War on Wrinkles: Why I got Botox….
CONFESSION TIME. I did it already…a few months ago…I GOT BOTOX. Just in my forehead, for horizontal lines that were “hanging out” a little bit longer than I’d like at the end of the day. It’s funny, because I consider myself a pretty down-to-earth person and have never minded setting my emotional baggage out there for the world to see (I’m in a 12 step program…) if it will make me a better person….but it took me awhile to come clean here….But as much as I work on my outsides (uh, it’s kind of my JOB), I spend a lot of time working on my insides too.
I’d been curious about Botox ever since a couple of close girlfriends got it…they looked fantastic!! They still looked like themselves, just “relaxed” (rightly so, since the Botox paralyzes the muscles under the skin)….not the over-injected, tightly-pulled honeys we see in all the magazines and on the tube.
And it was one of those days…I was in my derm’s office for my horrible acne…had just worked a job a few days before and had the cash in my pocket (mine was about $250). Now, it’s not like I have extra money floating around the house to pay for vanity, but I work hard for what I’ve got…..and in the end, Botox was ALL ABOUT ME…it was something I did for MYSELF….I mean, in the big picture we have such little control over our lives…..kids, money, work, wieght (and even my acne for awhile before Dr. Turner)…BUT I can control those lines in my forehead.
A week afterwards, when Dr. Turner was touching it up we were talking about my lack of candor with some of my nearest and dearest about going “under the syringe” (which btw did not hurt in the slightest….) and I told her how it finally boiled down to control for me…..and she shocked me when she told me that after Hurricane Katrina sales of Botox in New Orleans sky-rocketed!!!! I’m telling you, after all that devistation….economic and emotional, even something as shallow and silly seeming as Botox helps!
But really, I am totally happy with my decision….it feels really great to wash your face every night knowing that it won’t change (at least for a few months) and not worry about how much deeper the lines got that day. I think the Botox gave my brows the tiniest hint of a lift and since she didn’t go down around my brows, my expressions aren’t hampered in the least bit.
In fact, even my mom didn’t notice…(I feel like a talkshow guest coming out on national television!)…which means it must look pretty natural…Only I can tell the difference (well my hairdressser did notice) which in the big picture of plastic surgery is FINE WITH ME….because when it boils down to it, that’s who I did if for, ME!
Be Beautiful (on the inside and out..)!!!
October 26th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
It takes a real woman to admit that she’s had botox. So many women claim that it is natural that it’s so hard for the rest of us to feel beautiful when all these beauties are “natural.” Thanks for being honest and open about it and not caring what other people think.
October 26th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Thanks Jaime…the actual results aren’t that huge but enough for me…..it’s one of those things……there’s always a fine line between “preserving” what you have and trying to “augment” it…….but bottom line, if it makes you feel good and you are “real” about it more power to ya I say!!!
October 29th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Well, I think you’re crazy. 1) you are not old enough to have any real wrinkles; 2) you have such a beautiful face. you are way too hard on yourself with all this talk about wrinkles, acne, etc. you just wait 6 more years, then you’ll be getting to look like a prune. i’m glad you like it……but $250 will buy me a new coach……..or a highlight……..haha…..so i guess it’s about the one material thing that we think will make us happy!!
October 30th, 2008 at 8:47 am
So true…..and I was bitching last night because they are coming back! Will I spend the 250 again? Not right now that’s for sure……..