I admit it. I use Botox.
For a long time, I struggled with the decision to use Botox. I mostly worried that it was a frivolous, vain thing to do. I should love and accept my body just the way it is. The problem is that I couldn’t do that. I found myself analyzing every face I encountered to see if their frown lines were more or less pronounced than mine. I hated how I looked grumpy and mad all the time, even when I wasn’t. No amount of exercise will get rid of frown lines. I hated them so much, that I had to get rid of them. Botox was the best choice for me.
Isn’t Botox expensive?
Yes, Botox can cost several hundred dollars, depending on the number of injections you require. I was reluctant to spend that much money on a beauty treatment. My overall beauty costs are fairly low, though, so I eventually felt justified to spend the money on Botox treatments. For example, I wear minimal amounts of makeup and I paint my own nails at home rather than get manicures at a salon. I also forgo coloring my hair (mostly out of laziness). My husband cuts my hair at home after I decided that my long curls would hide any imperfections in his technique. I refuse to feel guilty about spending money on Botox when I save so much on my hair, makeup, and nails.
Aren’t the injections painful?
The injections were a huge stumbling block for me. I hate needles. In fact, I didn’t work up the courage to pierce my ears until I was 16 years old. I also had two natural childbirths because I am too terrified of needles to get an epidural. Needless to say, I had to work up the courage to get Botox injections. I figured that if I could handle childbirth, I could also handle injections. Luckily, my doctor applies a numbing cream before the injections. Also, the needles are tiny and don’t need to go very deep. If I can handle the injections, I’m sure anyone can!
What about the side effects?
As with any drug, there is a risk of side effects. That is something that everyone needs to take into consideration before receiving treatment. Luckily, I have only experienced minimal side effects. The first time I received Botox injections, I got a headache the next day. Apparently, I frowned a lot more than I realized. I kept trying to frown even though my muscles wouldn’t allow it to happen anymore. Not surprisingly, this caused a headache. I also experienced some minor bruising around the injection sites. After a couple days, the bruising disappeared.
Your doctor will discuss potential side effects at your first appointment. There are also some medications that don’t interact well with Botox, so bring your medication list to your appointment. The effects of Botox on pregnant or breastfeeding mothers haven’t been studied, so it’s best to wait until after you are no longer pregnant or breastfeeding to receive this treatment.
What happens after treatment?
There are a few rules to follow after receiving Botox injections. First, you shouldn’t lay down for four hours after your appointment, so don’t take a nap afterwards or make an appointment too late in the evening. Also, avoid exercising for 24 hours after your appointment. Both of these actions could lessen the effect of the treatment. It also takes up to a week for the full effects of the treatment to appear. Don’t expect an immediate result! Unfortunately, the effects of Botox treatments are only temporary. Your frown lines will gradually return after a few months. The time will vary for different people. Personally, I don’t mind having minor lines, so I generally wait to treat them until they are so bad that they drive me nuts. This generally amounts to treatments about twice a year.
What beauty treatments do you splurge on? Would you try Botox?
