Does Botox make you look older when it wears off?

When you're thinking of having botox for the first time, you may be concerned about what you will look like if you allow it to wear off. Let's clear up some misconceptions with some facts:

1. Botox works by reducing muscle movement that is responsible for lines and wrinkles that occur during normal facial expression.

2. Other processes attribute to ageing, such as bone resorption, collagen and elastin depletion, menopause, sun damage, fat pad shrinkage and migration.

3. Expression lines start to form in our 20's and 30's and continue to get deeper as we age.

4. Regular, long-term botox treatment can stop these lines from forming in the first place, therefore preserving a youthful appearance.

5. With repeated treatments, even when started in your 40's, 50's or beyond, you can soften these expression lines and prevent them from getting deeper.

6. Botox has the added effect of lifting and tightening the treatment area.

7. Botox lasts around 3-5 months before a repeat treatment is required. Even after this time, there is usually some residual effect. It can take a month or two longer to completely wear off.

8. If you allow your botox to wear off completely, your muscle movement will fully return and any expression lines will return.

Therefore, if you were to have botox for 10 years and suddenly stop, you may not look the same as you did before you started treatment. However, this isn't directly due to the treatment wearing off, but caused by the lifting and tightening effect wearing off and normal ageing processes becoming more visible. However, you are still likely to look a lot younger than others your age who have never had treatment.

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So the answer is:

No, Botox will not make you look older when it wears off.

Whilst Botox treatments are an excellent way to preserve your looks, they are not a cure for ageing. Protecting your skin from the sun, a healthy diet, lifestyle and a good skincare routine can all help to keep you and your skin looking and feeling good for longer. A good skincare routine should include a mineral based daily SPF, retinol and vitamin C.

If you've decided that you want to get yourself booked in, don't rush into finding the nearest clinic or the cheapest price. Do your research, ask for recommendations, read reviews and ensure that your chosen practitioner comes from a medical background.

I hope you've enjoyed reading this and found it helpful.