When to Start Botox and Aesthetic Treatments: Your Tox Timing Guide
- klosik
- May 29
- 6 min read
We are so lucky to live in a time where we have so many available aesthetic treatment options, whether at home or in an office setting. These aesthetic treatments all allow us to look our best (and let’s be honest – makes us feel our very best)! And isn’t that what self care is all about?
With so many great treatments out there, sometimes we can feel a little bit lost on when and where to start. A very common question that is floated around is “What is the best time to get
started with_________ (fill in the blank treatment)?”
Preventative vs. Corrective Aesthetic Treatments
Let’s talk about this broadly for a bit. Simply put, aesthetic treatments fall into two categories–
Preventative vs Corrective.
What is a preventative treatment?
Preventatively we have asethetic treatment options available that can keep certain signs of aging at bay just a little bit longer (think good SPF and medical grade skin care, microneedling, etc.).
What is a corrective treatment?
We then have corrective aesthetic treatments that, once we are seeing specific symptoms of aging, we then address that issue on the back end (think botox, fillers, IPL, surgical intervention, etc). For example, once you start to see lines, it's time for botox! Have a bit of volume loss in
the midface? Filler is your friend! Seeing brown splotches from sun damage? Try IPL.
Many of these aesthetic treatments are both preventative and corrective:
Botox: Botox may not be necessary until you see some lines sticking around, but it prevents future lines from forming as long as you maintain treatments.
Microneedling: Microneedling can greatly improve skin concerns we’re seeing now, like
texture/tone/pore size/acne scarring. It is also a great preventative treatment that stimulates additional collagen for our future benefit.
Sculptra: Sculptra can help to thicken tissue and replace global facial volume loss we’ve
already seen due to the natural aging process. We often also use it earlier preventatively
to stave off that volume loss to begin with.
There are many treatments that luckily both correct and prevent visible aging!
Understanding When to Start Botox or Dysport
One of the most common timing questions I hear from patients is “Do I need to start getting tox
before I have lines?!”
The purpose of getting a neuromodulator like Dypsort (or Botox, Daxxify, Xeomin, Juveau, or
Letybo), is to soften or minimize muscle movement in a certain part of the face. As a result, lines that have been etched in the skin smooth out or fade.
When we are in our teens or 20’s, our skin quality is youthful, plump, and strong! Even
with frequent animation, lines do not form in the skin–for most. Often, it isn’t until our late 20’s or early 30’s that we start to see some visible signs of aging like more textured skin, fine lines,
pigment showing up on the skin, etc.
This is when you would give us a call 😉.
Age vs. Skin Condition: Which Matters More?
We all know the saying that age is just a number. Some patients in their early 20s come in and we do see deep“11” lines between their brows, or noticeably etched forehead lines. In that
case, YES! Let's soften some movement with Dysport to give the skin a break and smooth out
those lines.
But let’s say you are 20 years old with baby smooth skin and you have no visible lines while
animating or at rest. Then keep living your life...you don’t need Botox yet! (Kindly think of the rest of us! We probably didn’t appreciate our strong, smooth, collagen laden skin while we had it...)
Generally speaking, it’s that late 20’s early 30’s range that we start seeing patients in our chairs
for the first time for neurotoxin.
When should I start Botox?
So when should YOU start Botox? Every patient is different. Your skin at 25 years old may look just like someone else’s at 34 years old.
We know that both genetics and environmental factors impact how and when we start to see the beginning signs of aging. Someone who spends ample time outside without using SPF will likely see bothersome lines in their skin sooner than someone who diligently protects their skin from the sun and uses medical grade skin care. Some people genetically have more laxity
prone tissue, or naturally dryer skin.
Common Reasons Why People Start Botox:
Here is what I hear patients say in my chair as to the reason they first come in to try Dysport or
Botox:
“My lines last all day long now– they used to just be there when I frowned!”
“My makeup is settling in the lines around my eyes and forehead.”
“In photos, I can see my 11’s even when I’m smiling!”
For these patients, it’s the perfect time to get started with treatment. Your provider will assess
your skin and baseline muscle movement, discuss your goals and educate you fully on the
scope of treatment to decide if you are a good candidate. Luckily, most everyone who wants
treatment with neurotoxin is a candidate, and a full health history should be performed to make
sure of this.
Is Botox safe?
Botulinumtoxin-A (all available brands in the USA use this active ingredient), has
many FDA approved indications, for both aesthetic and non-aesthetic reasons. As a result,
neurotoxins are one of the most widely studied and used medications available. They are safe,
predictable, and in our experienced provider’s hands– a great option to help you look and feel
your best!
What do I do if I Notice Signs of Aging?
If you’ve recently started noticing some baby lines forming in the skin, and maybe sticking around a bit longer than you’d like– now is a great time to start aesthetic treatments! With
maintenance 2-4 times per year, patients getting treated with Dysport, Daxxify, or Botox can stay looking refreshed, youthful, and natural.
Once you take the step and get started with your botox treatments... Does that mean all your problems are solved with that single modality alone? NO!
Toxins give the skin a nice break which allows lines to fade, but let’s do what we can to then
improve the actual quality of the skin! There are treatments you can and should incorporate
to allow new stimulation of collagen and elastin. These options target the skin, and will maintain
and slow (not stop) typical signs of aging. Great examples of these treatments include SkinPen
(microneedling), Morpheus 8 (radiofrequency/microneedling), IPL (for sun damage), medical
grade skincare, etc.
Book Your Botox Appointment Today
While we can generally assume most people in their early 20’s don’t need toxin yet (but some
will), and most of us reaching our late 20’s early 30’s will start to seek these treatments out
(but some won’t), here is what's important:
When something is starting to bother you, that’s the best time to reach out for a consultation.
Let's address it with these great treatment options! And if you’re still unsure if it’s your time or not, just give us a call. We’re happy to help!
Frequently Asked Questions About When To Start Botox
When is the best age to start Botox?
Most people start Botox in their late 20s to early 30s, when fine lines begin to linger even when the face is at rest. However, ideal timing varies based on genetics, sun exposure, and personal skincare habits.
Can Botox be used as a preventative treatment?
Do I need Botox if I’m in my early 20s?
How do I know if I’m ready for aesthetic treatments like Botox or fillers?
What other treatments complement Botox for better skin quality?
Is Botox safe, and how often do I need it?
Kimberly Losik, a board certified nurse practitioner, is the Founder, Owner and Medical Director of Horizon Med Spa and Wellness. Kimberly has earned multiple degrees including a bachelors in Kinesiology, a bachelors in Nursing, as well as a Masters in Nursing. For over a decade, she has earned experience in Orthopedics, Geriatrics, Internal medicine, Medical weight loss, aesthetics and anti-aging medicine. Her passion to help patients look and feel like the best version of themselves was the foundation of Horizon, which began in early 2020. Since then, she has attended numerous trainings, conferences and seminars to continue to offer patients the best solutions and aesthetic and antiaging medicine. Additionally, she is a clinical trainer for the company Inmode, an internationally recognized leader in the aesthetic industry.
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