When can I start using botox?

[Ronald]

First of all, I'm only 23 going on 24 and I don't know when I can start using botox. Is it really that safe to use? I'm not gonna look like a china doll or something am I? My friends think I'm really weird for even thinking about botox at my age but I've heard that it can be used as a preventative thing. Am I too early for prevention? Thanks!

[Dr. Mohebi]

I think the correct setting has to do with what you are treating. Botox chemically relaxes the facial muscles and help eliminate wrinkles of the face. At your age many people do not even have significant wrinkles that requires treatment. Your age is not precluding you from getting Botox treatments for rejuvenation of the face, but you need to assess your requirements realistically.

[Ronald]

I think the correct setting has to do with what you are treating. Botox chemically relaxes the facial muscles and help eliminate wrinkles of the face. At your age many people do not even have significant wrinkles that requires treatment. Your age is not precluding you from getting Botox treatments for rejuvenation of the face, but you need to assess your requirements realistically.

So, realistically, I'm only doing botox to prevent wrinkles. I really don't have them but why wait til I do, right? It just bugs me to see my crows feet when I smile and knowing that they'll become permanent within the next 5 years. I'm only basing that off of my dad. He's had them since he was 19

Since this is really just preventative, how much would I need?
What's the difference between units and area?
Will I be swollen? Will I never smile again? I know I'm exaggerating with this question. I just find it funny that my friends think that will happen to me

Help!

- Ron

[Dr. Mohebi]

I do not recommend preventative BOTOX. Do not fix it when it is not broken. Having said that, even mild wrinkles could be treated. If you do not see any wrinkles what so ever; wait. It will not be too late to treat the wrinkles. In other words you can not male permanent wrinkles immediately and it takes a while before you really can see them.

You are going to have some time. Again, do not fix when it is not broken.

[Sara]

A friend of mine says, "Botox is the best think that happened to me". She has been relegiously using Botox in the last 7-8 years. I was wondering doesn't Botox lose its efficacy afater a while. Can people become resistant to it?

[Ronald]

Wait, CAN people become resistant? I thought because botox is a toxin nobody can resist the effects. I did mine and I'm fine with it but If my body is gonna become immune why would I want to do more botox injections on my face? But, if she's been doing botox for years then wouldn't she need larger amounts each time? What's the minimum person should get or something? I know I did the bare minimum for myself but what's really recommended?

[Dr. Mohebi]

You cannot become resistant to Botox effect. In fact people may need less in their follow up procedures due to the fact that the muscle mass decreases and it is not has bulky due to disuse atrophia (do not use it, you lose it). However, there is some reports on rare occasion of some patients who make antibody against Botox that can bind to the Botox molecules and make them inactive.

That is very rare and even if it happens people may still be sensitive to the other types of Botulinum toxin.

[cosmeticquestioner73]

So I have a scar on my forehead from a past snow skiing accident and it is really starting to bother me. Because it is a horizontial line right across my forehead (right where a normal wrinkle would be), I have a lot of issues with people telling me to use anti-wrinkle creames and recommending injectables. I DO NOT HAVE WRINKLES!! .... at least not yet, and I am tired of people thinking I look older than I am because of a clumsy day at the slopes! What do you recommend for a scar like this? Would Botox and injectables of this type work for reducing the appearance of a scar like mine? or should I be looking into scar revision and other treatments of that type?
Thanks!

[Dr. Mohebi]

It is really hard to acess your situation without examining your scar. There are many different methods to revise scars and improve their visibility. Botox in some patients can help scar become less prominent. Injection of dermal fillers into the scar is anotehr method of filling the scars. Some smaller and scattered scars like the scar of old acnea can be easily improved by laser skin resurfacing through ablative and non-ablative techniques of laser therapy.

Larger scars could be improved by scar surgical revision and reapproximation of the skin edges. That can be combined with Botox treatment to minimize the stretching of the scar for the post operataive period.

[cosmeticquestioner73]

Wow, sounds like I was oblivious to how many options there were available... I was going around thinking I was stuck with this forever and that I would be lucky if injectables (if anything at all) would work. I will definitely look into more information on this topic and see what doctors are available for these services.

Do you do work like this in your office too Dr. Mohebi?, or do you just know about the different techniques?
Do you also happen to know if many offices offer consultations for these types of revisions or do you need to just choose one of these routes and hope it comes out best?