Botox
Moms View Message Board: General Discussion: Archive August 2006:
Botox
I don't want this to be a debate...please.
I am thinking about getting this done. I have an appointment on August 1st to get a consultation. I am also going to talk to the doctor about a few other procedures I want done.
Have any of you tried Botox?
If I had the extra money, I would definitely get a few things done. I'm not sure I would go the Botox way, micro-dermabrasion is mostly what I would try. Looking at your picture in your profile, I wouldn't think you'd want it. You are very pretty.
Botox isn't something I've had done but I will admit (anonymously, lol) that I've had two other plastic surgeries done (breast lift and tummy tuck) and I don't regret either of them. Research, research, research the procedure, the doctor and the side-effects before doing anything is my advice. Botox is so non-invasive and short-lived that I hardly think of it as cosmetic surgery at all. But ditto Sandy. You're so cute as is, Andi, that I'm surprised you're looking into it!
Never had it but if you *do* decide to do it, let me know how you like the results!!!
If it were me, I'd do a lot of research. You are contemplating having a very toxic substance injected into your body - a neurotoxin.
I understand the rationale, and I understand that thousands and probably tens of thousand of people have had the procedure with no ill effects. Still ...
And one thing I'd definitely do is ask this doctor how many times s/he performs the procedure in a month. If you are going to do this, you definitely want a specialist who has done this thousands of times. You also want to know what kinds of procedures, equipment, etc. the doctor has on site and/or immediately available if there is a problem.
I am not at a point yet for Botox, but I would definitely consider it. There are a couple procedures I'd have done, (tummy tuck, breast augmentation) with proper research and the right doc. Good luck, and let us know how it goes!!
Thank you guys! Of course I only try to post the "good" pictures of myself. If I posted the ones where you could see all my wrinkles and flaws what fun would that be. LOL
The doctor I am going to see has an office in Long Beach and Beverly Hills. He is great at what he does and my husbands best friend's wife works at the office. She has had a few things done from him and is very happy with the results. I will look at before and after pictures and I am still doing research.
I am planning on getting the Botox in August and I am going to talk to him a about getting a Brow Lift, Breast Augmentation and a Tummy Tuck at some point down the road. I have stretch marks all over my tummy and they bother me so much. No matter how flat I get it (and it's far from flat) I will always have those stretch marks.
As for the Brow lift I will see what the Botox does for wrinkles and take it from there.
And finally I have Spider Veins all over my legs and I want to get those removed as well, but his office doesn't do that. Now that I am done having kids I am ready to reclaim my body and I want to start looking my age. I feel like I look so much older than I am.
We shall see. I will keep you posted and let you know what I think of the Botox if I get it done. I may chicken out at the last minute.
I say go for it! Everything has a risk, make sure you do your research, and take before and afters, because I do live real close to Long Beach...LOL
Actually, I want to know how to fade the brown spots that are slowly appearing on the side of my face by my temples..LOL They drive me crazy, and make me feel old!!! ~
I just saw a dermatologist for a little brown spot on my face. I was worried it was cancer. He said it's an age spot and I just about DIED!! I started Retin-A on July 1st and that is going to help with the age spot and fine lines.
e-mail me if you want the info on the doctor I am seeing in Long Beach.
I won't do botox just because I don't want botulism injected in me to prevent what is eventually going to happen.
However, isn't it funny (not that funny), the things that happen as you age that no one warned you about..we all know about wrinkles..but brow sagging? pores get bigger, my hairdresser told me I am slowly becoming a "natural platinum blonde" I am just thankful I have worn sunscreen every single day on my face since I was a teen..the first anniversary of my 39th bday comes next month...so this is a big thing on my mind.
My sister had Botox,and instead of removing her wrinkles,it went straight to the TOP OF HER HEAD !!Her head is horribly numb,and she has been miserable for months now.She also had eye lid surgery;a brow lift ,and I think a face lift.She looks HORRIBLE !! Her eyes are opened too large,and the skin on the bottom is stretched too tight,which gives her a strange look.And ,parts of her upper face is smooth,and the other parts are wrinkled (from the mis-alignment of the Botox).But...there's more...she has always been a hateful,gripeing,hateful mouth person.She had terrible mood swings; one day she would be a lot of fun to be around,and the next she would be very difficult to be around.Her own children would go months without seeing her;I only saw her when I ran into her at the local stores.So,right after her surgeries,she finally went to see a Dr.about her emotional problems.Her put her on an anti-depressant( I can't remember which)and,MY GOSH she has changed!!!! She SMILES all the time,talks positive most of the time...and is soooo much fun to be around!!! She sends me NICE emails from work,telling me she's sorry if she has hurt my feelings...It's unreal!! But the irony of it is,even though I love being able to be around her now,her looks are so different and she is so NICE ,I'm having trouble adjusting to my "new" sister.But,it's a good trouble and I'll definately ADJUST !!Tee-Hee !!!!!
Also,I have been using a great product for my "age " spots. It's called 'Cheri-Mins' ,and it's organic minerals.It actually has many benefits,such as weight loss,but my spots are very much lighter .And according to other users,they will go away completely.A friend of mine has lost 45+ lbs in about 8 months ,and has made very few changes to her diet.Her dh has lost over 70. If you want more info,you can email me at rlk wlk @ hot mail .com
I am the odd guy here, I guess, but my age (58) probably has something to do with it. Andi, you are my DD's age, and ever since she had the baby eighteen months ago, she is finding fault with her looks, body etc. She is a beautiful girl, even if she wasn't mine, and I can see nothing wrong with her face or body.
While I will concede that grandmas don't look like they did when I was a kid (I USED to think that 58 was ANCIENT), I see nothing wrong with aging gracefully. My hair is 50/50 grey/light brown. I don't colour it. I only started wearing sunscreen on my face about ten years ago (we were the 'baby oil on the beach' generation). I am pleasingly (or not) plump, more so since menopause. I've done the dieting thing, but the fat always came back, so I've decided that life is too short not to eat what I like. I DO wear make-up and keep my hair nice, and in good condition. It is shoulder length, but I wear it up most of the time. As Collette profoundly said, the changes happen eventually anyway. I like to think that my wrinkles and age spots denote wisdom that has come through the hard knocks of life. My DH is VERY grey, and his face is creased, too. He resembles President George W Bush A LOT! (Take THAT for what it's worth! ) He also has a huge scar down his chest, and one on his right thigh from coronary by-pass surgery. He has a lump on the front of his shoulder, where his pacemaker is. I look at his body, and I'm just grateful that he is still here with me. Besides, his scars match my stretch marks. LOL!
I agree with the others. You are a very pretty girl. However, you also live in California, where I know that the pressure to be thin and beautiful is very strong. I worked for a dermatologist years ago ( I have worked at LOTS of different jobs and professions. I know a LITTLE about a LOT of things). He did Botox and collagen injections. They are pretty harmless. The botulism toxin is such a minute amount that it is pretty safe. However, as previously stated, do your homework on the doc. Botox works by paralyzing the facial muscles that cause creasing. It can leave some with a "zombie" look. Some of the Hollywood stars, especially the older ones, (Carol Burnett, Mary Tyler Moore and Joan Rivers come to mind) look HIDEOUS, in my opinion. Their faces are so stretched.
YOU have to wear your face, so you have to do what makes YOU feel good about yourself.
Sometimes when I'm looking in the mirror, I put my hands next to my hairline and pull up, and can see what a facelift would do - and a necklift would do wonders too (I'm 67).
But, my dil's mother, whose oldest son is in his early 40s, started dating a man who was then 44 a couple of years ago, and about 9 months after they started dating she had a face lift. They got married about 9 months ago. Last weekend when I was visiting my beautiful granddaughter, my dil got a call from her mom. Mom and hubby had left for a vacation early Sunday morning. At 4:30, the vacation was over, mom was heading home, and left hubby to find his own way home. Not sure it's at all relevant, but I have often thought that he didn't marry her for her younger looks, and if the marriage lasts, it won't be because of her facelift.
And, Andi, I agree. You are very pretty. But, it is your face and you're the one wearing it, so you have to be able to like what you see in the mirror.
I assume you have talked with dh about your plans and he is supportive. That kind of surprise is really not a good thing.
As for the spider veins, that's a different story in my book. If I had them and I was a person who swam and wore (or wanted to wear) shorts a lot, I'd certainly do something about that. And I understand the tummy tuck.
I'd be very careful, though, about breast augmentation. Having worked for attorneys who did medical malpractice, I saw the cases that had bad results. And, I have been told that unless the right kind of inserts are used, the feeling is not natural to one's partner - definitely something to think about.
If $ were not an issue, I'd have my boobs done in a minute! I'm very small, and even smaller since having Natalie (which I didn't even know was possible!) I have a friend that had it done and she said she was a lot more sore than she anticipated, but has really been happy with the results overall.
For me, if money were not an issue I would do nothing. I am trying to be more and more comfortable with me as I get older. If I changed something I wouldn't be me! I hate the sun and wear sunscreen, I am getting age spots, oh well. I want to work to make my body fitter, better. I have done it in the past and will do it again. I enjoy watching the progression of fitness. For me it is just getting over the body pain hurdle to get to that point!
To each his own, but beware, because some treatments become addictive to your system and if you stop the results may end up worse than before.
Well DH and I have talked about this over the past few months. He totally supports the Botox but is not thrilled about the Brow Lift and Tummy Tuck. It's not the money that he has problems with, it's doing something he doesn't think I need.
As for the breast augmentation, he is supportive either way. Would love it if I did it and wouldn't care if I decided against it. I'm a big A small B so I am not to concerned about that. It's more the needing a tummy tuck and the wrinkles that bug me.
I swim a few times a week and work out in the gym 4-5 times a week. I think I take pretty good care of my body and try to stay fairly fit.
I guess I will just have to wait and see what comes of the appointment on the 1st. I am very excited about it and a bit nervous at the same time.
The Botox will have to be done every 3-5 months so that is a huge financial commitment and I don't know if I want to spend that kind of money every few months. If I got the Brow Lift that would be a one time fee and would last quite a few years.
Andi, you know I think you are beautiful, but I also understand that the way any one of us feels about our physical appearance has a LOT to do with how we feel about ourselves as a whole. That said, it's totally an individual choice to have any *cosmetic* procedure done, and I don't think anyone should be judged for doing - or NOT doing - it.
I was very fortunate, I got no stretch marks during my pregnancies; neither did Jules, her birth mom, my sister, or even my mom, so I think you are either pre-disposed to it genetically, or you aren't. But I know many women who DID get stretch marks, some worse than others, and I have a couple of friends who had either GBP surgery or the belly band operation, and they want to have the tummy tucks. I think I would support that in anyone who feels they want or need it.
As for the other stuff, it's your body. My youngest sister has always been big busted. 15-20 years ago she had a breast lift/reduction because her upper body frame is small as compared to her lower body frame, and the weight of her breasts was making her bras cut into her shoulders and causing neck and shoulder pain, and her breasts were developing a lot of stretch marks and sagging badly. I have often wished I had bigger breasts - since breastfeeding, my perky C cups have dwindled to barely B's, and this is TMI, but they sag. (And if my unintentional weight loss continues, I will very soon be an A.) Thank Goodness for Victorias Secret Very Sexy bra line! LOL However, if I didn't have so many other health issues, I think I would consider breast augmentation/breast lift surgery, because I want to like what I look like in a swim suit. Vanity is a terrible thing.
And at 50, I look in the mirror and the wrinkles and sagging eyelids, etc. are attacking with a vengeance. I have creases in my forehead and between my eyes now, and I'm developing my mother's *jowls*. I keep mentioning to DH that I want a brow lift, eye lift. I'm terrified of Botox, just because it IS a foreign substance going into your body, and like I said, with all the other health stuff, I don't want to risk more problems.
So, after saying all of that, if it will make you feel better about yourself, make you feel sexier and more attractive, then it's your body, go for it. I have to be honest though, if *I* were you, I think I'd do the most serious one first - that being the tummy tuck.
WOW - I just realized, I actually had time to sit down and make a normal post!!!!!!!!!! LOL
Karen, You are so sweet and I appreciate your honesty and the honesty of everyone else who posted.
I'm glad you finally had a chance to sit and post.
I just reread what I posted, and what I meant by doing the most serious one first, was just that - the tummy tuck, is the most serious procedure, and I think I'd want to get that big one over with and be done with it. LOL
Of course, I'd probably be tempted to do a smaller scale thing first, just to get *something* done!
Andi, I was listening to my tape of Chorus Line, and was reminded of a song you might appreciate - Dance Ten, Looks Three
Here's the link:
http://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/c/choruslinelyrics/dancetenlooksthreelyrics.html
LOL, that was pretty funny.
Oh, Andi...we should talk. LOL I so can relate.
Every 3-5 months? Really? If you could make it 5 months, then I guess that's not too bad. My only concern is what happens long term--do you get a build up of it in your system. I know with cortisone shots, you do, so that would be a question.
I have no words of wisdom--just research and do what is best for you. ((HUG))
BTW-We really need to catch up!!
Well I go to the doctor tomorrow morning to discuss Botox and a few other options. I'm still not sure if I'm going to do it, but I am really thinking about it.
Just thought I would catch you all up on the latest Andi drama. LOL
I will be waiting to hear all about it!!!!
Yes, I would like to hear about it too
Well my friend and I did the Botox! I'm still in shock that I actually did it. He said I won't see results for about 3-4 days but it should really help with all the fine lines around my eyes and above my brow.
To help with the deep wrinkles I need a Brow lift and I don't think I am ready for that....way to much money.
I will let you know in a couple days when the Botox really kicks in if I like the results.
Well..........you KNOW we will all want to see pictures, right?
Now how long will it be before you have to go again?
Karen, I will e-mail you a picture of the before and after once I see some results.
According to the doctor I should be good until mid November before needing more Botox. If I like the results then I will probably go back for more treatments since my Birthday is in Novemebr and we are going to Vegas.
Congrats! I hope you are pleased with the results!! Was it painful at all? Are you sore today?
I want too have several procedures done myself. ;)
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