![](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/SEC_171282360-a5dc.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
At 29, I\u2019m a little on the young side to be having a dose of botulinum toxin \u2013 often known by the famous brand name, Botox. <\/p>\n
However, anti-wrinkle injections are becoming ever-popular among the younger generations, from the likes of 22-year-old Love Island alums to Ariana Grande, 30, who shared recently that she\u2019d had Botox and fillers in the past. For a while now, I too have been eyeing up the needle. <\/p>\n
In 2021, Botox-style injections were banned for under-18s, after government findings estimated that 41,000 treatments had been given to those below that age in 2020.<\/p>\n
But that hasn\u2019t dulled its popularity. In 2022, members of the British College of Aesthetic Medicine carried out 315,000 individual procedures\u00a0of botulinum toxin injections. With around 8% of patients aged 18 to 24, that still equals over 25,000 procedures for that age bracket. <\/p>\n
At London aesthetic clinic, Tweak East, I\u2019m told by co-founder Anika Soczywko, that while most of their clients are over 30, the youngest person they\u2019ve ever injected was just 24 \u2013 a special case, she says, as the woman in question had lived a \u2018hard, fun life.\u2019<\/p>\n
\u2018We usually turn people away if they are under 25, they have no evidence of static lines or their skin is still plump,\u2019 Anika tells me. <\/p>\n
\u2018This plumpness is proof of collagen cells still being active, which tend to go dormant later in the 20s.\u2019<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/themes\/metro-parent\/img\/fallback.png\")
<\/p>\n
That being said, she adds that it\u2019s \u2018quite rare\u2019 for them to have to turn anyone away, with most of their clients being at least 27. <\/p>\n
\u2018On the exceptional occasion\u00a0where we would treat someone younger than this, we would take into account how much their static lines are affecting them,\u2019 she explains. <\/p>\n
\u2018Every client has a different story, with different reasons, which could lead to the early onset of fine lines. It\u2019s the responsibility of the injector to talk this through thoroughly with them.\u2019 <\/p>\n
While some of their twentysomething clients seek out fillers to get rid of the early signs of fine lines, others say it\u2019s a preventative measure \u2013 although there\u2019s debate as to whether Botox can indeed prevent wrinkles further down the line.<\/p>\n
Emily Ruse first got anti-wrinkle injections at the tender age of just 20.<\/p>\n
At the time she worked at Illuminate Skin Clinic, which proved an incentive as she got her treatments at a lower cost.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u2018I loved the effects of Botox,\u2019 she admits. \u2018It has that instant gratification as you only need one treatment to see that it\u2019s having an effect, whereas skin treatments require more time and commitment.\u2019<\/p>\n
Emily continued having the injections until she was 23, but eventually gave them up to focus on other long-term anti-ageing products, such as microneedling, HydraFacials, and SPF.<\/p>\n
Now 25, she aims to do this for the next five years, then says she will evaluate other options once she hits 30.<\/p>\n
\u2018I believe that working on my overall skin quality and boosting my collagen levels is more proactive at this age, and will prevent the amount of corrective work that I need to do in the future,\u2019 explains Emily, a Kent-based director of Bloom & Beyond Studio.<\/p>\n
29-year-old Georgia Eather tells me that she first started getting injections in her forehead two years ago, in a bid to treat lines that had already appeared. <\/p>\n
She spends \u00a3195 a session once or twice a year at The Aesthetics Club in Notting Hill, adding that she\u2019s \u2018really happy with the results\u2019.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u2018I started noticing some deep lines in between my brows about two years ago and thought about getting Botox to treat these,\u2019 recalls Georgia, a PR manager.<\/p>\n
\u2018I\u2019m conscious that I\u2019m young, so I get minimal amounts of products across spaced-out sessions, but I do love the confidence that it gives me. I\u2019ll definitely keep getting it.\u2019<\/p>\n
Now, I\u2019m staring down the barrel of 30. <\/p>\n
Caught between the unrealistic pressures of social media and the desire to simply look my best, I thought it was a good time to ask the professionals some questions. <\/p>\n
The first? Whether or not it was too soon for me to start getting serious with anti-wrinkle injections.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201930 tends to be a milestone for people wanting to take more action surrounding their self-image,\u2019 Anika explains to me. \u2018Many are starting to develop fine lines\u00a0which can be seen at rest. It\u2019s a great time to start anti-wrinkle treatments, as this category of\u00a0clients tends to see a much\u00a0better result versus those who have much deeper-set wrinkles.\u2019<\/p>\n
It\u2019s nice to know that I\u2019m not alone \u2013 or totally off-base \u2013 in being curious about Botox at this age.<\/p>\n
\u2018For the younger individuals,\u2019 Anika adds, \u2018we are aiming for a lighter preventative treatment and clients will return for further treatments often between the six and 12-month mark.\u2019<\/p>\n
In comparison, people in their 40s and 50s tend to get it every three to four months.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m informed at aesthetics clinic Tweak East that one concern with starting anti-wrinkle treatments young is that people can build up a resistance if their practitioners are not careful. There are also dangers of the muscles in the face beginning to waste away.<\/p>\n
\u2018Botulinum toxin works by relaxing the muscles, in this case the muscles of facial expression,\u2019 adds Anika. \u2018If we over-treat and the muscles are never used or exercised, then they will atrophy.<\/p>\n
\u2018In severe cases, this can result in skin laxity [aka loss of firmness and sagging] around the affected muscles.\u2019<\/p>\n
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a webbrowser thatsupports HTML5video<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When asked her thoughts on wrinkle prevention, Anika tells me: \u2018It\u2019s a fine balance between starting [anti-wrinkle treatments] unnecessarily early and potentially leaving it until lines are deep.<\/p>\n
\u2018Remember prevention should also be underpinned by other factors including diet, hydration, avoidance of smoking and direct sunlight, and crucially an excellent skincare routine \u2013 SPF is compulsory every day of the year.<\/p>\n
\u2018It is also of utmost importance that a thorough consultation is incorporated to ensure a tailored treatment plan for each individual. One size doesn\u2019t <\/em>fit all.\u2019<\/p>\n Speaking of her own Botox experience, Georgia says: \u2018I had a full consultation before any work was done to make sure my reasons for getting it were clear, and I wasn\u2019t being unduly influenced or had body dysmorphia.<\/p>\n \u2018I get Botox for me and for no one else \u2013 and I think that\u2019s an important distinction.\u2019<\/p>\n It\u2019s still hard not to feel a little bit worried about such undue influence when people who\u2019ve only just entered their 20s are worried about wrinkles. I made it clear at Tweak East that I would be very receptive to being told that actually, I need no improvement and that my skin was perfect just the way it is.<\/p>\n This turned out to not quite be the case.<\/p>\n They took a good look at me and said that, while a lot of my fine lines are dynamic (meaning they only show up when my face moves in a certain way) there was a little static (meaning it sticks around when my face isn\u2019t moving) line or two on my forehead.<\/p>\n They explained that anti-wrinkle injections don\u2019t turn back time at the jab sites so much as stop it, thus masking dynamic lines and keeping existing static lines from getting worse. <\/p>\n So, with that in mind, they suggested putting a small amount of botulinum toxin there as well as in my strong frown. <\/p>\n When the injecting started, I was a bit nervous about the needle, but I needn\u2019t have been \u2013 it\u2019s no exaggeration to say you can barely feel it, and it\u2019s all over before you know it.<\/p>\n Watching it kick in over the next few weeks was interesting \u2013 at one point I could barely frown, and only the outer parts of my brows would raise. It took some getting used to, but I\u2019ll admit I didn\u2019t miss my old frown or forehead very much.<\/p>\n The date of my appointment was 14 May, and by 5 July, I could see it wearing off big time. Thankfully I\u2019ve got a fringe, so I\u2019m more than happy to wait the recommended six months to a year before going back for more.<\/p>\n My overall experience at the clinic was so nice (almost too easy \u2013 I can see why these anti-wrinkle treatments are so popular) and I won\u2019t be shy about going back for other procedures in the future.<\/p>\n However, one word of advice Emily has for people who might be interested in trying anti-wrinkle treatments like she did, is to not cut corners with the cost \u2013 if you can\u2019t afford it, not doing it at all is far better than going to a shoddy clinic.<\/p>\n \u2018Don\u2019t put a price tag on your face,\u2019 she stresses. \u2018You\u2019ve just got the one!\u2019<\/p>\n The NHS offers this advice for anyone considering treatment: <\/p>\n Be clear about why you want them.<\/p>\n Read more about\u00a0whether a cosmetic procedure is right for you.<\/p>\n Make sure the person doing your injections is suitably qualified and experienced.<\/p>\n They should be a medical practitioner and on a register to show they meet set standards in training, skill and insurance.<\/p>\n Avoid practitioners who have no training or have only completed a short training course.<\/p>\n When you meet the practitioner, ask about:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/i>What to think about before having botulinum toxin injections<\/h2>\n