• Is an ounce of Botox worth a pound of wrinkle prevention? Experts are divided about whether preventative fillers can stop skin from wrinkling.
• Some studies suggest that pre-wrinkle Botox can help weaken the muscles over time, therefore lengthening the amount of time needed between treatments later on.
• Others believe that there’s no use in treating something that doesn’t exist, and that there isn’t enough data on the subject showing that it works.
• Botox is a safe, low-risk treatment that’s FDA-approved for people 18 and over, so there’s little to lose (besides cash) when using it preventatively.

In the world of health and well-being, prevention is everything. It dictates what we eat, how we exercise, and even how much we pay for insurance. After all, you know what they say: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

But should we apply the same principle to caring for our skin? Dermatologists and beauty editors are divided on whether or not an ounce ofBotox is worth a pound of smooth, glowing skin. They’ve dubbed the art of impeding wrinkles and skin damage through Botox and other treatments “prejuvention.”

Botox: A Quick Review

We’re pretty sure you already know the basics of Botox, otherwise known as botulinum toxin, but let’s do a quick recap just in case.

Botox is the blockbuster facial injection that reduces the activity of specific muscles, thus smoothing away deep wrinkles and relaxing fine lines. One of the most fascinating things about Botox is that it’s made from one of the most potent toxins on earth, derived from the same bacteria that causes botulism.

Sounds scary, right? Sure, but as we all know Botox has repeatedly been proven to be extremely safe, with very few patients reporting any complications or side effects. That’s because Botox treatments only need a very small, low-risk amount of the bacteria to work. The primary drawback of Botox and other types of skin care injections is that they’re temporary. Most people only see the benefits of a Botox treatment for between three and six months.

Not surprisingly, the treatment is particularly appealing to older people who have deeply set, dynamic wrinkles, forehead lines, frown lines or crow’s feet. When Botox patients with significant wrinkles undergo the needle, so to speak, they see results instantly.

But when you can’t tell for sure if the treatments are actually working, as in the case of prejuvention, how do you know they’re doing their job?

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All About Prejuvention

Prejuvention is industry jargon to describe anti-aging methods used by patients — usually those at a relatively young age, in their late 20s and 30s — who don’t yet have any serious wrinkles, visible sun damage, or cosmetic skin issues. Rather, these younger patients want reliable, preventative treatments to ensure that they don’t develop permanent wrinkles and age spots that could otherwise be avoided.

Finding the right preventative measure for a patient’s specific concern is the key to success. Botox and other dermal fillers are recommended for preventing horizontal lines, resting wrinkles and expression lines that naturally develop with age. Other non-invasive procedures, likechemical peels andlaser skin resurfacing, are also used to prevent dull, sagging skin or pigmentation issues caused by excessive long-term sun exposure.