Every little thing You Must Know

Getting Botox in your 20s was as soon as taboo. Taking {that a} step additional, speaking about getting Botox in your 20s was reserved for hush-hush convos together with your most trusted buddies. However now, preventative Botox is a factor and the narrative round getting older is shifting. And whereas many are lowering that change to easily ignoring the pure course of altogether, it’s extra so an embrace of what getting older effectively means to you. For me, just a few months previous my twenty ninth birthday, that appears like exploring the large world of magnificence treatments—starting with Botox.

In my expertise, Botox has at all times been a buzzword loaded with that means. Not solely that, however assumptions about an individual’s relationship with themselves. As a result of we handled Botox as a one-and-done answer, up to now, it was usually administered with a heavy hand—believing that extra was extra. However from observing how the therapy has advanced within the magnificence area through the years (and the way my very own conversations with buddies have taken on a brand new tone of curiosity and acceptance), I used to be excited to strive it myself.

Botox in Your 20s: Every little thing You Must Know

For me, the most important hurdle to beginning Botox was a lack of know-how. Once more, as a result of the therapy is broadly mentioned with out expertise or skilled insights, loads of hypothesis and misinformation surrounds it. As such, I anxious that I’d love the outcomes, however should constantly spend exorbitant quantities of cash to take care of the look. I’d heard that after only a month, I’d must do the method yet again. Not ultimate.

Earlier than beginning the tox, I spoke with Theresa Izquierdo, an Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner, to be taught every little thing I might about getting Botox in your 20s. Theresa administers remedies with Pinch, a Chicago-based med spa that brings Botox, filler, chemical peels, and extra to you. Spoiler: I additionally labored with Izquierdo to get my first spherical of Botox—and I’m obsessive about the outcomes. (Scroll on for the earlier than and after.)

Forward, Izquierdo breaks down Botox myths and separates truth from fiction. Learn on for every little thing that you must know.

Theresa Izquierdo, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, RNC-OB

Theresa Izquierdo is a Chicago-based Superior Apply Registered Nurse with a specialization in Household Apply. Her passions embody preventative care, well being schooling, and physiology, with the purpose of making certain her sufferers feel and appear their greatest from the within out.

On the Advantages of Doing Botox in Your 20s

Traditionally, Botox has been considered one thing to start out in your 40s or 50s. Botox was extra reactive—one thing that will “repair” the fantastic strains and wrinkles that already appeared. However alongside our wholesome obsession with SPF, we’re starting to grasp that extra might be performed after we’re youthful to advertise swish getting older.

After I spoke beforehand to Dr. Alexis Parcells about preventative Botox, the MD underscored this proactive strategy. “As soon as these strains kind, it might take a number of Botox remedies over the course of months or years to enhance or erase, [whereas preventative treatments] inhibit muscle motion earlier than these fantastic strains and creases kind.”

Izquierdo helps this, noting that “those that are proactive with receiving tox earlier than static wrinkles seem will yield higher outcomes.”

What to Search for in a Supplier

So, you wish to begin your Botox journey, however you haven’t any thought the place to start—or who you must go to to your therapy. Although Botox is FDA-approved for a number of therapy areas and has been broadly studied, practitioners of the therapy can clearly differ. Izquierdo encourages sufferers to search for “honesty, belief, and good communication expertise.” Although your supplier must be the professional, you must really feel snug asking questions and getting the knowledge you want pre- and post-treatment.

“If you happen to really feel like your supplier shouldn’t be actively listening or doesn’t help you be concerned in your therapy plan,” notes Izquierdo, “it might be time to think about a second opinion.” Fortunately, when she administered my therapy, Izquierdo checked all these packing containers. Not solely did she completely element what can be injected and what I might anticipate by way of sensation and visible outcomes, however she additionally opened the dialog to debate my objectives.

It’s necessary to notice too, that your first appointment shouldn’t be the one time you join together with your practitioner. As a result of the results will manifest over time, they need to verify in with you to see the way you’re feeling and should you’re proud of the outcomes. It’s best to really feel like an energetic participant in your Botox therapy and empowered to talk up.

Find out how to Preserve Outcomes Put up-Remedy

It’s a given: all of us need the outcomes of our magnificence remedies to final so long as attainable. By aligning your skincare routine and way of life habits, you’ll be able to reap the advantages of Botox for longer. Izquierdo notes that the primary 24 hours post-treatment are key. Keep away from extreme alcohol, sweating, or ache relievers (besides Tylenol). Maintain your pores and skin clear and dry, and don’t apply make-up till the subsequent day.

As for skincare, you’ll be able to maintain your routine the identical, protecting the fundamentals of a cleanser, focused serum, moisturizer, and—Izquierdo can’t stress this enough—sunscreen “each single day,” making certain you’re making use of at the least SPF 30. Alongside that, she advises avoiding direct daylight as you’ll be able to, preserving your face moisturized, and ingesting 8+ glasses of water each day. And naturally, minimizing alcohol use and avoiding smoking.

Botox in My 20s: My Trustworthy Assessment

I’ll admit, once I first determined I wished to get Botox, I hadn’t particularly mirrored on the place. In researching widespread therapy areas, I made a decision to deal with jawline slimming. Which, in flip, focused my TMJ. In talking with Izquierdo earlier than my therapy, we determined to do 5 items on either side of my jaw. (Be aware: I’ve usually referred to the injected toxin as “Botox” all through this text, however Izquierdo used Xeomin, another good toxin.)

Botox for Jawline Slimming

Tox can be utilized as an efficient therapy for jawline slimming because it targets the masseter muscle tissues towards the again of the jaw. By doing so, it reduces the muscle tissues, leading to a sleeker and extra outlined look. (“Snatched,” if you’ll.) I started to note the distinction simply 4 days after therapy. The images above had been taken three weeks aside, and you may see that my jawline is noticeably extra contoured, supporting additional definition in my cheekbones as effectively. And the press jaw that my TMJ elicited? Completely gone.

Outcomes and Price

Outcomes are mentioned to final wherever from 3-6 months, however the excellent news about getting Botox in your 20s is that the results are typically longer, letting you spend extra time between remedies. As for price, I paid $12 per unit, although I additionally took benefit of a brand new consumer particular. (You’ll want to ask about these in the event that they’re not advertised—loads of med spas and practitioners will provide them!) The common price per unit ranges from $10-$18, and the quantity of items you want will differ on the therapy. Be aware that the majority require 30-40 items.

Ultimate Ideas

Am I pleased I’ve began getting Botox in my 20s? Sure. Did it price some huge cash? Additionally, sure. However given the outcomes, it’s a magnificence therapy I’m able to proceed investing in 2-3 instances per 12 months. Nonetheless, I wish to underline that it’s not a blanket answer for pores and skin or getting older woes. Botox is a therapy that should be performed together with a stable skincare routine and wholesome way of life habits.

What’s extra, it’s necessary to replicate upon your relationship to each getting older and exterior magnificence earlier than present process remedies of any variety. Ask your self: am I doing this to erase components of myself I really feel self-conscious about, or am I trying to amplify my options? Embrace Botox as one thing you do out of self-love and self-care. As a result of whenever you deal with nurturing that inside dialogue you may have with your self, you’ll be capable of amplify the optimistic results all of the extra.