You might remember that a few months ago, Ashley Simpson was plastered on the cover of In Touch Weekly magazine with a seemingly shocking headline claiming that (at 23) she receives monthly Botox injections.
I've got to admit that I was a bit surprised to read that a 23-year-old would even need Botox and I was also dead certain that it was not a good idea to be exposed to it at such a young age. Well, it turns out that I might have been wrong on the latter part.
I made a few phone calls and wanted to get the opinion of a qualified cosmetic dermatologist or that of a plastic surgeon. I contacted Dr. Fred Weksberg, owner and medical director of the Centre for Cosmetic Dermatology and the Toronto Vein Clinic. Dr. Weksberg is a specialist in cosmetic dermatology, dermatologic surgery and sclerotherapy with more than 20 years of experience.
I asked Dr. Weksberg if he considered 23 to be too young for Botox injections.
"It's really a matter of when you start forming wrinkles," he says. "If you get Botox to be trendy because a few of your friends are doing it, then it's wrong, but if you are noticing wrinkles at a young age, Botox will help reduce your lines and wrinkles and even prevent the formation of new wrinkles. A study published in 2006 suggests that long-term, consistent Botox treatment may prevent the development of imprinted lines and wrinkles associated with aging. The study compared the appearance of facial lines in identical twins, one of whom received regular Botox treatments over 13 years beginning at age 25 and one of whom did not. The study positively looked at Botox use as a preventative measure of wrinkles, not a reactive one."
There was another fact about Botox that I had seen on so many forums and on which wanted to get Dr. Weksberg's perspective: I've heard that if you get Botox injections on certain parts of your face, certain muscles will freeze and you will start developing wrinkles around the area that was treated. Dr. Weksberg did indeed confirm that this is common incident with Botox injections. This might be something women who choose to start injections in their 20s might need to keep in mind.
More about the Botox study performed on twins
A study published in the 2006 issue of the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery suggests that long-term, consistent treatment with Botox Cosmetic (botulinum toxin type A) may prevent the development of lines that are visible without facial muscle contraction (the so-called "imprint" or "at rest" lines most associated with the aging process). The study compared the appearance of facial lines in identical twins, one of whom received regular Botox Cosmetic treatments over 13 years beginning at age 25 and one of whom did not.
Photographic documentation was used to compare the progress of each twin. From the age of 25, the "treated" twin had received injections in the forehead and glabellar regions (the vertical "frown lines" between the brows) two to three times per year over 13 years. From 2004 to 2006, the "treated twin" also received two Botox Cosmetic treatments in the crow's feet area (around the outer eye). The "untreated" twin had received only two Botox treatments in the forehead and glabellar regions during the same 13-year period, the first administered in 1999 and the second administered in 2003.
Photos showed no visible forehead or glabellar lines at rest in the "treated" twin, while noticeable imprinted forehead and glabellar lines at rest are evident in the "untreated" twin. Crow's feet were also less visible when smiling in the "treated" twin.
21 Comments
LEAVE YOUR COMMENT
You must sign in to leave a commentcharacter(s) remaining