I would not categorize myself as a vain person. I have a healthy dose of confidence. When I look in the mirror each morning, I am generally pleased with my reflection. Except for this one wrinkle. Of course, I have more than this one wrinkle. I am way closer to my forties than my twenties. I see my laugh lines and smile lines in pictures and I think they are sweet reminders of the life I have lived. And then I notice the giant valley that permanently lines the middle of my forehead and it makes me question everything. You see my mother did not stress to me the importance of good skincare. I remember her applying face masks and using moisturizing creams, but I don’t remember ever talking about why she would apply wrinkle-reducing under-eye cream before bed.
All in all, my skin has been pretty good to me.
I never had issues with acne, so my skincare routine basically consisted of washing my face with soap and when it got too dry… lathering on a moisturizer. I am always careful about wearing sunscreen, but I also spend as many hours in the sunlight as I possibly can. It’s good for my soul, but it has taken a toll on my skin. So, back to me questioning everything. This one wrinkle is wreaking havoc on my confidence. I am at a stage in my life that I am now considering Botox. My Instagram feed is also not helping the situation. I follow fashion bloggers that are in their early twenties that openly discuss and {gasp} include their Botox appointments in their stories!
Maybe I am a bit old-fashioned, but I always thought that these types of procedures were typically kept quiet. These bloggers are just babies with perfect skin! Comparison is the thief of joy, am I right?
Educating myself about Botox has been a struggle.
Educating myself about Botox has been a struggle. I don’t want to offend people by asking them if they have ever considered getting it. I’ve not been able to squeak it into conversations with my girlfriends yet. I don’t even know where to go to get reliable information about Botox. So I Google “dealing with wrinkles” and millions of products and options pop up. It becomes overwhelming, and then I become embarrassed that I’ve wasted so much time and energy on one little wrinkle. I mentioned wanting Botox to my husband and he literally laughed out loud! He thought I was kidding and even commented that it was the most absurd idea that I have ever had. His remarks definitely gave me a much-needed confidence boost and a reality check, but if I’m being honest, it only lasted a couple of days and then I was back to researching.
I am definitely a person who does my research before I make a decision. I have found there is A LOT of information out there regarding the pros and cons of Botox injections. So, after thorough research on the topic, I have found the following information to be representative for most areas of the United States:
- Botox injections generally last between three and five months.
- An average procedure takes about 30 minutes with zero downtime.
- Injections cost between $10 and $20.
- Average treatments cost between $250-$400.
I don’t think I have ever been more on the fence about anything in my life:
…to Botox or cut bangs? That is the question.
