It's the best.

I will not apologize for my love of Botox. I will proudly say that I’ve been a loyal devotee for the past six years and have not regretted “putting my angry muscles into time out” one bit. Here’s a throwback post, written in 2013, about the use of the tox for prejuvenation. Enjoy!

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Botox. Long associated with aging housewives and frozen facial expressions (see above), this controversial little toxin is becoming a staple of the beauty regimen for many women.  Although maligned in the media, many women (including those you would not expect) are turning to these injections to treat those fine lines that belie years of worry and sun damage.  After seeing a Living Social deal for Botox injections, a fellow diva posed the question of using the magic injections in our youth, to prevent those signs of a life well lived.

Hmmm, prophylactic Botox. In theory, it makes perfect sense.  Prevent the skin from developing wrinkles in the first place by paralyzing the muscles that cause the strain. Although there is not much hard evidence to support this theory, I did find one case report of twins, where one was regularly injected for 13 years and the other was not. The pictures do show marked differences in the forehead wrinkles and crows feet, making the twins looks years apart.

For some, the safety of injecting a “poison” long-term into your face feels unsafe and suspect.  However, this FDA-approved drug has been used in the medical world for over 20 years and in very large doses to treat a myriad of diseases, including migraines, neuromuscular disorders, hyperhidrosis, and urinary retention, to name a few.  A large aggregate study looked at adverse effect of botulinum toxin use across many diseases and found that it was a very safe and well-tolerated drug. As published from the FDA, there have been no deaths from the cosmetic use of Botox from 1989 to 2003. 

With all the facts in my pocket, I can’t say I have any moral or ethical objection to Botox in your youth. If you have the cash cash money to spend, go ahead and treat yourself, all the while making sure you are going to a reputable and well-trained dermatologist.  But all the neurotoxins in the galaxy can’t replace good ‘ol sun protection, hydration, and being smoke-free to staying forever young.