Like almost all modern skincare and injectable treatments, it’s virtually impossible to know what to believe and what to ignore altogether when doing any form of research online. If you have spent any time on social media lately (which we will go ahead and assume you have), then you will know there are a myriad of conflicting statements from so called 'experts' on when exactly the best time is to start having injectables like Botox and Xeomin done. Some say that preventative Botox in your 20s is absolutely the way to go, while others will say that you absolutely should not start until your 40s. We get it; it’s enough to make your head spin before you have ever noticed your frown lines.
The truth, as it usually does, sits somewhere in the middle (and is also different for everyone).
One of the biggest misconceptions about Botox is that there is a magic age when everyone should start, when in reality, cosmetic injectables aren’t about the number of candles on your birthday cake. They are about what is happening beneath your skin, how expressive your facial muscles are, your genetics, your lifestyle and, most importantly, your personal goals.
Someone in their late twenties with very strong facial expressions may benefit from starting their anti-wrinkle injections long before someone in their forties who has naturally softer muscle movement. Equally, many people will sail through their twenties without ever needing to think about Botox at all.
At Caci, that is exactly why every treatment plan starts with a comprehensive consultation, not a syringe. Your approach to injectables should, and will, evolve alongside your skin's evolution, because what works beautifully in one era of your life probably won’t work quite so well ten years later. So, in an attempt to separate fact from fiction, here's how your treatment goals typically change through the decades.
Botox in your 20s: Prevention, not perfection
Let’s start by clearing something up, your twenties are not a race to get into the injectable chair, no matter what TikTok is telling you.
The term ‘preventative Botox’ has really taken off over the past few years and has become something of a buzzword in the skincare industry. But for most people in their 20s, healthy skin can be achieved through a comprehensive skincare routine (SPF especially), and a few hardworking treatments like laser facials, peels, and microneedling. This being said, however, some people will absolutely benefit from starting their injectables earlier in life.
If you are someone who naturally has very strong facial muscles, you may start to notice your forehead and frown lines starting to etch into the skin before you hit 30. These lingering expression lines are only cause for Botox if they are ones that linger long after your expressions disappear and are something noticeable and bothersome to you. If you are nodding along in agreement to this, then small doses of anti-wrinkle injections can help to soften that repetitive muscle movement before those lines become permanent (and harder to treat), which is where the whole ‘preventative Botox’ does carry some weight.
The emphasis in your 20s is subtlety. Sometimes referred to as ‘baby Botox’, these treatments typically include fewer units, with the goal being to gently relax muscle movements rather than dramatically change your appearance. You should still look surprised when you are surprised, and laugh when something is funny! The aim isn’t to freeze your face; it’s simply to stop your expressive muscles from doing all that heavy lifting every minute of every day.
Perhaps the biggest focus during this decade isn’t Botox at all, and that is completely fine. Those aforementioned treatments that have a collagen-boosting focus have incredible results on younger skin, and will absolutely set you up for success in later life. Just like they call Pilates exercise for later life, these types of skincare treatments follow the same ethos. It’s all about building healthy habits that your future self will thank you for, and while for some 20-year-olds that will include injectables in some form, daily sunscreen, medical-grade skincare, hydration and regular skin conditioning treatments will make just as much difference to how your skin ages.
Think of Botox in your twenties as one tool in a much larger toolkit.
Botox in your 30s: Prevention become the priority
Your thirties are often when people first notice that their skin either isn’t bouncing back as much as it used to, or it’s just a bit dull and ‘meh’. That’s because the collagen production that kept your skin so plump and resilient in your earlier years will, naturally, begin to slow down, while elastin gradually declines too. Those expression lines that used to disappear the moment you stopped smiling or frowning may now stick around for a little longer, even when your face is completely relaxed.
This is why most people will choose to begin Botox during this decade.
The goal now has shifted slightly. Rather than simply preventing lines from forming, treatment may now become more about preserving what you already have while softening the first signs of visible ageing. Forehead lines, the frown lines between the eyebrows, and crow’s feet remain the most commonly treated areas, but treatment plans become far more personalised than simply injecting the same amount into everyone.
At Caci, we believe this decade is also where the conversation may become bigger than just Botox alone. Ageing doesn’t happen in one layer of the face, so treating just one layer rarely delivers the best long-term results. While anti-wrinkle injections absolutely help reduce muscle movement, your skin conditioning treatments work on the quality of the skin itself, improving hydration, texture and collagen production. Together, they create results that not only look fresher but also keep the quality of the skin healthier.
It’s not about looking ten years younger; it’s about looking like you’ve been taking exceptionally good care of yourself, because… you have been!
Botox in your 40s: A more holistic approach
By the time we reach our forties, our skin is changing in more ways than simply developing wrinkles. Collagen and elastin will continue to decline, facial fat pads will gradually begin to shift, skin becomes thinner, hydration decreases, and gravity, unfortunately, starts winning more battles than it loses. While expression lines are still very much a part of the picture, they are no longer the whole story.
This is why Botox remains incredibly effective, but the treatment will once again start to evolve. Instead of focusing solely on preventing wrinkles, Botox is now used to soften deeper expression lines, creating balance across the face and helping maintain a refreshed appearance. Those forehead lines that have become more established can be relaxed, crow’s feet softened and frown lines made noticeably less prominent, but your clinician may also recommend combining Botox with complementary treatments depending on your individual concerns.
For some people, that may include treatments designed to restore hydration and stimulate collagen production. Others may benefit from dermal filler to replace age related volume loss or biostimulators such as Profhilo or Structura that encourage your skin to regenerate from within, rather than just smoothing out lines.
This shift isn’t because Botox has stopped working, quite the opposite, actually. It’s because ageing is now influenced by several different processes happening at once, and the most natural results come from addressing them together rather than expecting one treatment to do everything.
The biggest myth? That everyone follows the same Botox journey
We get it, it’s very easy to compare yourself to everyone online who’s getting Botox in their twenties or wonder if you have somehow ‘left it too late’ by waiting until later in life to start your injectable journey. But in reality, this is just not true.
Some people have incredibly expressive faces that create deep lines from an early age. Others have genetics that keep their skin remarkably smooth for decades. And, of course, lifestyle matters too. Sun exposure, smoking, stress, sleep, skincare and even your individual anatomy all influence how your skin ages.
That's why two people of exactly the same age can have completely different treatment plans. The goal should never be to reach a particular milestone and automatically book Botox. Instead, it should be about understanding what your skin needs today and choosing treatments that support it appropriately.
While a personalised approach always wins
If there is one takeaway from all of this, it’s that Botox should never be approached with a one-size-fits-all mindset. The best treatment plan will evolve with your face, adapting to changes in your skin, your muscles, and even your lifestyle. The number of units, treatment areas, and frequency of appointments that suited you when you were 28 may look completely different when you are 38 or 48, and that’s exactly how it should be.
That's why two people of exactly the same age can have completely different treatment plans. The goal should never be to reach a particular milestone and automatically book Botox. Instead, it should be about understanding what your skin needs today and choosing treatments that support it appropriately.
Botox®, Prescription Medicine. For the treatment of frown lines and crow’s feet round the eyes.Botox® has risks and benefits. Ask your doctor if Botox is right for you. Botulinum toxin type A 50, 100, 200 Units.For product information check with your doctor or Consumer Medicine Information on www.medsafe.govt.nz Click for further details. Allergan, Auckland.
Xeomin® (incobotulinum toxin ) Prescription Medicine for the treatment of upper facial lines: glabellar frown lines, crow’s feet round the eyes, horizontal forehead lines. Xeomin has risks and benefits. Ask your doctor if Xeomin is right for you (incobotulinum toxin A, purified Botulinum toxin type A 50 Units and 100 Units. For product information check with your doctor or Consumer Medicine Information on www.medsafe.govt.nz . Click for further details. Merz, Sydney. Distributed by Healthcare Logistics, Auckland
