Why & How I’m Going Down Swinging

If you don’t know by now, I am an open book type of person. I just wasn’t born to be private (holla at ya Lady Gaga!) I did take a long pause before sharing this blog post about getting botox and filler. Because after all, things live on the internet forever. However, I chose to share this with you all. Why? Because when I first started getting botox almost five years ago I wanted to learn as much about it as I could. I wanted to know where friends went, how much did they use and if they liked it? I wanted real life examples and experiences. And because I love you all, I’m sharing my story about my recent botox and filler injection experience.

Disclosure: I am not endorsing this for anyone nor suggesting anyone get facial injectables. I don’t get them to please anyone but my damn self. My husband is sweet and never suggested I needed some, nor has anyone else. To each his own.

Getting botox and filler is a personal choice I’ve made. I love it and will continue getting botox and filler because it makes ME happy!

I began getting botox when I turned 35. At that point I only got the tiniest bit to help with crows feet. I never touched my forehead with botox for years. I felt it looked too forced and that my natural lines weren’t harsh enough to make me want to smooth them.

Botox Experience

• Doctor offices either charge for botox by the area or by unit. For example, my dermatologist charges $400 for the forehead area only. However, my plastic surgeon charges $12/unit. So if you’re getting a little bit, then it’s obviously much more affordable to go to a place where you pay by unit. A unit is the percentage of the needle/solution that is used.
• As you start to use more botox (darn you aging) then it may make financial sense to pay for the area.
• If I recall (and it’s been awhile) I only got 8 units on each side when I first started. Obviously, I get more now!
• Whatever you decide, make sure you visit a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or Dermatologist. An aesthetician or licensed cosmetologist is not the same thing. I personally only trust my face with Board Certified doctors. Again, to each her own.
• The doctor will numb you with numbing cream around the areas you’ll be getting botox. This stays on for a 20 minutes.
• For visual use I asked him to mark where I would be getting the botox injected and how many units he was putting in.

Does Getting Botox Hurt?

• If you’re getting it done by someone who knows what they’re doing, it shouldn’t. You will feel a slight pinch but it’s not bothersome or painful.
• Also, don’t move. The last thing you want is your face wriggling around needles! So don’t be squirmy for goodness sakes!
• I don’t find it painful in the slightest. It doesn’t even hurt an hour after getting it. There’s so residual tightness or anything.
• Following the injection they’ll give you an icepack to use on and off throughout the day to minimize swelling.
• You also won’t be able to lay down for a few hours to ensure it doesn’t travel where you don’t want it to go! So no napping after getting botox!
• The rest of the rules can be shared with you by your doctor. I am not, so this is just my overlying experience with botox.

When does Botox Start Working?

• It takes around two weeks for botox to start smoothing out your wrinkles. When it kicks in, boy will you know! When it starts kicking in I start wondering what miracle eye cream I’ve used because man! My skin is glowing and youthful looking again! 🙂
• It lasts around three to four months. I go every four because I don’t mind letting some of the wrinkles come back, and it’s more cost effective.

All pictures were taken by me, or by Nurse in the office. I chose to not have these professionally photographed. All were only editedfor lighting correction. My goal was to show as close to real life as possible! Do it right, or don’t do it at all, right?

Fillers

I began getting fillers a few years ago. I did it to help with my undereye circles. I’m genetically predisposed to dark under eyes. Add three kids born in three years, a few sleep disorders and you have a recipe for circles that no concealer can match!

When I first started using filler it was injected into my cheekbone only. The goal was to give my cheek a lift to help push up the circles to diminish the hollow look. It worked fine and I liked how my face plumped out like it did in it’s youth.

I am almost 40 years old and time is catching up with me. Truly the only real fix is eye surgery but I will never have that done. That just isn’t for me.

So this time around he added filler both in my cheeks and in my under eye/trough area. I love the effect of this. I couldn’t be more pleased!

Types of Filler I Used

• Juvaderm Voluma was used in my cheekbone area. This is a lot of people’s go to filler because it’s made by the same company who makes Botox, Allergan. When you buy any Allergan product you accumulate points to cash in towards coupons or free Botox. So a lot of people choose it for this reason – plus, it works.
• However, my doctor felt like the Restalyn Defyne would suit my eye trough area best so he used that in combination with the Voluma.
• We discussed that this, after all, MY FACE, so points shmoints, let’s do it right.

The Filler Experience

• Much like botox, filler injections aren’t painful. However the needle does feel larger and a bit thicker going into the skin. It also has a weird sound where you can hear the filler being injected. Almost like a squirting sound. I admit, this part is strange. But I deal in the name of beauty!
• If you’re sensitive to pain, you will find filler more intense than a botox injection. But it’s not bad at all, for me.
• Be absolutely positive you have someone who has major experience with this. Ask for photos of past patients, interview them about their training and ongoing training. Go with your gut.
• After the filler is injected you’ll ice a well for the day.
• It will feel hard and almost angular in your skin for several days. It will progressively soften so it eventually feels like yummy, mushy youthful skin. So don’t panic if at first it looks like noticeable bumps!
• I did bruise a little bit but it was easily covered by makeup and was gone within five days. My husband didn’t notice even without my wearing makeup.
• Fillers last around a year. It is much more expensive but lasts longer.

Before and After Pics!

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Favorite Skincare Items!

What do you think? Too much, just right? Can’t tell? Think I’m crazy? Would love to hear what you think!Do you get my newsletter? As you see, I share it like it is. Join my crew and click here!

Read an updated post on Allergan Botox or one about how to start using Tretinoin!