How to decide if you should get preventative Botox or if you're too young, according to experts

• One surgeon told Insider she's seen an uptick in people getting preventative Botox in the past four years.
• One session costs between $400 to $700, and people typically do two to four sessions a year.
• Preventative Botox can smooth out a line, but it can't bring happiness, one expert says.

There comes a day when you notice a faint line on your forehead.

Wrinkles are a natural part of aging. They are also exacerbated by repetitive, expressive facial movements, smoking, and, exposure to sunlight, according to the Mayo Clinic.

But youth is often, however incorrectly, held up as a premium in the US. For that reason, many people try a number of things to keep their faces wrinkle-free. Beyond sunscreen and face rollers, one of the most popular methods is Botox - which has soared in popularity in recent years.

Once, it was a tool for older people to smooth out wrinkles that were already there. But in the past four years, Dr. Debra Jaliman, a dermatologist and author of Skin Rules, told Insider she's seen more people in their 20s and 30s get preventative Botox.

What is preventative Botox?

Preventative Botox is facial injections that prevent faint lines from developing into deep wrinkles.

The procedure usually costs between $400 to $700 a session and requires two to four sessions a year to maintain wrinkle prevention. It's the same cost as regular Botox.

As with standard Botox, the injections temporarily halt muscles from contracting by blocking nerve signals. Once the muscle is relaxed, the skin on top relaxes, too.

Why are younger people getting Botox before wrinkles set in?

Jaliman attributes the rise, in part, to people being open about it on social media, whereas 10 years ago, people either wouldn't talk about it or deny getting Botox.

Charlotte Markey, a professor of psychology at Rutgers University and author of The Body Image Book for Girls Love Yourself and Grow Up Fearless, said Botox has trickled down to everyday people over the course of 20 years. Once, it was something celebrities would do. Now, it's become more socially acceptable for anyone.

Be clear about why you want preventative Botox

Markey said if you're thinking about getting Botox, be clear about your goal.

"If there are concerns you have about specific wrinkle areas, and the treatment will address those and you think that will make you feel better about your appearance, that's great," Markey said. If your goal is more general, like feeling better about life, it's important to know that preventative Botox won't be a one-and-done solution.

Jaliman said preventative Botox can be useful for people who know that they will want Botox later on to stave off wrinkles. As your lines get deeper, Jaliman said, you may need more Botox, as well as fillers and lasers.

"So the good thing about Botox is that if you do it early enough, it takes care of the whole problem," Jaliman said.

Think about the cost and who is doing your procedure

Botox's high price tag may take a toll on your wallet, so make sure you can afford the procedure before making an appointment.

If you do decide that getting Botox is right for you, Jaliman stressed that it's a medical procedure and you should go to someone that's board-certified with lots of experience.

"If you go to somebody who's not a professional, you can really have a lot of complications," Jaliman said. Especially because Botox doesn't go away for three to four months.

How young is too young?

In general, Jaliman said teenagers are too young to get Botox.

Jaliman said if you're OK with your lines, you don't have to get preventative Botox, but if you're in your 20s and bothered by your lines, Botox will help iron out your creases and prevent deep lines.

Preventative Botox will prevent your lines from setting into deep wrinkles, whereas regular Botox reduces the appearance of wrinkles.

Markey doesn't recommend getting preventative Botox until after your puberty ends, which is around 16 to 20 years old for girls and 16 to 18 years old for boys.

Cosmetic procedures can improve a specific area, but they can't make you happy

Markey cautioned that if your goal is general body satisfaction, you may always find something wrong with yourself. One cosmetic procedure may lead to another, and no procedure can instill happiness or higher self-esteem.

"If you're looking to get a boyfriend, or a new job, or just feel better about life in general. Those are goals that probably preventative Botox can't help you accomplish," Markey said.

Markey said in a perfect world, people would feel comfortable with aging, but all of us - particularly women - are living in a society that values appearance, so it's understandable that some get preventative Botox.