By Audrey Tan
The internet is and always has been obsessed with defying ageing. Social media is the main driving force behind the de-stigmatisation of cosmetic surgery, and its latest obsession is preventative Botox. Celebrities and influencers sharing their journey online have made cosmetic enhancements more acceptable and accessible.
From Brazilian Butt Lifts (BBLs) to the trending #BabyBotox on TikTok, the question remains: are these procedures as safe and effective as they’re marketed to be? Let’s look at preventative Botox in more detail.
What Is Preventative Botox?
Most of us are familiar with Botox treatments for removing fine lines and wrinkles. These treatments involve injecting cosmetic neuromodulators (like Botox) to relax facial muscles and smooth out lines on the skin. While traditional neuromodulator treatments address lines and wrinkles that have already formed, preventative Botox is intended to be injected even before creases appear.
Gen X has been the primary user for the past decades, but now the age at which people are beginning to start their injections is decreasing every year, with some opting to start as early as 18 years old. Because of this, preventative Botox treatments are being marketed to a younger age group.
The #BabyBotox Trend
#BabyBotox is the latest trend on TikTok. Still, it’s just a catchy name for preventative Botox, which uses smaller doses of neuromodulators. Youngsters in their twenties regularly share their experiences online, but they often hype-up the benefits without mentioning the potential side effects.
The idea is that you maintain your youthful appearance, ideally forever. But even the best dermatologists and facial surgeons cannot stop your ageing entirely.
According to Dr Elias Tam, the Medical Director of EHA Clinic here in Singapore, when used correctly, botox can help to prevent the formation of hyperactive muscles, reducing excessive wrinkles such as persistent frowning. For those with bruxism, early treatment will not only give them a slimmer facial shape, it will save their teeth from damage.
Downsides That The Internet Doesn’t Talk Enough About
No one seems to acknowledge that preventative toxin treatments are primarily theoretical. We don’t have enough evidence that they actually work long-term.
Ironically, some aesthetic doctors even believe that getting too much Botox from a young age can eventually make you look older. Lisa Harris, a popular celebrity facialist and skincare expert, is firmly against the idea, arguing that the treatment weakens muscles over time. Weak muscles cannot adequately hold the skin up, leading to sagging skin. And that is before we consider the other potential risks and side effects.
Dr Elias Tam agrees that too much botox over a prolonged period can result in excessive muscle atrophy. Without sufficient muscle, the face can look aged, especially if it is around the eyes (hollowed-out look) or the jawline (jowling).
Neuromodulator treatments aren’t permanent. They only last up to 3 to 6 months, even less if you exercise often or have a very expressive face. Once you start, it’ll likely become a routine commitment you’ll repeat every few months.
Moreover, toxin injections aren’t cheap. Although there are “affordable” options available, if you’re going to be injecting a foreign toxin into your face, it would be worth getting the good stuff.
Unsurprisingly, the good stuff comes at a price. At current market rates, having Botox injected twice a year will run you upwards of a thousand dollars. That’s for one year, and you would probably want to continue getting injections as you age, likely for the next few decades. So unless you’re willing to shell out tens of thousands of dollars over your life to prevent some signs of ageing maybe, perhaps you should think twice.
Above all, the effect of early preventative Botox treatments on the human body is simply not studied enough. While many studies have been conducted on Botox, very few focus on starting injections before the age of 30. Starting at 25 or even 20 adds another 10 years of exposure to our bodies, the effects of which are not fully understood yet.
Do You Really Need It?
If you’re on the fence about whether you need preventative Botox treatments, ask yourself this; how many viral beauty trends have you witnessed on social media in the past decades? From thigh gaps and thinspo in the early 2010s to BBLs in the decade following, our societal concept of what constitutes “beauty” changes constantly, nowadays more rapidly than ever. And the divergence between trends is so significant that trying to follow them all will likely have you going insane (and broke).
Is it necessary to follow every current trend that will undoubtedly sizzle out in the next decade? Do you really want to spend the rest of your life chasing beauty ideals that can change on a whim? Personally, I’m tired of the internet always telling us that there’s something wrong with looking like a normal human being.
But of course, the choice is entirely up to you. Now that you know the good and bad sides of preventative Botox, you’re in a better position to make the right decision for you.
Don’t forget that there are other things you can do to maintain a youthful appearance, such as eating well, drinking lots of water, exercising, and taking care of yourself overall.
If you still feel like you need preventative Botox, make sure to discuss it with a qualified practitioner who has your best interest at heart, and be sure to exhaust all options before turning to such an expensive and invasive option.