Little Magazine 26
Let’s talk about TOX, baby. Let’s talk about You and B—as in botox!
Whether you’re
a veteran when it comes to the ‘tox or a total newb, let’s chat about some of the basics and whether or not it’s for you. I often get asked by clients what the difference is between Botox and Filler, indicating to me that there are a lot of well-educated people that don’t know much about the world of Aesthetics. I get it! It’s a lot. So let’s cover the BASICS here today. As y’all know, I am not a doctor and everything on here is just my personal opinion, so please consult a Doctor before committing to a procedure to see if it’s right for you!
Botox Definition: Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and related species. It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from axon endings at the neuromuscular junction, thus causing flaccid paralysis.
Aging
is not the enemy, IMHO. There is an inherent dignity to age that comes with the distinct, universal understanding that one has suffered and endured, and hopefully, learned with age. This is part of why we honor the elderly. Personally, I believe in trying to reflect outwardly the age that you feel inwardly. That is where Botox might come in handy. I feel like I need to qualify that my mom has not had any work done—except for her brows, of course, just within the last few years. So it is out of sheer curiosity, exposure to it, and the novelty of it that I dove into Botox, myself. There were also two case examples that I witnessed that convinced me that it was worth trying. I’ve been doing botox for about 3 years now. I started at 35.
We may never
have baby skin again, but I struggled with the Shar Pei-like forehead wrinkles that betrayed my otherwise youthful face, even in my twenties. I inherited my maternal grandfather’s heavy forehead. I was shocked to know that I had options, and that in fact—I was “late” to the game, when a friend told me in secrecy that she’d been getting botox since her early twenties! She looked twenty, to be fair. That was case one. Case two was a teacher who I’d gone to for training in my early years of PMU work. She looked fantastic for her age—she had a twenty-something year old daughter, and she was as busy as any New York Business woman might be, though she was in a remote suburban town in Florida. She just always looked refreshed—as if she’d just gotten back from vacation. I asked her how she managed to look so great (I, in comparison, looked quite haggard next to her). She blithely exclaimed “it’s the Botox!” without a shred of hesitation. I was sold. I wouldn’t have known had she not told me.
Most folks
seem to get Botox in the same areas: the “11’s,” the forehead, the crows feet around the eyes, and increasingly—in the jaw area. I do my forehead and jaws (FYI I’ve been told that some Dental insurance can cover it because of "TMJ”—or lockjaw). I tend to grind my teeth at night as well, so I found that botox substantially helped alleviate my sore jaw and my subsequent headaches. I’m not gonna lie—I got it primarily for aesthetic reasons—it substantially slimmed my face and gave it a “V-line” shape, but I was also impressed by how much it improved my physical comfort and nightly sleep as well.
From my experience, I’ve found that a trusted Doctor can administer the jawline. It’s pretty straight-forward from what I can see. The forehead, however, is a different story. I too often see poor botox done on the forehead, causing it to “drop,” and “furrow” the brows, elevating the arch. This not only makes my job difficult, but I find that it hinders the desired outcome of looking softer and lifted, IMHO. I only trust one person with my forehead—Dr. Libby Rhee approaches the forehead as a Master Puppeteer would create a believable, nuanced movement. Dr. James does my jaws.
RISKS.
What are the possible risks of using botox, though? Its effects are temporary, which was cause for me to try it out to begin with. What starts as convenient ends up being a nuisance, though, doesn’t it? Effects tend to last roughly 3-6 months or longer, depending on the amount, area, and individual. While it requires regular maintenance, there are some considerations to long-term use:
· Starting too soon may cause skin to appear thinner (this can be avoided by using sunscreen)
· A “wavy” uneven texture could appear (but can be reversed by changing up injection pattern)
· Studies have actually shown that regular treatments with the neurotoxin can enhance mood and fight depression
· Your muscles will adapt and cooperate with botox use: you become more aware of muscle engagement as the Botox effect wears off, and, muscles atrophy over time without use.
· After over 10 years of continued use, your chances of developing wrinkles will diminish even without continued use
I hope that was a helpful read! As all procedures go, please do your due diligence and ensure that you find the right Doctor to administer your ‘tox. It’s your face and we give a fox!
Tippy-tip: Nicole Kidman narrates you to sleep with her soothing voice through the Calm Docuseries on HBO if you’re not keen on listening to pre-election news as a prologue into your dream sequence.
I’ll see you next week, sure as bubble and squeak in your cheeks! -Renee :)