We are living in the Botox Era. Botox has officially turned 20 years old. It has a record of unparalleled safety and efficacy during that time. It was originally approved by the FDA in 1989 for strabismus, an eye condition. It was approved for glabellar lines, the lines between the brows which form a vertical furrows sometimes called the number 11’s in 2002.
Botox is one of the key components which has changed the way facial rejuvenation has changed. Traditionally, patients would seek a facelift at age 50 and wait for their face to slowly descend. Now with Botox and facial fillers, patients are prolonging the time to surgery, and are looking better at unprecedented ages. A classic example of this is seen in Hollywood actors and actresses. Forty used to be the age when an actress was considered “old”. Now some of the most beautiful women on the planet are in their 40’s (Cindy Crawford, Hallie Berrie, Jennifer Aniston), 50’s (Michelle Pfieffer, Christie Brinkley, Kim Cattrell). Which is good news to all of us approaching our 40’s and 50’s.