoxⓇ injections. 

The right treatment for the right job

Before we sign you up for Botox injections, first we meet with you to talk about your skin, your aesthetic goals, and your expectations. We also do a thorough skin analysis to make sure we treat your unique skin tissue the right way. Your skin’s age, tone, texture, and health all factor into what’s best for you. Not all treatments are right for all people.

Likewise, Botox isn’t the right treatment for all skin conditions. For example, if you have crepey skin, loose skin, scars, or acne, we may recommend microneedling. If you have rosacea, melasma, too many freckles, or age spots, our enlighten™ laser treatment is a better choice. And if your face has lost its youthful plumpness, we turn to dermal fillers to add volume.

But when it comes to the lines etched into your face by years of expressing yourself, nothing beats Botox. Unlike the textural fine lines on your face, Botox tackles those deeper lines, called dynamic wrinkles, that appear everywhere your skin folds and creases when you laugh, frown, or grimace. 

Derived from a toxin, Botox relaxes the muscles responsible for those expressions and stops the problem in its tracks. 

Botox as a preventive measure

Even if your skin is smooth and free of lines and wrinkles, you can use Botox as a proactive way to prevent those laugh lines, crow’s feet, and forehead furrows from forming in the first place. If this is your goal, come talk to our expert dermatologist, Dr. Robert Topham, to discuss your options. 

While there’s no need for teens to get preventive Botox treatments, if you’re in your mid-20s or 30s and have begun to notice a faint line or two just starting to form, you’re a prime candidate for preventive Botox injections.

Dr. Topham has many years of experience and knows how to target only the precise muscles necessary to minimize movement without giving you an unnatural paralyzed look.

The treatment itself is over pretty quickly — only about 15 minutes in most cases. It takes about three days to see the smoothing effects, and the results last up to six months. Eventually, your body absorbs and flushes out the Botox, at which point you can simply come in for a touch-up. By getting ahead of your wrinkles before they happen, you may have fewer wrinkles to deal with as you age. 

There is also research that suggests Botox may do more than just relax your muscles; it may actually increase the elasticity of your skin, which is another guard against wrinkles and lines. 

To learn more about Botox as a preventive measure or a treatment, contact us at Holladay Dermatology & Aesthetics to schedule a consultation with Dr. Topham today.