Two Guinea Pigs

Botox

I give myself a birthday present every year. On my 45th it was Botox.  I did the research, understood what substance was being used and already had a plastic surgeon I trusted and had a good rapport with.  His goal is always conservative so I had no worry that I'd be walking out looking like Jocelyn Wildenstein.

The goal was to erase that annoying crease between my eyebrows but, the added benefit was the ability to minimize crows feet around the outer edges of the eyes as well as rid my forehead of furrow lines.

As we all know by now, Botox is a derivative of a botulism toxin (toxin A) and works by temporarily paralyzing specific muscles it's injected into.  If you can't move certain muscles in your forehead, they can't wrinkle.  Another benefit of Botox is that while your muscles are not contracting to form muscles, your wrinkles are not being made worse by time.  (great reason to start early)

The effects of my Botox injections last about 5 months. There is often bruising for me, especially around the eye area and right at the hair line.  it isn't painful, but the sound of needle crunching into tissue and muscle of my forehead is quite nauseating. The cost of this service is around $500 to do the forehead, outer eye area and in-between the brows.

I have been using Botox now for a little over 18 months. The effects take place fully in about 4-7 days post injections.  I'll never forget the very first time, checking the mirror every morning to see if it had worked yet.  It happens slowly over the course of a few days and then ....Presto! - no ability to furrow brow or frown - I was converted.

I've said this before, but you really need to be using a trained Plastic Surgeon to have this kind of work done.  Too much and you look like many of the "startled" celebrities we see in magazines.  I like the fact that while I can not frown too much, I can raise my eyebrows and still create a few furrows at the top of my forehead for a natural set of facial expressions.  The idea isn't to wipe away facial movement but to regain a more youthful appearance.  It takes skill to get the dosages and injection sites correct.  Therefore, Botox parties and med-spa's would be the LAST place I'd go to have this procedure done.

Radiesse - Something New For Those Lines

I'm a fan of injectibles.  I can see why it's the largest growth sector of the cosmetic surgery business, so much change with one little needle is made possible.

I tried something new two weeks ago to fill lines around my mouth (nasolabial folds)  Where previously I'd tried Restalayne, this time I wanted to get to know the newest kid on my Doctors block known as Radiesse.  Thise is the newest injectable filler in the category of non-surgical facial contouring fillers. Radiesse is meant for deeper facial creases than the usual crows feet and is said to provide an immediate and longer-lasting result than many of its predecessors.Some of the areas that Radiesse has been used to improve appearances are Smile Lines, Marionette lines, Cheek contouring, Chin Re-shaping, and Jaw Line contouring.

I used this filler on my laugh lines, used it for jaw/chin re-shaping and for removing my newly emerging jowls.  While it did provide the same result as Restalayne has in the past but the fact that Radiesse will last from 12-18 months as compared to 4- 6 months with Restalayne was a big motivator to spend the extra money.

The cost for injections was $900 (costs can range from $850 - 1200)

There was some bruising along my jaw line and along the laugh lines but I do bruise easily so it's not certain that everyone will bruise.In addition there was swelling which took 24 hours to go down.  My Doctor did numb my face from the inside of my mouth and there was absolutely no pain at all around that area.  The chin was another subject and yes it stings.  The substance is thicker than Restalayne and other fillers which means that the injection takes a little longer and the pain is a little more intense (still minimal however)

One last thing.  Because Radiesse is reported to last from 12-18 months, make VERY sure that the person doing the procedure is well trained.  See before and after pictures of THEIR work and if you can, talk to people who have used this professional.  I'm not a fan of day spas or getting injections done by anyone other than a trained Plastic Surgeon.  These professionals know the face, know how things connect and have a much better eye for where improvements can be made. In my opinion it's not worth the risk or cost-saving to go any other route.