Botox & Filler -My Experience

If you don’t know by now, I am an open book type of person. I just wasn’t born to be private. So when I had botox crows feet treatment, I knew I had to share all the down & dirty details, like answering does botox hurt, how many units to get and more. Plus share my Botox before and after photos!

I did take a long pause before sharing this blog post about getting Botox and filler. Because after all, things live on the internet forever, and these Botox images will do the same.

However, I chose to share my before and after images and experience details with you all. Why? Because when I first started getting Botox in my 30s, I wanted to learn as much about it as I could.

I wanted to know where friends went, how much did they use, if they liked it, see their Botox results and an endless other stream of questions.

More than that, I had no idea about how many Botox units I would need per area, so I couldn’t figure out how much it would cost.

I wanted real life examples and experiences. And because I believe in the power of communication, I’m sharing my story about my recent Botox experience including the Botox units used per area.

Disclosure: I am not endorsing this for anyone nor suggesting anyone get facial injectables. I don’t get them to please anyone but my damn self.

My husband is sweet and never suggested I needed some, nor has anyone else. To each his own.

This is the question I kept asking myself over and over. I finally pulled the trigger when I just couldn’t take one more wrinkle appearing. So in to the doctor’s office I marched, and I haven’t looked back since.

I’ve loved getting Botox and the results of it. And over the years, I’ve discovered a few Botox secrets. Mainly that oddly enough, I haven’t had to add more units per area with each passing year. In a weird way, starting in my 30s let me skin stay relaxed so the amount of units has remained roughly the same.

To make this visually more informative, I worked with my plastic surgeon to have them list exactly how many units of Botox for forehead were used for my entire face. I thought it would help to know where to inject Botox to achieve certain results. Knowing where to get botox on face areas should help you, because that was my biggest question when I was new to botox!

It outlines how many units were added to smooth my forehead, my 11 lines and treat my biggest complaint – the crows feet. The Botox units needed for entire face can be totaled up so you can compare the units used to my final before and after pics.

I found it fascinating to see not only how many units of Botox for forehead area he used, but the placement of the Botox specifically. It’s spread more around the entire forehead than I would have guessed. Whereas the under eye wrinkles botox units are more focused in a small area (understandably so!)

I’m probably most sensitive in my appearance about my eyes, so botox crows feet treatment was absolutely in my priority list of areas I wanted to smooth. Thanks to not wearing sunscreen my entire young life in the Florida skin with a smidge of heredity, the wrinkles around my eyes are growing faster and deeper. Thankfully, a lot of them are from smiling and laughing, so I am thankful for those. But the deepness and sheer amount of them I could do without!

So, the surgeon injected my face according to my wishes.

Hopefully you can take this information to think through how many units of Botox for forehead  you’d use in comparison to my results and use this to calculate how much your Botox would cost.

Doctor offices either charge for Botox units by the area or by unit. A unit is the percentage of the needle/solution that is used.

For example, my dermatologist charges $400 for the forehead area only. However, my plastic surgeon charges $12/unit.

So, if you’re getting a little bit, then it’s obviously much more affordable to go to a place where you pay by unit.

As you start to use more Botox units (darn you aging) then it may make financial sense to pay for the area. Where to get botox on face spots is really led by the results you want. If you want to lift your hooded eye then that dictates where the units are placed, versus, say treating your 11 lines.

If I recall (and it’s been awhile) I only got 8 Botox units on each side when I first started in my mid-30s. In my early 40s I started having to get a bit more units per area, but as I said earlier, it surprisingly hasn’t gone up too much since that initial jump. I think the main addition I’ve made to getting Botox is to treat my TMJ by adding Botox to my masseter muscles, and adding more baby bonus to continue to combat my botox crows feet area.

This is imperative – make sure you visit a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon or Dermatologist.

An aesthetician or licensed cosmetologist is not the same thing. I personally only trust my face with Board Certified doctors. Again, to each her own.

I personally see Dr. Carmen Kavali in Atlanta, Georgia. Allergan (the makers of Botox) actually use her to fly across the country to train other offices on how to administer Botox correctly. So she clearly knows what she’s doing! She knows exactly where to get botox on face areas to achieve the right lift and smoothing, without non-ideal results!

Contact Monarch Plastic Surgery!

Alright, this is an odd thing to say – but whether or not you numb before getting Botox is a personal decision and each office treats it differently. I’ve been numbed before and have found absolutely no difference in the pain level if I don’t numb.

I mean that. Numbing has made a zero difference in how it hurts. Maybe I have a high pain tolerance, but Botox doesn’t hurt for me.

To me it’s similar to a deep tissue massage. Sure, it may hurt while they are getting the knots out of your muscles, but think about how much looser your body will feel when it’s over!

An odd sensation? Sure. Anxiety inducing for some at the thought of needles in their face? I get that. But for me, I love how I look after Botox so much that I get pumped for the appointment.

If you do choose to numb, the doctor will numb you with numbing cream around the areas you’ll be getting Botox. This stays on for 20 minutes.

Before you get Botox, there are a few things you need to be aware of which will really impact your bruising and results. If you’re getting it done by someone who knows what they’re doing, it shouldn’t. You will feel a slight pinch but it’s not bothersome or painful.

Also, don’t move. The last thing you want is your face wriggling around needles! So don’t be squirmy for goodness sakes!

I don’t find getting botox painful in the slightest. It doesn’t even hurt an hour after getting it. There’s so residual tightness or anything. Following the injection they’ll give you an icepack to use on and off throughout the day to minimize swelling.

You also won’t be able to lay down for a few hours to ensure it doesn’t travel where you don’t want it to go! So no napping after getting botox! But be sure to read about more after getting botox care tips here.

Alright. If you’re in need of Botox 101, you’re probably wondering what Botox 11

It takes around two weeks for botox to start smoothing out your wrinkles. When it kicks in, boy will you know! When it starts kicking in I start wondering what miracle eye cream I’ve used because man! My skin is glowing and youthful looking again! 🙂

It lasts around three to four months. I find that the botox crows feet treatment wears off around the 10 week mark and is the first sign for me that I need to re-book my appointment! The under eye wrinkles botox treats really makes a difference for me, so it’s the most noticeable when they return!

I go every four because I don’t mind letting some of the wrinkles come back, and it’s more cost effective.

Botox day 7 vs day 14 may seem like a short amount of a time distance, but it is a world away. It takes a full two weeks for Botox to take full effect. So if you’re one week into botox and are worried you didn’t get enough injected, wait the full 14 days before seeing the final botox results. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference will happen in those few days!

I am very, very happy with my Botox results, specifically the botox crows feet treatment. Very. I get it every 3-4 months. I use quite a bit of anti-aging skincare that works great to keep my Botox results looking good and allowing me to go longer between appointments.

If you’re primary hangup is wondering does botox hurt, let my results help give you the drive to go get it done, because I feel so much more confident after getting it!

I went to great pains to show you the actual injection so you could be as prepared as possible for your appointment. I felt this would be the most useful way for you to see Botox images and have a real idea of what to expect.

When taking these Botox pictures I didn’t change my facial expression too much. I don’t find getting Botox united injected painful. I don’t even numb anymore. More on that in a future post.

But I wanted these Botox pictures to show the calm I feel getting this done. Because it’s the truth – I’ve learned to handle it in stride knowing the results are worth the quickly passing discomfort!

I began getting fillers a few years ago. I did it to help with my under-eye circles. I’m genetically predisposed to dark under eyes. Add three kids born in three years, a few sleep disorders and you have a recipe for circles that no concealer can match!

When I first started using filler it was injected into my cheekbone only. The goal was to give my cheek a lift to help push up the circles to diminish the hollow look. It worked fine and I liked how my face plumped out like it did in its youth.

I am almost 40 years old and time is catching up with me. Truly the only real fix is eye surgery but I will never have that done. That just isn’t for me.

So, this time around he added filler both in my cheeks and in my under eye/trough area. I love the effect of this. I couldn’t be more pleased!

Think of filler vs Botox as makeup – contouring.

Lights and shadows create a three-dimensional look. We do it with makeup every day much like artists with paint brushes.

Please this post about fillers.

Juvaderm Voluma was used in my cheekbone area. This is a lot of people’s go to filler because it’s made by the same company who makes Botox, Allergan. When you buy any Allergan product you accumulate points to cash in towards coupons or free Botox. So, a lot of people choose it for this reason – plus, it works.

However, my doctor felt like the Restalyn Defyne would suit my eye trough area best so he used that in combination with the Voluma.

We discussed that this, after all, MY FACE, so points shmoints, let’s do it right.

Much like Botox, filler injections aren’t painful. However, the needle does feel larger and a bit thicker going into the skin.

It also has a weird sound where you can hear the filler being injected. Almost like a squirting sound. I admit, this part is strange. But I deal in the name of beauty!

If you’re sensitive to pain, you will find filler more intense than a Botox injection. But it’s not bad at all, for me.

Be absolutely positive you have someone who has major experience with this. Ask for photos of past patients, interview them about their training and ongoing training. Go with your gut.

After the filler is injected you’ll ice a well for the day.

It will feel hard and almost angular in your skin for several days. It will progressively soften so it eventually feels like yummy, mushy youthful skin. So, don’t panic if at first it looks like noticeable bumps!

I did bruise a little bit but it was easily covered by makeup and was gone within five days. My husband didn’t notice even without my wearing makeup.

Fillers last around a year. It is much more expensive but lasts longer.

In addition to Botox at this particular appointment, I chose to add a little bit of filler in both my cheek and under eye area.

I began getting fillers a few years ago. I did it to help with my undereye circles. I’m genetically predisposed to dark under eyes.

Add three kids born in three years, a few sleep disorders and you have a recipe for circles that no concealer can match!

When I first started using filler it was injected into my cheekbone only. The goal was to give my cheek a lift to help push up the circles to diminish the hollow look. It worked fine and I liked how my face plumped out like it did in it’s youth.

But time is catching up with me. So this time around he added filler both in my cheeks and in my under eye/trough area. I love the effect of this. I couldn’t be more pleased!

Juvaderm Voluma was used in my cheekbone area. This is a lot of people’s go to filler because it’s made by the same company who makes Botox, Allergan.

When you buy any Allergan product you accumulate points to cash in towards coupons or free Botox. So a lot of people choose it for this reason – plus, it works.

However, my doctor felt like the Restalyn Defyne would suit my eye trough area best to treat the underye area and work well with the botox crows feet injections, so she used that in combination with the Voluma. She felt that the combination of filler and under eye wrinkles botox units would fit the look I was after.

We discussed that this, after all, MY FACE, so points shmoints, let’s do it right.

Much like botox, filler injections aren’t painful. However the needle does feel larger and a bit thicker going into the skin.

It also has a weird sound where you can hear the filler being injected. Almost like a squirting sound. I admit, this part is strange. But I deal in the name of beauty!

If you’re sensitive to pain, you will find filler more intense than a botox injection. But it’s not bad at all, for me.

Be absolutely positive you have someone who has major experience with this. Ask for photos of past patients, interview them about their training and ongoing training. Go with your gut.

After the filler is injected you’ll ice a well for the day.

It will feel hard and almost angular in your skin for several days. It will progressively soften so it eventually feels like yummy, mushy youthful skin. So don’t panic if at first it looks like noticeable bumps!

With filler, I bruise a bit more than with Botox. But it’s easily covered by makeup and was gone within five days. My husband didn’t notice even without my wearing makeup.

Fillers last around a year. It is much more expensive but lasts longer.

My goal with my Botox results was not to smooth each and every wrinkle. I wanted a smooth forehead but not a stiff one. Having said that, under eye wrinkles botox was where I really wanted the most smoothing.

Keep in mind that Botox results wear off so I start with it fairly smooth, knowing it will relax in about 6 weeks. My Botox forehead before and after photos were taken just three weeks after the injections were done.

There is a big difference between say, botox day 7 vs day 14, because it’s started to work but it hasn’t fully taken effect. I waited until the third week to be sure everything had finalized before taking the photos.

But if you’re on botox day 7, and are starting to worry that you didn’t get enough, definitely wait until day 14 before freaking out because it’s not done working it’s magic yet!

I did not edit these Botox results photos – I only edited them for color correction. No filter was applied once-oh-ever. I don’t care what anyone says in the comments section, I will put my hand on a bible that I only edited the color — did not smooth one thing in these photos. No Kardashian editing here!

So what do you think? Especially about the botox crows feet results, which were my main goal? Do you think under eye wrinkles botox hit worked? Do drop me a comment, and be sure to see my other Botox related posts for more specific Botox questions and answers!