The day I met botox was the start of a very consistent, yet expensive friendship. The first time I did botox was in my mid 30’s, I had found the name of someone who did botox from God knows where and set out to see what all the hype was about.  I knew I didn’t need it, but I heard that it was preventative and that was what motivated me because the thought of  looking 60 while I was in my 40’s was never what I had envisioned looking into the future.  Truth be told, I have no recollection of the first time, I just remember that I loved how I looked and I was hooked since that very first time.  In case you’re living on a deserted island and have no idea what botox is or what it does, I’ll be walking you through the process of the phenomenon which makes the average person look at least 5 years younger.

FDA approved under four name brands, Botox, Jeauveau, Xeomin and Dysport, cosmetic neurotoxins are used to paralyze the muscle underneath the skin to smooth out wrinkles and fine lines.  It’s typically injected in the frown lines, crows feet and can even lift the eyebrows a smidgen. It can even be injected into the lip giving it a slight “bee sting” pout, the possibilities are endless. Not only can cosmetic neurotoxins smooth fine lines, but it can also prevent new ones from forming due to the fact that face muscles aren’t able to move hundreds of times each day which is what causes the lines in the first place.  A miracle age eraser?  I would have to answer yes, and if you’re on the fence, hopefully I can push you over to the dark side!

For me, when looking for an injector, the best route is by word of mouth.  I know the Groupons look delicious with the promise of a great price but not all injectors are the same. In my experience, a cheaper Groupon price isn’t always the best option.  I find that some places tend to over dilute the product so it doesn’t last as long.  That said, I have been guilty of purchasing 20 units on a Groupon in the past and have had good luck with one of the places, however their regular price was at the higher end of the spectrum so I didn’t return as a regular patient after the purchase of the Groupon.  Your face isn’t something to mess around with so read reviews and do your research.  It’s also helpful to ask around if you like the way someone looks, most women are more than happy to share who they go to.

I got to my appointment, which wasn’t far because I work there and so I only had to walk 6 feet, and the doc asked me what my problem areas were.  “I want to look frozen” is normally my standard response.  I explained that I wanted my whole forehead treated, which includes the lines in between my eyes, as well as my crows feet and an eyebrow lift.  After he studied my face for a bit, he marked it up and got started.  My face was prepped with an alcohol swab to remove the dirt and makeup, then the poetic justice of pain before pleasure began.  I had a total of 19 injections, roughly 2-4 units each injection, my total units are usually around 38-45 units for what I like myself to look like.  

He started at the top portion of my forehead, moved down to the area above and in between my eyebrows and then did the crows feet and the lift last. 19 pokes later and he was done!  Yes, you read correctly, 19 pokes. It’s definitely not like being at the county fair carrying a balloon and some cotton candy while waiting in the ferris wheel line, but it wasn’t the most horrible thing in the world either.  I would say for someone who isn’t a fan of needles, it’s pretty tolerable and the pain level is about a 7.   I do tend to bleed from time to time so I felt a little dripping which was promptly wiped up.  That could be a little alarming if you’re not a fan of blood, but not everyone bleeds and sometimes I don’t bleed at all.  The worst part for me is the crunching noise it makes.  I’m not sure what causes it, I’ve read it could be from the needle penetrating the muscle or microscopic air bubbles but either way, it’s a little creepy when your forehead sounds like it’s being assaulted by tissue paper.

Even after all these years though, I still get a little bit of anxiety when I have a botox appointment, that’s completely normal. I know a lot of women who bring stress balls, friend’s hands to hold, mood music, or whatever else makes them comfortable getting through the process, but I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like it enough to suffer through it time and again.  The good news is, once they start injecting, it takes about a minute or two to finish so grab your stress ball or a friend to squeeze on to and imagine how fabulous you’ll look in about 14 days.   For me, I usually start to see some results quickly if I already have botox that’s not quite worn off yet, otherwise I can see a noticeable change in about a week, with the following week being even better.

Although this is in my top five of aging treatments, there are some downfalls.  My biggest complaint is that it only lasts 3 months.  I’m not sure what the issue is, I’m sure it’s got something to do with science and since I’m not a science person, I’ll just complain about it and get everyone riled up!  My rational brain tells me that if they can send a man to the moon, they should be able to invent botox that lasts longer than three months.  My logical  brain tells me that it probably has something to do with some stubborn molecule that can’t get it’s shit together, but either way it’s expensive and one day I’d like to retire so the only option here is have a botox fund or look old.

Since it only lasts 3 months at best, your only option to look consistent once you start is to get it frequently, which can become costly.  If you stay consistent, you’ll need it about 4 times a year, so let me break it down for you: an average person has about 20-24 units, and at about $10-14 per unit, this can set you back about $200-330 each treatment.  Botox is also great for functions where you need to look “fresh” making it great for people who don’t like to get it regularly.  Either way, once you discover the effects this has on your overall appearance, you’ll never go back!

A few things to note: if you have a function coming up or reason to need it, make sure you make your appointment 2 weeks prior to the event to allow for it to kick in.  Also, even though I’ve heard different things from different doctors over the years regarding exercising after having botox, I am going to go with don’t exercise for 24 hours after.  Lastly, if you find a good injector, don’t keep bouncing around from place to place when you find a cheaper price.  Not all injectors are created equally and it’s helpful to build a rapport with your injector so they can be honest if you need a little more or less in one area.

FYI:  I’ve included my treatment sheet for comparison because so many of us are unaware of how many units we really need.  My treatment sheet is pretty aggressive, most people fall below my total number of units, so I hope this is helpful in trying to assess if you’re getting overcharged for extra units that you might not need.  

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