So I did it, I got BOTOX. That’s right, my forehead needed some help.

If you’re reading this, then you are curious and may be considering Botox or maybe just want to know more about the experience. You’re in luck! One of my favorite things is to share what’s worked for me. I also want to take the hush-hush out of talking about Botox and give you the details- no bs.

With a background in the beauty industry, I always have been really up to speed on all things beauty- the latest laser, the latest cream or serum or eye cream promising to be the best. You name it, I tried it. It’s basically a prerequisite when you literally have people judging your appearance on a daily basis, so I was alway on it. When I first learned about Botox, I was excited about the benefits and quite honestly, I couldn’t wait to try it when I needed it.

Fast forward 10-12 years and I noticed something in my rear view mirror. I saw my makeup start to pool in-between my brows and it looked cakey… it didn’t make sense to me. Then I looked closer, and I saw it…. A NUMBER 11 was sitting in my makeup, between my brows. I scrunched my brows, and I noticed that this had gotten worse over the years and I knew it was time to take more preventative measures. I was going to get BOTOX!

I had to get this plan into action. I needed Botox before the number 11 required something drastic and this thing became very permanent. I’m all about as many preventative measures as possible.

 I started to do my research. I was curious how many units were used on average for someone my age, what I was looking for etc, but I also knew that I needed to keep an open mind because everyone is different and depending on how much Botox I wanted, the cost and outcome could vary widely.

I wanted a natural look. My goal was to look natural and fix the issue of the number 11. I wanted to avoid overdoing it and looking frozen and emotionless. I was also hoping to see if it was possible to get a bit of a lift on my eyes. My almond shaped eyes were starting to droop ever so slightly, becoming more and more noticeable and it was starting to bother me. I’ve heard of people getting an eye lift out of their Botox, so I put that on my list of questions to ask during my appointment.

Not sure what units are? At the end of this post is a “Know before you go” guide to answer those questions.

I decided to jump in and go for it and phoned a friend whose opinion I trust on the matter. I made an appointment and anxiously waited. I was a bit nervous, I didn’t know what to expect.

Then the day came, I was so excited! But also not sure how things were going to go. Would my face be frozen? Will it hurt? How much will this all cost? How much will I really need? Will I feel pressured into getting more than I feel comfortable with? I don’t want to look like Kim Kardashian when I cry! Will I bleed? Will I be swollen? What if something goes wrong. I HAD SO MANY QUESTIONS!

From the moment that I walked into my appointment, I knew it was the right decision. I felt empowered and light. I was doing something that was going to make a change and the idea of instant gratification was making me giddy.

The Consultation

I was told to make a frown and squint, so I squinted, frowned, and did all of the things to cause movement on my forehead and then I was given suggestions. She suggested 16 units for in-between my brows. I don’t have much movement anywhere else yet (THANK GOD), so this was her recommendation. She also explained where she would be injecting- four different spots, all between the brows AKA “the #11”. She also said that she could do four little spots across the top of my forehead to take away any movement above my brow to prevent forehead wrinkles and totally take away the very little movement I did have.

I opted to go for 11 units between my brows and not do the additional 4 on the upper part of my forehead because I wanted to see how I would do and the difference that would be made, and that’s what we did! I felt ZERO pressure to do anything that I was not certain about or clear about, so that was nice. With the 11 units she said that I would still have some movement and not be frozen, which is exactly what I wanted.

The Process

Once it was decided on what I wanted, she gave me an ice pack to numb my forehead. I’m not going to lie, I was a bit nervous. Then she explained it would feel like a pinch and I may bleed. So she started, and honestly, I didn’t feel much. It just felt like a little prick and it was all over in about two minutes. After each prick, she massaged the area for a moment, then went to the next spot. Obviously, it would take longer if you have a larger forehead, or need more units etc. But, IT WAS SO FAST!

What Surprised me about the experience and process?

I was surprised how fast and painless it was. I also expected to have little bumps on my forehead at the injection site, which can happen but didn’t happen to me. I was so happy, I swore I saw results right away, but she assured me it wasn’t the Botox, it was just the inflammation from having a needle poked into the skin. I was surprised to learn that it takes about 5-7 days to see the full results. I started to see real results after about 24 hours and I  continued to see more results each day until the 5 day mark. Each day, I just noticed less and less movement as well as a lift. My eyes overall, looked really well rested and the space between my brows looked significantly smoother with no number eleven!

What else surprised me about the experience was learning more about how preventative Botox really is. Botox can prevent wrinkles from getting so deep to the point that the wrinkle can no longer able to be smoothed out. It is common for people to start getting Botox in their mid twenties as a preventative measure, which really surprised me! My natural thought was later was better, but not in this case! Of course everyone has different genes and will get wrinkles at different stages of life depending on that as well as lifestyle.

Overall, I was extremely happy with my experience getting Botox and will definitely be continuing to use it as a preventative measure. I will do an update next time, take some before and afters and let you know how long Botox lasted for me.

I hope this helps to give you some insight on what getting Botox is really like. Have you gotten Botox? Do you have more questions? I want to know! Let me know all about it in the comments below! And of course, follow along on Instagram for my day-today chats about beauty!

XO,

Cristin

 

Botox know before you go

 

1. Make sure you go to a reputable person to get your Botox, ie, a Dermatologist or a Medspa. Read reviews, that’s what they are there for!
2. Units are the measurable amount of Botox that will be injected. Different areas may require more of less and your Dr. will talk about this in terms of units.
3. You may or may not have to pay for a consultation.
4. The cost can be anywhere from $8-$20 a unit, depending on where you live or where you go to get your Botox. You have to find someone you like and obviously a price range you are comfortable paying.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and interview the Dr. or nurse who is giving you injections. It’s your darn face!
6. This is probably the most important point, I would highly suggest to go more on the conservative side your first time you get Botox. That way you can really see how it works for you and you can have a better idea of what you’d like to do next time.
7. Botox is not a filler. It’s a drug that is used to numb facial muscles preventing lots of movement which prevents the wrinkle in your muscle from getting really deep.
8. Botox lasts 3-6 months, so you’re not married to it.
9.  Side effects are rare and the more research I did, it was explicitly stated that it is very safe.