- Botox injections are expensive and a big commitment in order to be effective.
- A dermatologist said there's no perfect time to start — it depends on your needs and budget.
If it feels to you like everyone is getting Botox injections these days, you're not alone. While in the past it seemed that Botox was a procedure done mostly by people in middle-age, it's getting increasingly popular with people in their early 20s and 30s. It might make you wonder — when's the right time to start?
Of course, no one "needs" Botox, but deciding the right time to start it can be tricky. That's because Botox can have other benefits besides reducing wrinkles.
Dr. Stacey Tull, a dermatologist practicing in Missouri, told Insider that she started Botox because she wanted the appearance of a brow lift. Other people start it early for wrinkle prevention. Tull said there's no universal age for when people should start Botox, just like there's no age when wrinkles can set in.
The main thing to remember, Tull said, is that Botox is more effective over time. "The longer you have used Botox, the less you will need and less often you will need it," Tull told Insider.
That could be good news to some people, since Botox isn't cheap. At a whopping $466 per session on average, some people already opt for lower doses or look for ways to make the injections last longer to lower costs.
If you're interested in getting Botox, Tull shared three signs that it might be time for you to consider doing it, depending on your skin and budget.
1. You have noticeable expression lines
One of the more obvious reasons people get Botox is to reduce creases in their skin. But the timing really varies from person to person, according to Tull.
"I have 18-year-old patients with severe expression lines who get Botox just to soften their look," she said. At the same time, she noted "some people have no need to start early at all" and don't develop lines until later in life.
The good news is that even if you already have wrinkles, Botox can still make them go away. It just takes longer.
"Even deep set lines will eventually disappear if you don't allow the muscles to crease the skin," Tull said. "That being said, I always tell patients that it likely took years to make the lines, so they need to be patient in waiting for them to go away."
2. You have drier skin or spend a lot of time in the sun
If you're interested in preventive Botox, Tull said there are a few skin types that might be prone to earlier wrinkles.
For example, people who have dry skin or previously spent a lot of time outside without sunscreen are more likely to show signs of skin aging earlier, she said. She also suggested looking at your parents' skin to see if they have significant wrinkling.
"If you fall into any of the above categories, consider starting Botox at an early age to soften expression lines," she said.
3. You can afford to get Botox regularly
The most important thing about starting Botox isn't when you start, but how regularly you book sessions, Tull said. Because the effects of Botox treatments should last about three months, going only once or twice a year won't do much in the long term — except set you back a few hundred dollars.
Tull tells her patients to think of Botox like a cast. When you break your arm and wear a brace for a long time, your muscles can weaken from not being in use. With Botox, the muscles causing your wrinkles can also lose strength — which in this case, is a good thing. But if you go too long between injections, it gives them time to recover and create fresh creases.
Botox injections can be a pricey commitment. If you worry about fine lines, there are cheaper alternatives out there, from retinol products to face patches.