If you’d ask me at 30 if I’d ever get botox, I would have said a resounding NO. Why would I want to put a toxin in my face? I like my face. The older I get, the more I realize I should never say never. I personally think women (and men) should be comfortable talking about their choice whether to do cosmetic procedures, so I wanted to share my before and after botox experience with you.

Why I Decided to Try Botox

At 37, I finally decided to try botox, and I’m so glad I did. Now that I’ve seen the difference, I’m not turning back. The reason I decided to finally try botox is that I noticed my forehead wrinkles were deeper than I remembered. In my 20s, I liked those forehead lines. I thought they were interesting. In my late 30s, I thought they made me look old. I also never had the 11 lines – those deep lines in between your eyes. Then, suddenly around 37, I noticed I had the very small start of a 1. Who wants to look like they are consistently frowning?

One random spring day in Boston, I was chatting with my hairdresser. She told me she’d just gotten botox and showed me her before and after botox photos. Seeing her results sold me on the spot. She looked so much younger, so much fresher. I immediately asked her for the name of her injector and asked her for all of the info she had on her botox experience.

Later that day, I spent quite a bit of time researching botox and looking at before and after botox results to see if it was worth it. The cost is relatively high since you have to get injections every 3-5 months. Despite the price, I decided I’d give it a try once to see what I thought.

Choosing a Provider

I personally think word of mouth is the best way to choose an injector or medical provider. It is so hard to know if places are safe and if the technicians are qualified. You can read reviews online, but a lot of times, those are staged responses. It can be really hard to know who’s qualified and who isn’t. I trusted my stylist, so I felt more confident that I could trust her provider too.

Where to Get Botox

The first time I got botox, I only got it in my forehead and in between my eyebrows. Initially, I wanted to try it subtly to see what I thought. To be honest, I hated the botox at first. It felt so odd not to be able to raise my eyebrows or forehead. It also looked a little odd at first, as some parts of my forehead froze and others didn’t. But you can’t look at your results until after 2 weeks. The very first time you get botox, it takes a while for it to kick in. On subsequent trips, it will kick in faster, at least in my experience.

After two weeks, I went back to my provider and she added a bit more botox in my forehead to get rid of some pesky wrinkles right above my eyebrows.

About four months later, I went back to see her and got more botox in my forehead and between my eyes. I also asked her to do my crows feet. I’d noticed they were more apparent now that I was getting botox in my forehead. The last time I got botox, I also added a bit to my bunny lines – those lines on your nose when you scrunch your nose.

Before and After Botox

I’m honestly hooked. I think my skin looks so much better and I look substantially younger with botox. People regularly comment on my skin. I’ve always had pretty clear and smooth skin. I don’t have a lot of deep lines, I never did. I tend to have more issues with hyperpigmentation (brown spots, freckles and sunspots) than I do with fine lines. However, even in my late 30s, botox is preventative for me. I don’t want to start seeing super deep lines and who doesn’t want to look younger?

It is a little crazy that so many women are getting botox in their late teens and 20s. I personally think that’s overkill. I didn’t even consider getting it until my late 30s, when I did start to see visible aging. However, as I said before, cosmetic procedures are a personal choice, and we should not judge people for what they choose to do or not do, to their bodies.

My Favorite Botox Provider in Los Angeles

When I first moved to LA, I was a bit concerned about who I should see. Since I still travel back and forth to Boston, I actually visited my old provider when I was in town. However, it is not very realistic to keep flying to Boston for injections. When SkinFX Medical Spa reached out to me on Instagram, I thought it would be worth a visit and conversation.

Although Pasadena is a bit of a hike for me, I scheduled an appointment to see Anjela for underarm laser treatment and also botox. When I arrived at their office, I was welcomed by a gorgeous and friendly lady. She talked through both processes with me and we decided on a course of botox. She also described the underarm treatment and how many laser treatments I’d need for optimal results.

I’m not shy when it comes to needles. I’m used to them by now. Angela had such a soft touch and the botox didn’t hurt at all. Within a week, I could already see the results and now a month later, I’m so happy with my results. She is a true professional, and my skin looks great! Angela was the first person to inject bunny lines for me and I am glad I tried it. I’m really thrilled with my results and I will definitely be back to see Anjela every couple months. She’s also doing a series of laser treatments for me, so I”ll blog about that another time!

Does Botox Hurt?

No, not in my opinion. But, I do think I have a pretty high pain tolerance. For me, it feels like tiny pinches. It doesn’t hurt very much. A bikini wax hurts a heck of a lot more to me than getting botox injections.

Will You Look Weird?

In my experience, no. BUT, it really depends on your injector. You should not have any weird lines, droopiness, or crookedness to your face. If you do, then your injector either didn’t use enough or didn’t inject it in the right place. That’s why I’m such a proponent of finding quality providers through word of mouth. I really do think it’s the best way to make sure you find someone who will take good care of you.

Overall, I’m so happy with my botox results. It makes me feel more confident in my appearance and also makes me feel younger and fresher. It’s definitely something I’ll keep doing for as long as I think it serves me. If you have any questions about my before and after botox experience, feel free to message me or connect with me on social media!

SkinFX provided my botox treatment in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.