The scene is as clear as day.
I was driving to my sister’s graduation, all dressed up of course. Think white deep V-neck with a cute mini & some pumps. I remember the whole thing like it was yesterday. My latest Spotify playlist was blasting from the car’s speakers & it was that time of day where the light shines directly in your face. Around 5 PM-ish I think.
As I was driving along, I casually glanced up at the rearview mirror. & there it was, NO DENYING IT GUYS, a total number 11. That’s right, smack between my eyebrows. The eleven was there. I wasn’t being crazy. & light? Let’s just say it was very much intensifying the situc.
Hmmmmm, I thought. That’s annoying.
95% percent of girls are overly critical of themselves. Including me. We could all be a little kinder to ourselves. But the point is I’m no different from you, & the deep-set 11 bugged me.
But I figured I was young & to leave it for a while.
Well, after a year the 11 BUGGEDDDDDDD. Bugged a lot.
So I did what I love best: research.
I asked everyone with credibility about BOTOX.
SHOULD I? SHOULDN’T I? PROS? CONS? DOES IT HURT? I HATE NEEDLES. DON’T WANT IT IN MY FACE, YOU KNOW? BUT I’M CURIOUS. DOES IT WORK? IS IT PREVENTATIVE?
So I said ‘what the fuck’ & went for it.
Yup, I got Botox.
( Let’s also keep in mind this was a few years ago, so I was definitely more carefree… ).
BUT WAIT, hold on. You should know, the reason I’m doing this post is because a lot of you have asked about my thoughts on Botox.
…& the blogger I strive to be everyday is someone who’s an open book.
Sometimes it’s very scary but fortunately it’s more important to me to be transparent…which why I’ve shared intimate details about my boob job, birth control situation, & INTENSE jaw surgery ( jaw surgery being the most traumatic ).
The Skinny Confidential is a community of women. Women who are sharing wellness tips, tricks, advice, mistakes, experience, stories, etc. So yes, a Botox post makes perfect sense. It’s something that A LOT of women are doing…& a lot of them are not talking about it.
Side note: to be entirely clear, the open book part is more about things I’ve experience by myself…like Botox. There are a lot of things I DON’T SHARE on here but here’s why: most of those intimate, private details, involve other people. Those are not my stories to tell.
This however, BOTOX, is something I’ve experienced on my own so I’m going to simply share the pro’s, the cons, the good, the bad, the ugly…the truth.
I’m not telling anyone to get Botox.
In fact, I will never tell you do anything.
The Skinny Confidential showcases different opinions & it’s important to only pull what will work for YOU & YOUR LIFE. I am not you & you are not me. I may kind of like Botox & certainly shouldn’t sway your opinion either way.
Take my opinion as an opinion. Because that’s what it is. I do me, you do you!! That’s what makes life beautiful. If we were all the same, it’d be a real snore.
OK BOTOX. LET’S DISCUSS.
Back to me actually GETTING Botox. So about three years ago I found a doctor who was highly recommended, talked with her, & went in to give it a test.
The real reason I decided to pull the trigger was not just because of Mr. Eleven…the reason was: it’s preventative. Meaning that the 11 wouldn’t continue to get deeper, making the wrinkle worse. If you know me, you know I’m ALL ABOUT PREVENTION. Sunscreen is being one of the most preventative things I do on a daily basis.
So yes, the prevention thing is what sold me. I mean I definitely didn’t ( & don’t ) want the 11 getting deeper. Who would?
Before committing to an appointment I tried Frownies, creams, facial massage, massive amount of water, & collagen masks. Didn’t work. Old 11 was still hanging out.
( For the record, I’ve never been a smoker. Cigarettes just aren’t my thing! ).
WHAT IT IS:
Botulinum toxin type A, the popular neurotoxin that, when injected in the face, will reduce muscle movement & improve the appearance of wrinkles.
COST:
For the area I chose, it was like $200 bucks. Prices vary depending the area you choose.
WHAT I EXPECTED:
Needles.
I hate needles. Really, I have a condition called ‘Vasovagal syncope.’ It happens when you faint because your body overreacts to certain triggers. Needles is mine.
Every time there’s a needle I need to eat a banana before, lay down while the needle is administered, AND I have to lay there for 5 minutes after the process.
The needle for this was so small & not as bad as I thought…primarily because my eyes were closed the entire time.
WHAT IT’S ACTUALLY LIKE:
I went into the doctor & she told me lay down ( HELLO FEAR OF NEEDLES ). Then she whipped out a mirror & had me show her what I didn’t like. She agreed that the 11 would be better off with a little Botox AND it would prevent it from getting deeper. She asked if I wanted a numbing cream, I declined because I don’t mind a little pain, I JUST MIND NEEDLES.
After that she got the needles ready ( my eyes were closed ) & she did four injections in like 1 minute. Quick, easy, painless, didn’t see the needle. It feels like a more intense eyebrow pluck.
& then I was done.
Every time I’ve had it since, it’s been the same story. Quick.
I don’t do it for anyone other than myself.
The Aftermath:
Since the whole Botox experience, I’ve gotten it once a year ( sometimes twice, depending how long it takes to wear off ). BUT I stopped for a year in 2015 because I couldn’t touch my face for year after jaw surgery. Jaw surgery was literally the gnarliest thing ever & I wanted NO needles towards my face, remember? It’s been a year since surgery ( June 16th ) & I finally pulled the trigger and got my Botox done a few weeks ago. I haven’t gotten it anywhere other than between my eyebrows.
Here’s why: don’t want to get into the forehead, I don’t really have fine lines there yet. Would never touch my eyes. There’s something weird about eyes. & lastly, I would NEVER recommend getting Botox by smile lines because you want to smile & Botox would paralyze the muscles. A girlfriend of mine did this & she HATED it. So for now, it goes between my eyes that’s it.
After Botox it’s important to NOT exercise, bend over, or lie down all day. They say four hours, but I always wait all day. Supposedly it will last three to four months. For me, it has lasted up to 9 months. Obviously avoid Botox if you’re pregnant.
As far as bruising, ONE time I got the tiniest bruise in the world that disappeared the next day.
One big pro: it kind of opens your face. I can’t explain it. But getting it between my eyes has opened my face a little which is a tiny plus.
Con: HUGE CON. The shit in Botox is just an overall con. Again, I don’t recommend anyone get Botox unless you’ve done extensive research. This is just my experience. Take it with a grain of salt.
Ultimately, my forehead feels smoother & there’s no more 11. Getting rid of the 11 has even helped any forehead wrinkles calm down because it’s trained my forehead not to move as much.
Prevention at its finest.
♡ | ♡ | ♡ | ♡ | ♡
Oh & again, I’m all for all-natural remedies. BUT I do try a lot of things that are NOT all-natural too. Some of you guys point out that there are chemicals in my makeup, sunscreen & hair products. Here’s the thing: I use chemicals. In fact, I’ve never claimed I don’t use chemicals. I just TRY to avoid them where I can but sometimes life happens ( like…you get a boob job at 19! HA ). As I’ve always said, I balance my products/food/drinks like a checkbook. I pick my battles.
You can read more about my thought process here.
Dr. Kenneth Arndt, a dermatologist & an adjunct professor of surgery at Dartmouth Medical School states: “it’s been clearly shown for a long time that frown lines, forehead furrows and crows’ feet are due to repetitive folding of skin from normal expressions.”
Arndt says many people in their 40s, 50s and 60s attempt to fix these wrinkles and folds once they’ve developed. But by injecting earlier, people can keep them from ever happening.
“If you slow down the use of these muscles beginning early in adult life, the lines never develop,” he says. “Rather than going backward and fixing something that’s there, you can inhibit it from starting in the first place” ( via ).
There’s a lot of doctors that hate Botox too. Many doctors say to simply stay out of the sun, drink a lot of water, exercise, & eat a lot of greens to preserve youth. I do all of these things too obviously. Many doctors say “if you’re going to spend money, spend it on sunscreen.”
I could get on board with this opinion too…if it weren’t for Mr. 11. Everyone is different, it’s kind of a case by case thing I think.
Another opinion: my girl’s over at Lunchpails & Lipstick ( cutest mommy bloggers in their mid-thirties ) said “I wish I would have started Botox in my 20’s. Why is Botox so taboo? Doctors say it is the ultimate aging preventative and I believe them! I wonder if it would have made a difference. Maybe I should just learn to age gracefully without worrying about it. Nope! I know that won’t happen, so bring on the lasers, Botox, & products!”
YES, WHY IS BOTOX SO TABOO?
Can’t we just all talk about it? Let’s talk about taboo shit. Let’s go there. A lot of women feel the need to lie. Why lie? I am very good with the decisions I have made for MYSELF. I’m not ashamed. I made them fully informed & was well research. Getting a boob job & using Botox once a year are entirely my decisions. & I stand by the decisions.
I’m just calling it how it is.
Instead of the whole hush-hush bullshit, let’s compare notes!!
Since we’re on the topic, I’m thinking about doing a boob job follow-up post because there’s been a lot more questions— thoughts?
OK, ready, set, go: what are you specific questions about Botox? Very happy to answer below.
As always, you guys are amazing. The Skinny Confidential is a total safe space to discuss 2016 realness. Thanks for continuing to cultivate an honest, non-judgemental space. YOU ROCK.
– lauryn x
Less Invasive Recommendations For Wrinkles:
The post Correct, I’ve Tried Botox. Let’s Discuss. appeared first on The Skinny Confidential.
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