Last summer, I got shot up with Botox.
And then, I did it again in December.
And, d’ya know what? I’ m going back again and my only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.
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Prior to my first Botox appointment, I’d spent the vast majority of my adult life believing I would never do it. In addition to my own misconceptions that it was insanely expensive (it’s not) and that it would make me look weird or unnatural (nope), I kinda thought the people who turned to things like Botox (or filler) were… fake.
About a year before that first appointment, my spouse had started playfully teasing me about my perma-frown. Whether I was looking at my phone, looking at my laptop, or watching TV, my brow was furrowed all the time. Eventually, the lines stopped disappearing when I relaxed my face. Yikes.
A few months before my appointment, I saw a photo of myself that stopped me. I looked… tired. I looked angry. I looked old. (And yes, I know – I’m my own worst critic.)
I began holding back big smiles and laughter on Zoom calls after seeing how wrinkly my face looked on camera. I stopped smiling my biggest smiles in photos. I wore big sunglasses all the time, thankful always that they’re chic and fashionable. I started researching creams and serums and masks and eventually, I realized that for the same price as all of those promising potions, I could try Botox. So I did.
Here’s what I learnt, courtesy of my amazing medical aesthetics nurse, Aundrea.
1. Botox is not permanent.
Just like with any medication, your body will metabolise Botox over time and its effects wear off. Each person has a different metabolic rate and so, each person will have different responses to treatment. For me, Botox begins to wear off after about 4.5 months. For others, it’s sooner.
2. Botox won’t change your face.
Looking for your face to have a totally different shape? Botox ain’t your answer. Botox essentially paralyses muscles temporarily. It can’t add volume like filler does, and it obviously can’t change your bone structure (you gotta go under the knife for that!).
3. You NEED to go to a professional.
Wanna dye your hair with box dye? Have at it. But injectables must, must, MUST be done by a medical aesthetics professional. Why? Welp. Firstly, you’re literally puncturing skin. That means there’s a risk of infection if your equipment wasn’t sterile. Plus, you could end up with bruising. Secondly, since Botox will paralyse the muscle into which it’s been injected, if it ends up in the wrong place you’re in trouble!
4. When administered regularly-ish, Botox is preventative.
The way Aundrea explained it to me was this: Even if you only have Botox administered once a year, you can help stop new wrinkles from forming. Why? Because many wrinkles – like crows feet and 11s lines (frown) – become deeper over time due to the repetitive movement in our faces. By disabling the muscles from creating the furrows multiple times a day, you keep those furrows from settling in.
When I first had my Botox done, I told only one or two friends because I was afraid I’d be judged. I wasn’t sorry I’d done it, but I didn’t want to deal with the judgyness or snarky remarks from people about my vanity.
(And yes, I am vain. Deal with it.)
As I gradually began telling people, more and more friends confessed that they’d either had it or wanted it! In addition to smoothing out the start of my wrinkles, getting Botox helped me generally feel more confident. I wear less makeup. It also made me more conscious of how I’m caring for my skin: I wear more sunscreen. I drink more water. I want my investment to pay-off.
If you’re thinking about Botox (or any medical aesthetics) I highly recommend you reach out to Aundrea for a free consultation!
P.S. This is NOT a sponsored post.
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