Botox. Just a decade ago, it was one of the most controversial subjects to speak about. Women who got botox treatments were labelled “fake” and “plastic” and constantly denied it. When asked what their secret to looking as young as ever was, generic answers like ‘keeping myself hydrated’ and ‘following a strict diet and skincare routine’ were given. Looking back today, we’ve come so far!
More women, celebrities, and influencers have begun to open up about their injectable treatments. And the taboo the word ‘Botox’ once held has vanished.
While “Botox in a bottle” is a catchphrase most brands still use to sell their anti-ageing products, no bottle of skincare can work as well as Botox itself.
So What Is Botox?
It’s nothing but a drug injected into the muscles to temporarily relax them and reduce their movement. But the term Botox is merely a brand name—kind of like Xerox. Many other companies sell the drug made from the Clostridium Botulinum bacteria, but the company Botox was the first to inject it. And that’s how the name stuck on.
Over the last few years, though, preventative Botox has been in demand. To understand this term better, I looped in Dr Jamuna Pai, the first expert to introduce Botox to India, back in 2000. “It is a proactive approach to anti-ageing and skincare where the product is injected in areas prone to dynamic wrinkles, such as the forehead, around the eyes (crow’s feet), and between the eyebrows (glabellar lines),” says the founder of SkinLab.
Botox Isn’t Just Meant To Soften Wrinkles
These shots not only help in smoothing out wrinkles and fine lines but are often recommended to treat health conditions as well, such as:
- Treats lazy eye
- Controls back spasms
- Stops migraines
- Manages acne
- Reduces excessive sweating
At What Age Can People Get Botox Treatments?
The idea of botox is to delay the development of permanent lines on the skin for a smoother appearance. But it also depends on an individual’s skin concerns and goals, so it’s best to consult with a physician first, cautions Dr. Pai. “I have observed that people typically start considering Botox in their late 20s to early 30s, depending on their skin type, genetics, and lifestyle factors like sun exposure and smoking. There isn’t a specific age when Botox is recommended for everyone. Instead, the decision is often based on when dynamic wrinkles, lines caused by facial movements like frowning, squinting, or raising eyebrows – start becoming noticeable,” she says.
Common Botox Treatments Newbies Can Consider
If I were to get a Botox treatment, I wouldn’t know where to start. Target my crow’s feet? The tech lines on my neck? I asked Dr. Pai to help me find a good starting point. “A brow lift or a tapered jaw line is something I would ask newbies to consider,” she tells me, adding that treatment can soften the lines and enhance and improve features. From lifting the eyebrows to reducing the flare around the nose, making it lean, and defining the jawline to give a more tapered look, it does so much more.
I wanted to know whether I should be concerned about starting off with tricky spots. Dr. Pai instantly refutes this. “There is no site of injection that is more or less tricky than the other,” she tells me, citing that the correct aesthetician should and will have thorough knowledge of everything from the anatomy to the amount of Botox to be used.
There’s Still A Stigma Attached To Botox
But it’s not as bad as it used to be. “While the internet may still continue to display cases gone wrong with Botox, I believe there has been a significant shift in people’s minds about the treatment,” Dr. Pai says, citing that she also has clients come in today and are not only aware of what they want to address but also as for specific units to be injected. “And let me mention, my clientele includes men too,” she says smugly. Her only piece of advice? “Consult only qualified physicians because these are precision-based injections and must be administered in specific muscles at target depths. A little bit here and there can lead to untoward consequences.”
Featured Images: AI Generated