Does Preventative BOTOX® Actually Work?

Woman sitting in the park smiling

Most people think of injectable treatments such as BOTOX® Cosmetic and Dysport® as something to first consider when they reach their mid-to-late 30s as worry lines and crow’s feet become more pronounced. In recent years, however, we’ve been seeing an increasing number of younger patients asking about Dysport and BOTOX at our Denver facial plastic surgery practice as a way to prevent wrinkles.

Is that really possible?

It is, but it’s important that a skilled, experienced injector perform the procedures to ensure patients get excellent results. As a certified trainer for Galderma (the company that makes Dysport), I’ve injected thousands of patients and understand the importance of precisely targeting specific muscles and using the correct amount of neuromodulation.

BOTOX® Cosmetic Case 161 Before & After Front | Denver, CO | Ladner Facial Plastic Surgery
Before & After BOTOX Cosmetic

How Does Dysport or BOTOX Work?

Dysport and BOTOX work differently than other cosmetic injectables, such as dermal fillers, which restore volume lost as we age. Dysport and BOTOX, on the other hand, minimize wrinkles by temporarily relaxing facial muscles whose movements create fine lines such as crow’s feet and worry lines. These lines are known as dynamic wrinkles. Neuromodulators like Dysport and BOTOX block signals from the nervous system to the muscles we use when we squint, frown, look surprised, or change our expressions in other ways.

Preventing Wrinkles

The reason Dysport and BOTOX can prevent the development of wrinkles becomes clear when you understand how the products work. Because these dynamic wrinkles—horizontal forehead lines, lines around the mouth, crow’s feet, and wrinkles on the side of the nose—are caused by repeated muscle movements, preventing their movement also prevents the ensuing wrinkles.

Good candidates for preventative Dysport are patients in their mid-to-late 20s who may habitually purse their lips or furrow their brows, which produces the dynamic wrinkles discussed earlier. As a facial plastic surgeon, I pinpoint the specific areas where injections will limit those muscle movements and, ideally, delay the onset of wrinkles in those spots.

Is It OK to Start Dysport Injections Early?

Usually, patients considering preventative Dysport or BOTOX start getting injections when fine lines appear when they make certain expressions and then go away when the face is at rest. Without treatment, these lines will eventually remain even after they’ve stopped making a particular facial expression.

One technique that is especially popular for people getting preventative BOTOX or Dysport is what’s known as “baby BOTOX.” This refers to using a smaller amount of either Dysport or BOTOX to create results that appear more natural. Even though this approach can be used for patients at any age, it’s especially effective for younger patients or patients whose lines are fainter or less pronounced.

Combining Dysport With Lip Enhancement

Younger patients may be interested not only in preventing wrinkles but also in augmenting naturally thin lips with fillers such as Restylane® Silk. Restylane Silk is the first product approved by the FDA that’s specifically designed for lip augmentation and the smoothing of wrinkles around the mouth for patients who are 21 or older.

If you’re interested in learning more about preventing wrinkles with Dysport (an excellent BOTOX alternative) and you’re in the Aurora and Denver area, contact us using the online form to request a consultation. Or call us at (303) 253-7686 to schedule an appointment.

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