Younger Patients Seeking Botox

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Botox injectables have been growing in popularity for the past few years, and it’s easy to see why. The cosmetic product can reduce the deep lines and wrinkles in the face, making you look more youthful – all with just a few quick injections. But a new trend in injectibles is raising a few eyebrows in the medical community, and it may be easy for some to see why.

“We are seeing an increase in teenage and young adult patients requesting Botox around the country,” said Dr. Raul Garcia, a dentist in Miami, Florida. Garcia offers Botox to patients at his clinic.

Many doctors believe that patients so young should not be getting Botox because it’s essentially wasted on the young.

“Some doctors feel that there’s nothing to treat, and thus the patients are paying for a service they don’t need,” Garcia said.

But Garcia doesn’t necessarily believe this is true. He said it is a personal decision, and if a patient sees an area they want improved, they are free to get Botox to treat that area.

“Botox is safe, provided you are within the indicated age and using it for FDA-approved, on-brand usage,” he said.

Botox has in recent years been used for many purposes other than what it is approved for by the FDA. Some of those uses have since been FDA approved, while others are still not. Garcia points to using the product for things like temporomandibular joint dysfunction treatment as an off-label usage.

“Using Botox for off-label usages can be both ineffective and dangerous,” he said. “In the case of using it for TMJ disorder, it is a temporary fix that doesn’t treat the problem. The TMJ disorder will come back, and then you’re back to square one again.”

Another issue that arises from using Botox is that some feel it stretches the skin in the treated area, making further treatments necessary later. But others say that prolonged treatments are actually good for the skin, causing it to firm up instead of slacken.

“Botox is a great way to get that youthful look without having to go under the knife or trying to reverse the hands of time with lotions and potions,” Garcia said. “I would say if you’re younger than the typical age, consult your practitioner about whether you need it and what you want to improve. Chances are we can find a solution that works for you.”