Do You Think Botox Is Common Among People Your Age?

August 26, 2009

Botox, typically reserved for the slightly older crowd seeking out a way to soften fine lines and wrinkles, is being called the latest trend women for in their 20s — even becoming just as common as hair coloring, estimates Dr. Gabrielle Caswell of the Cosmetic Physicians Society. A recent survey by the BBC found that the number of 30-or-younger women customers increased twofold over the past few years.

I know a few women in their 20s who've tried Botox, but the vast majority of my friends have not. Do you think that Botox is as common among your peer group as this data suggests? Or is this trend piece reaching?

Source: Getty

Botox Bella Poll

30 Comments

3 years 38 weeks

I was 29 when I first tried Botox. Every member of my family has a deep crease between their eyebrows. People who meet my mom for the first time, often think she is angry with them. I was amazed by the results and would continue if it wasn't cost-prohibitive.

amandaaa 3 years 38 weeks

i'm 21...i don't know anyone who does, besides my mom

Rouge14 3 years 38 weeks

I don't know anyone my age (nearly 21) nor do I know anyone in their 30's who does botox but maybe I just don't hang with the kind of people who might, I don't know, but I sure hope it's not a common thing, it's be pretty scary if people think they're old now, what is it gonna be like when they reach 70 or 80 years old :s

omlove 3 years 38 weeks

Its becoming an obsession for women to stay and look young forever.I think people should learn to appreciate natural beauty at all ages.

onlysourcherry 3 years 38 weeks

I don't look down on people who get plastic surgery/botox/whatever, but the concept of getting botox in your twenties to get rid of facial expressions is crazy to me. It seems like sucking the life out of yourself for beauty.

POPSUGAR Beauty 3 years 38 weeks

Hi, anonymous. I think going to a doctor and *very obviously jokingly* saying something about smile lines — in a way that makes it clear that I really am not freaking out about those that are popping up — does not warrant a serious recommendation of Botox. But that's just me; I'm sure other people may disagree, and that's OK. As for Bella's stance on Botox, we have a "live and let live" attitude. No judgments if you do or don't do Botox. Everybody's wishes and needs are different. Some of the Bellas have tried Botox; the others, including me, have not. We are all concerned, however, that women are being told that they must try to stay young at any cost, that aging is something to fear. Because it's not. If you have any other questions, please feel free to <a href="http://www.bellasugar.com/pm/to/bellasugar">send me a private message</a>!

POPSUGAR Beauty 3 years 38 weeks

3 years 38 weeks

Ok Bella, I find this interesting... I was reading your post on the documentary 'youth knows no pain' then I read this. Then I read the doc's website, which linked me to an article from the LA times where you are quoted - Women are their own harshest critics, says BellaSugar beauty blog editor Annie Tomlin, 31. She encourages more than 350,000 readers a month, mostly women in their 20s and 30s, to not treat aging as something terrible. "I'm not one to be Pollyanna about it because I know women are harshly judged and that ageism is a real issue. At the same time, people want beauty advice, and it's fun to look at something with beautiful packaging, and it's a treat to put on a beautiful cream with a gorgeous scent." In a culture in which even twentysomethings post about their Botox treatments, Tomlin -- a self-proclaimed feminist punk rocker -- gets angry about a beauty industry that wants to make money off the fear of aging. She left a recent mole-check appointment with a dermatologist in tears, she says, after the doctor suggested she might want to consider Botox to get rid of the slight "11" lines between her eyebrows. "I cried because I was stunned and depressed, not because I looked old -- I don't, and I know that someday I will -- but because it's depressing to have someone say that I should consider Botox when I really don't need it," Tomlin says. She posted about her experience, and more than 40 readers commented, all of them with encouraging and supportive messages that says she was beautiful just the way she was. Which is made even more interesting by the fact that you did finally disclose in the comments section of that previous post where the doctor supposedly told you that you needed botox (and this kinda contradicts what you are quoted saying, and what you initially let the sugar readers to believe) - The derm was pretty nice about it — it's not like I was told that I was a huge hag or anything like that. And to be fair, I was asking about acne and then jokingly said, "And there's nothing that can be done about these smile lines." That's when she said that it would be good to start thinking about the 'tox. I had talked about the smile lines in a joking, jovial way, and then, bam, flood of tears. I mean, I get it... but you did open the door for that, and you kept readers and this journalist in the dark about the real conversation. You brought up your wrinkles to the doctor then you cried about the answer you received. So what is the deal with you and your feelings on the 'tox? It seems like you post about it here often, but with no real conclusion on the matter... Just curious.

catita85 3 years 38 weeks

Nope, I´m 24 and don´t now anybody my age that has used botox.

hills 3 years 38 weeks

whoops i pressed yes and i meant a big fat NO, thats so weird im only 19. i dont know anyone whos had botox and i hope i never am and never meet anyone so insecure about how they look to do that....

Francoisehardly 3 years 38 weeks

Thank you Bellasugar for mentioning that your doctor wouldn't use it on younger patients because it would be for the money. And even though I guess there would be others in their later 20s using it, I wouldn't know any. I wouldn't use it. I don't even think I'd want to even when I'm older. The more people act like wrinkles are the end of the world, the more of a turn off things like botox become to me. I take care of my skin and do use sun block to avoid tanning since the sun is the biggest ager, but if I end up with some lines on my face with or without the care I give it, nobody is going to die because of it.

POPSUGAR Sex & Culture 3 years 38 weeks

I've heard that it can actually create wrinkles where there are none, because the skin around the "frozen" area compensates, creating wrinkling in unnatural places. Who knows if this is true, but seriously — good skin is one of the great things about being in your 20s. Enjoy it, chill out, and spend your money on a nice trip!

grlykool 3 years 38 weeks

It was at a college I went to.

Rigor Mortis 3 years 38 weeks

I completely agree with you, Bella. My doctor (and many others) have also told me that this use of botox is complete bs, especially since that there is not enough data to support the claims that it prevents wrinkles.More importantly, botox as a cosmetic is a relatively new practice, and recent studies say this stuff can cause a crapload of side effects, even loss of memory!I'm 23, so I have no wrinkles yet. However, I'd much rather have wrinkles than endure such side effects. Moreover, I wish we, as a society, didn't freak out so much about getting old. It is such a waste of time!

Rigor Mortis 3 years 38 weeks

I completely agree with you, Bella. My doctor (and many others) have also told me that this use of botox is complete bs, especially since that there is not enough data to support the claims that it prevents wrinkles. More importantly, botox as a cosmetic is a relatively new practice, and recent studies say this stuff can cause a crapload of side effects, even loss of memory! I'm 23, so I have no wrinkles yet. However, I'd much rather have wrinkles than endure such side effects. Moreover, I wish we, as a society, didn't freak out so much about getting old. It is such a waste of time!

POPSUGAR Beauty 3 years 38 weeks

Nobody is saying the site is only for 20-somethings, but fwiw, the majority of our readers are in their 20s and 30s, so we thought this would be an interesting question to pose. We could have worded things differently, so I apologize for upsetting readers in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and older. We love readers of all ages.It's funny: I was just at the doctor yesterday and he said he doesn't do Botox at all for patients. He says that the "start when you're young" line is more about making money than about preventing wrinkles, which is one reason he doesn't administer Botox.

POPSUGAR Beauty 3 years 38 weeks

Nobody is saying the site is only for 20-somethings, but fwiw, the majority of our readers are in their 20s and 30s, so we thought this would be an interesting question to pose. We could have worded things differently, so I apologize for upsetting readers in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and older. We love readers of all ages. It's funny: I was just at the doctor yesterday and he said he doesn't do Botox at all for patients. He says that the "start when you're young" line is more about making money than about preventing wrinkles, which is one reason he doesn't administer Botox.

Yogaforlife 3 years 38 weeks

None of my friends have had it (we're all upper twenties). I don't know many people who have, just a few older ladies in their forties and fifties.

3 years 38 weeks

Oops! I had no idea this site was only for 20-somethings. See ya!

Mikaela81 3 years 38 weeks

Botox can be used in your 20's as a preventative measure. Many dermatologists advise it because forehead/glabellar lines/crow's feet are dynamic wrinkles (meaning you cause them with facial expressions you repeatedly make over many years) - if you are prevented from ever making these facial expressions you'll never ingrain those creases in your face. It does not however affect superficial fine lines - that is what good skincare is meant for. Sham28 has it right - your 20's is a perfect time to start. Couple that with sun protection & prescription topicals (like retin-a or avage) and the superficial wrinkling & sun damage will be prevented.

Mikaela81 3 years 38 weeks

Botox can be used in your 20's as a preventative measure. Many dermatologists advise it because forehead/glabellar lines/crow's feet are dynamic wrinkles (meaning you cause them with facial expressions you repeatedly make over many years) - if you are prevented from ever making these facial expressions you'll never ingrain those creases in your face.It does not however affect superficial fine lines - that is what good skincare is meant for.Sham28 has it right - your 20's is a perfect time to start. Couple that with sun protection & prescription topicals (like retin-a or avage) and the superficial wrinkling & sun damage will be prevented.

mek123 3 years 38 weeks

I'm in my 50s, so yes, it is common in my peer group (not me). I know a few women in their 20s-30s that have had Botox.

HoneyBrown1976 3 years 38 weeks

It's rare in my racial group; but, I'd guess common in my age group (early thirties).

sham28 3 years 38 weeks

Maybe I'm confused about it- aren't you supposed to get Botox to PREVENT wrinkles? What good does it do to paralyze muscles so you can't use them, if you've already used them enough to create wrinkles? Botox isn't a filler. Your 20's sounds like it would be the best time!

Gdeeaz 3 years 38 weeks

I am 19 and I don't know anybody in my age group who has had botox. I do know a few woman in their 40s and 50s who have had it done.

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