I always found it baffling that women would willingly inject toxins into their faces. Why not embrace the aging process, right? But then I hit the big 3-4. After snapping a selfie with my kids, I couldn’t ignore the deep wrinkle frowning back at me from the space between my brows.
Sure, I’d love to say I conducted a thorough investigation before deciding to inject my face with this ‘poison,’ but the truth is, I didn’t. During a routine check-up with my physician, I noticed a flyer for Dysport, a competitor to Botox. After a brief chat about life and family, I got curious.
The thought of paralyzing my face made me extremely nervous—after all, I have three kids who need to see when I’m mad! So, I left without scheduling an appointment. Yet, a few weeks later, I found myself dialing up the office, only to be hit again by the “Botox butterflies.” What if I ended up looking like a pumpkin? What if the doctor administered too much or too little? Would my coworkers figure it out? Would I become addicted to this and find myself on a never-ending path to cosmetic procedures? And, most crucially, how much pain was I about to endure?
The Day of the Injection
Appointment day arrived, and I was a bundle of nerves. I even took half a Xanax to calm my racing heart. I told my boss I was going to the doctor for a cough recheck (a little white lie) and headed to the clinic. In the waiting room, I tried to distract myself by scrolling through social media. But when my name was called, I couldn’t help but whisper to the nurse, “I’m here for stage whisper Botox.” She smiled and made me step on the scale regardless.
After asking if she had ever tried it (she had) and whether it hurt (it did), I felt a bit reassured. But when she left me alone to wait for Dr. Morgan, my heart pounded like a drum. After a brief wait, Dr. Morgan entered and spent about 15 minutes explaining the process—how it works by essentially freezing the muscles, where the injections would go (five spots: between my eyes and two on each side of my brow), and what I could expect (not much at first, but smooth skin in about 14 days).
Then came the moment: she prepared the syringe and asked if I was ready. I gripped the armrests like my life depended on it and held my breath. “Squint,” she instructed. I did, and the first injection occurred. Ladies, it hurt. Imagine a deep muscle flu shot, but in multiple areas of your face. The stinging followed as the medication was injected.
Fortunately, Dr. Morgan worked quickly. After a few commands to squint and raise my eyebrows, it was over in about 30 seconds—painful seconds, but only 30. She handed me a mirror and reminded me that it would take two weeks for everything to settle in. Immediately, I felt underwhelmed. The nurse was right: the numbing cream offered no relief. I left the office with a crippling headache.
That night, the headache was so bad that I told my husband (who had no clue about my Botox adventure) I needed to lie down while he handled the kids’ bedtime.
1 Day After Injection
The next morning, as the alarm blared, I hopped out of bed and raced to the bathroom mirror. Had my forehead transformed into the smooth canvas of my 20s overnight? Nope.
2 Days After Injection
The alarm rang again, and my first instinct was to check my face. It felt significantly stiffer, so I rushed to look in the mirror. The line between my eyes was already less pronounced. Putting on eye makeup proved tricky since I struggled to fully raise my eyebrows. The headache returned, and I Googled “Botox headache.” It appears that less than 2% of people experience ongoing headaches post-injection; I hoped I was just one of the lucky ones.
3 Days After Injection
Applying eye makeup was slightly easier today, but my forehead felt like it had cement running through it. I felt like my face was stuck in a perpetual state of surprise while watching TV with my husband, and that headache was relentless. I started to question my decision.
5 Days After Injection
I began to feel good about myself. My eyebrows had the slight arch that Dr. Morgan promised, and I felt a surge of confidence.
7 Days After Injection
I was still feeling great but worried that the smoothness in the center of my forehead was merely shifting my wrinkles to the sides. Thankfully, I still had enough movement to avoid looking like a frozen statue.
14 Days After Injection
I was genuinely pleased! The center of my forehead was smooth, and though some wrinkles had migrated, I appreciated having enough mobility to express myself. My kids can still tell when I’m upset, which was my main concern.
The Conclusion: Is Botox Worth It?
After several days for my face to adjust and for the Botox to take effect, I was thrilled with the results and plan to do it again. For those contemplating their first Botox journey, you might find it helpful to check out this post for some frequently asked questions about Botox.
FAQs for First-Time Botox Recipients
- Did it hurt? Yes, but the pain was brief—similar to a bee sting in your forehead.
- How much did it cost? Prices vary widely, typically ranging from $200 to $500. My session was $200.
- Where did you go for the procedure? I visited my doctor’s office, but dermatologists and some spas offer the service too. Be sure to research who can administer Botox in your area before attending any in-home Botox gatherings.
- Did you see a difference? Absolutely! It took a couple of days for my face to acclimate, but once it did, I felt and looked much better.
- Are you satisfied? Yes!
- Would you do it again? Definitely!
- Can you still move your forehead? Yes! I was concerned about looking overly stiff, but I still have the ability to express myself.
- How long will it last? Typically, results last 3 to 4 months, after which a touch-up is needed. Being budget-conscious, I plan to stretch this first round for as long as I can.
- What side effects did you experience? I’m not a medical professional, so consult an expert for concerns about side effects. For me, the only issue was a severe headache.
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In summary, my experience with Botox was a rollercoaster of emotions, but in the end, I was happy with the results and would consider it again.
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