My Take on Botox and Fillers.

Written By Lisa Giamarino

Botox and fillers seem to be the norm these days – and not just for older people.  More and more, I am seeing young people getting facial injections as a “preventative measure” for aging, or for plumping their thin lips.

Botox is a protein made from botulinum toxin.  It is a toxin, but when used properly in small amounts, it has a number for medical and cosmetic uses.  It has been used for many years, and with consistent use, it can train muscles to move less leading to smoother skin.  It does have some reported side effects such as headaches and swelling at the injection sight.

Dermal fillers are substances that are made to be injected below the skin for adding fullness and volume. They tend to work best for smoothing out lines by the nose, eyes and mouth, restoring volume to sunken cheeks and temples, plumping thin lips and creating symmetry.

I will not lie…I’ve tried Botox.  I was scared to death, but my younger sister (by 12 years) tried it first which gave me the nerve to try.  Because I have always taken good care of my skin, I really don’t have wrinkles, but I did have a line that was starting to form on my forehead that was annoying the crap out of me.  So, I made the appointment and was happy to see that within a few days, that line was GONE. And it stayed gone for about four months.  I could still move my face, and it just looked so nice!

After two Botox injections, I dove into the world of LED light therapy.  I decided to give that a try, so I laid off the Botox for three months. I noticed that my line stayed away after regular LED use, but I could still make my expressions causing that line to show when moving my face as opposed to being frozen with Botox.

So – the dilemma.  Do I continue to do injections or just deal with it and use LED only.  Well, considering I want to live as cleanly as possible, I opted for no injections, but considering the minute amount that is used, I never poo poo it if clients want to go ahead and try it.

I sort of feel the same way about fillers, albeit I’ve never tried them.  I have seen some great jobs and I have also seen horror shows, so you really have to know the level of skill of the person administering those shots.  I do keep a list of names who I recommend since I’m always asked by my clients.  You should always look for a board-certified medical professional, and for someone who has a lot of experience.