While getting anti-wrinkle injections was once a procedure that was seen as something only celebrities would do, more and more folks are trying out neuromodulators to get a smooth forehead. Curious about what it’s like to try Botox? Read on to find out more about my experience getting anti-wrinkle injections for the first time!
{Getting Anti-Wrinkle Injections for the First Time}
Over the past two years, I’ve been noticing wrinkles on my forehead and around my eyes. Nothing cavernous, but visible at rest and deep enough that they kept catching my eye when I looked in the mirror. Now, wrinkles are – of course – a natural part of aging, and nothing to panic over. But they were starting to bother me, so I decided to give anti-wrinkle injections a try.
Here is (a ton) more info on each step of the process:
- The Mental Preparation
- Picking a Clinic
- The Consult
- The Process
- The Healing
- The Results
The (Mental) Preparation
As I’ve mentioned here before, I have struggled with low self-image my entire life. It may seem odd for a beauty blogger to talk about low self-confidence while regularly posting pictures of their face online, but getting comfortable with my looks has been a hell of a journey for me. I’m still not fully there, but with time, maturity, and an excellent therapist, I’m in a much healthier place.
While I’ve noticed the wrinkles developing on my face for the past few years, and have joked about getting Botox before, I had always been too scared to try it. “What if I get it done and it looks awful?” my Anxiety Brain would whisper, “Or worse: what if I get it done and then hate how I look once it wears off so I feel the need to keep it up forever?” I was worried that having these anti-wrinkle injections done would put me back in a headspace I had worked hard to distance myself from: one where I obsessed over all the “flaws” in my appearance and equated that with my value as a person.
Given my mental health concerns, I knew that getting anti-wrinkle injections wasn’t something I personally could do on a whim. To prepare, I had some really great sessions with my therapist where we talked about my fears, strategies to manage my anxiety, and whether or not this would be a good choice for me right now. Ultimately, I felt decided to go ahead with the injections, knowing that it might bring up some challenging emotions, but also knowing that I could now work through them in a healthy way.
Picking a Clinic
Once I had decided to get the anti-wrinkle injections, I researched clinics. It was important to me to that the clinic be supportive, inclusive, and not about “fixing” women or reinforcing all the fears I had just discussed with my therapist. Many clinics I saw came across as cold, judgmental, or sexist (“mommy tune-up” vibes – eek!). But then I heard about The Face Lab.
The Face Lab was founded by Joanna Auguste (Nurse Jo), and has a focus on empowering people to feel their best without recommending unnecessary treatments to rack up bills. With 15 years of clinical experience, including certifications in psychiatric and mental health nursing, Nurse Jo is well acquainted with the intricacies of the mind-body relationship. I knew that The Face Lab was the place for me!
The Consult
Even after all this prep, I still wasn’t sure if I would even be a candidate for anti-wrinkle injections. After all, some folks get the results they want with microneedling, filler, or other procedures. Plus, with my sensitive skin and allergies, I needed some personalized recommendations. I decided to have a virtual consult with The Face Lab to ask some questions.
I booked a free 15-minute virtual consult online and ended up chatting with Nurse Jo. We talked a bit about my concerns and my goals, and she recommended that I come in for an in-person appointment so we could talk more. If I decided to go ahead with the neuromodulators, they could be done at that appointment, but it wasn’t a necessity. I liked that this gave me more time to get comfy with the idea without fully committing.
At my in-person consult, Nurse Jo took pictures of my face, asked me to make some exaggerated expressions to see where the lines were, and explained the process in greater detail. I really appreciated how frank she was about what I could expect and her personal approach. I didn’t feel pressured at all, and my biggest fear (of having all of my “flaws” pointed out to me) never came true. Instead, Nurse Jo answered all of my (many) questions and made me feel very comfortable and informed. I decided to go ahead with the procedure and get the anti-wrinkle injections at this appointment.
The Process
Once I’d made the decision to go ahead with the neuromodulators, the entire process was very quick and easy. We talked a bit more about desired outcome (a more “natural” look vs. a completely smooth/frozen look), and Nurse Jo decided exactly how many units of product she would inject into which muscles. We decided on a very light dose this time around.
Next, she prepped my skin by removing my makeup and using antibacterial cleansers. Then, she mapped out where the injection sites would be on my skin using a special marker. Nurse Jo gave me a little stress ball so I could squish something, and then she began the anti-wrinkle injections!
I got a total of 24 units that day; 5 spread across the top of my forehead, 15 in between my eyebrows, and 2 beside each eye. The actual injections didn’t hurt at all – truly, it felt like acupuncture – and Nurse Jo used a special tapping technique to help distract me. In my research, I had read that I might feel a bit of a crunching (like when you roll your shoulders back and you’re tense), and I was surprised to find that I did notice that for a few injection sites. It was odd, but not painful, and is apparently just the sound of the needle passing through tissue.
After the injections were complete, Nurse Jo cleaned up my skin, applied some soothing cream and sunblock, and I was done!
The Healing
Immediately after you get neuromodulators, you can’t bend or lie down for 4 hours. You should also not touch the area or apply makeup for 4-6 hours, and should avoid alcohol, NSAIDs, or strenuous exercise for 24 hours. These guidelines help the product settle in and reduce bruising or bleeding. *These were just the instructions given to me, and are not a substitute for actual medical advice: if you decide to get anti-wrinkle injections, please follow the advice given to you by your clinician!
Something I didn’t realize before beginning my research is that it takes about 2 weeks for the full effects of neuromodulators to become evident! Some results may be visible after about 4 days, but you’ll notice a gradual decrease of motion over the two weeks following your appointment. It was so interesting to see the anti-wrinkle injections “kick in” over the next 14 days!
At The Face Lab, you’re encouraged to come in for a follow-up appointment after two weeks to check on progress. At this appointment, I decided to add a few more units in areas where I wanted to refine the look, so ended up with a total of 32 units.
The Results
Since I had gotten such a light dose, I could still move my eyebrows and show emotion (which is what I wanted!), but now the fine lines weren’t as deep and I couldn’t make quite as big of an expression. Even with the added units, I still felt very much like myself. The results lasted about 3 months before they started to wear off.
Overall, I was very happy with my experience getting anti-wrinkle injections for the first time. I went back two other times to get “refreshed,” and had a similarly good experience. I’m glad I went with Nurse Jo at The Face Lab, since she really helped me feel more knowledgeable and prepared for the experience, and I felt extremely confident in her skills.
Getting anti-wrinkle injections is by no means a necessity, or something that’s right for everyone. It’s also expensive (I paid $11/unit for Nuceiva, the brand of neuromodulator I received), and will wear off without maintenance. On the positive side, it’s a relatively painless, safe way to address a common frustration many folks have with their skin. Ultimately, I’m glad I tried it, and I liked the results, but I probably won’t continue indefinitely.
If you’re interested in trying anti-wrinkle injections for the first time, I hope you found this to be helpful and informative!