Mirror, Mirror, Say It Ain’t So

At some point, it’s hard to ignore the vivid signs of aging you see in the mirror — little wrinkles around your eyes or lips, age spots, maybe some sagging skin. There used to be a few options for turning back the clock without going under the knife. But today, you can soften the effects of time on your face with many nonsurgical cosmetic procedures.

Wrinkle Remedies

If forehead creases are bringing you down, injections of botulinum toxin (Botox, Xeomin, and Newtox) can provide a temporary fix. They’re made with a purified version of the toxin from botulinum bacteria. In tiny doses, this toxin relaxes the clenched facial muscles that cause crow’s feet, frown lines, and the like. The shots take only a few minutes and cause little pain.

Before and After

These treatments usually take 3 to 7 days before you start to see results. You’ll notice smoother skin where you got the shots. As the muscles slowly are able to contract again, lines and wrinkles reappear. To keep them away, you’ll need injections every 3 to 6 months at first, and less often after that.