There’s no such thing as being young forever, but at least you could look like it.

Ageing tends to make people anxious. Fears such as not looking as attractive, desirable or healthy anymore creep in. You’d think that it’s people in their 30s and beyond who make appointments for Botox and dermal fillers to treat and prevent wrinkles, but it’s not only them. People in their 20s and sometimes even younger are choosing to have non-surgical procedures to keep their youthful looks.

This trend is called pre-juvenation; this is where someone prevents the signs of ageing before it even happens. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports that people between the ages of 20-29 accounted for 556,558 non-invasive procedures in 2013. Laser hair removal was the top performed procedure. After that, it’s Botox, microdermabrasion and soft tissue fillers that were the most sought out.

Developing lines and wrinkles is inevitable. But pre-juvenation is the concept of preventing these natural developments from forming in the first place. No doubt, this trend has gotten people divided. Some people think that pre-juvenation is totally fine and a good preventative measure.

For example, Dr. Kenneth Arndt published an article in JAMA Dermatology stating that it’s never too early to use Botox if a person wants to maintain a youthful appearance. Other people, surgeons included, believe pre-juvenation is unnecessary. They think young people shouldn’t be getting Botox before they even see wrinkles because it’s “overkill”.

Dr. Arndt says he doesn’t agree with treating children or teenagers, but he does say it’s reasonable to consider getting Botox treatments when people begin to feel bothered by things such as frown or forehead lines. His reasoning? “It’s easier and more effective to inhibit progression than come in 10 years later and take them away.”

Is pre-juvenation the only way to avoid wrinkles?

Of course, Botox and dermal fillers aren’t the only ways to maintain good, supple looking skin. How you take care of your skin and diet is important too. Wearing sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) is always stressed to keep your skin protected from sunspots or decrease your chances of developing skin cancer. It’s not only the summertime you should be wearing sunscreen—lather it on all year. Even though the sun’s not blaring through the sky in the winter, you can still get sun damaged skin especially if you do winter sports.  

Facial animation like frowning and smiling also influences wrinkle and line formation. Constant frowning can develop glabella lines, also known as the “11’s” between your eyebrows. If your skin’s been damaged by the sun, you have a higher chance of developing lines. Since sun damage breaks down the skin’s collagen and elastin, your skin thins out, making it difficult to maintain a smooth appearance. 

If the thought of wrinkles terrify you, know that there are plenty of preventative measures you can do. Whether it’s pre-juvenation treatments or maintaining a good skincare regime, you can keep those youthful looks if you really want to.