Should it Be Normal to Get Botox (And Other Procedures) At 25?

Recently, there has been a trend for women in their early to mid-twenties to get more minimally-invasive plastic surgery, including lip filler, buccal fat removal, and botox. A mildly popular TikTok influencer in her early 30's popularized the idea of botox at 25 for me, specifically, after she proudly stated that she started filling her face with, "preventative botox" at the ripe old age of 25. While I saw many people in the comments of her video agreeing that they did this too or see no problem in doing this, I have to wonder if doing this is even necessary or maybe bordering on psychologically damaging.

According to Healthline, preventative botox costs between $400 to $700 per treatment. The article even quoted a board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Debra Jailman, who said, "If Botox is injected during the initial stages of fine lines, it will help to stop them in their tracks. The ideal candidate is someone who has begun to see faint lines. When you see those faint lines, you’re seeing a future wrinkle. Twenty-five would be a good age to start if you have a very expressive face and lines."

Well, after reading that quote I felt like it completely destroyed what I felt about preventative botox being bad for you, however, what does it say about our culture that we hate smile lines and crows feet on women as young as 25 that they need to pay sometimes a week's salary to temporarily freeze those lines?

I remember seeing a highly edited and filtered image of Jennifer Lopez she posted on her Instagram of her behind the scenes filming her movie Hustlers. E! News, People magazine, etc. all marveled at how young and amazing she looked for her age, and I couldn't believe that these "trusted" publications were pedaling a false narrative about aging and ignoring the blatant free internet tricks used to smooth any wrinkles or skin imperfections. But the thing is, if I point these discrepancies out, am I being judgmental of women? Do I look jealous? It's tricky grounds to be walking on and I sometimes miss how naive I was to those heavily filtered photos in thinking that was something the average person could achieve.

While getting older is indeed a privilege not extended to most, we have been trained to think we need to look a certain way in order to be accepted by men and the internet. As the weather has gotten colder, I've been staying inside and watching more and more movies. What I've noticed is that male actors are typically allowed to keep their deep and intense forehead and eye wrinkles, usually accompanied by a masculine personality and possibly a spray tan.

However, women often have a blurred effect or filter over their faces and a wrinkle or two may pop out when they are being extremely expressive, but other than that, aging for women just isn't allowed. They're supposed to look soft and angelic, not hardened and old. I've noticed in recent Kardashians episodes too that they have a constant sort of airbrushed filter on them at all times. It looks almost like they're in a fantasy world, because all of the people in that family are over the age of 25, so there would be not only the signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles but also moles and other sun damage on skin but it's just not there, and we accept it and keep watching (myself included).

So while I am not against getting cosmetic procedures or surgery, I think the new age approach we have had about body positivity should be extended to aging. Your 20's are a time of finding yourself, becoming comfortable in your skin, and yes, practicing healthy habits which should extend to skincare. Everyone has a right to choose what they do to their body, however plastic surgery has been linked to body dysmorphia and low self-esteem, and I think we all deserve better than thinking an injection can cure our deepest insecurities.

I am currently 25 years old, and have vowed to not get plastic surgery of any kind. But let's be real, people and opinions change, and you might one day catch me in a dermatologist's office at 50, inches away from a syringe maybe not because I want to, but because I can and the internet told me it's okay.