Botox anyone?

[BarbaraJo]

Has anyone ever had or wanted to try Botox or fillers? I am 52 and the signs of aging are depressing me. So i did my research and found a clinic and had my first Botox treatment on my forehead to reduce the lines inbetween my eyes. I let that settle in and decided to go for the filler around my mouth, stating that I wanted only subtle change. The entire process was $1200 3 visits, my DH has still not noticed and now it is about a month later ( I did say subtle change) except I never told him and now the credit card bill has come and I have to confess!!

[badger]

I must say I was just looking in the mirror and am starting to notice the big line around my mouth and now know why people want fillers.

I haven't gotten any botox, though I was encouraged by my dentist to get them for my excessive teeth grinding (I have an exceptionally strong bite and clench my teeth at night. I get headaches and break my teeth all the time even with a nigh guard).

It was actually accepted by my insurance so the cost would've been about $200 but it meant I would have to go every few months so the costs would just add up in no time. I also didn't like that I wouldn't be able to chew normally, it would be like mushing on a banana, if you will. So in the end I didn't go for it. Although temporary, I still didn't want to be "stuck" with it for months if I didn't like it.

I guess if your husband didn't notice and it was subtle, the question is: would you keep doing it, and do you think it was worth it?

[shootingstar]

For new TE members, we also would love to hear about your cycling related stuff (good starting point) and other health issues too.

Barb, if you use the TE forums searchbox when you log-in, and use keyword 'botox', you will find whatever discussion threads. As you can see, it doesn't consume alot of forum discussion (yet?).

Hope you have a fruitful discussion with DH --beyond botox. You might be surprised what he thinks about you aging and other women. Some of the things we obsess about, our SO just doesn't care that much vs. overall mental health or demeanour for the woman partner in their life.

I know my partner hopes I will just participate in regular exercise and look after my health. That's all he can do: Hope. And the rest is my choice and what I do about it.

[Selkie]

No judgement here because my philosophy is each to his/her own. Whatever makes you happy, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.

I actually like my aging face, greying hair, etc. I consider it a privilege to age because not everyone gets the opportunity to grow older. In addition, I'm in much better physical shape than a lot of women half my age.

Maybe it's because I was never a "babe" and appearance is something I've decreasing cared about as the decades have passed. I'm now focused on ensuring I stay healthy, strong, and active.

[GLC1968]

I've considered it, but not done it. I've got pretty severe lines between my eyes that are starting to show all the time now (not just when I'm squinting). They make me look like I'm scowling, so I've thought about ways to reduce it. Unfortunately, I'm not ready to commit to injections for the rest of my life, so I'm putting off the decision until I can't bear it any longer.

I would love to age gracefully, but I've never been all that graceful to begin with...

[shootingstar]

Maybe it's because I was never a "babe" and appearance is something I've decreasing cared about as the decades have passed. I'm now focused on ensuring I stay healthy, strong, and active.

I'm not a babe in appearance either, even when I was in my 20's. Alot of men only noticed me...when there were no other women around to distract them. Seriously.

So I've lived several decades of life just living in the shadows of the sexiness and stunning beauty of other women.

I don't like looking tired...and it's more pronounced since my sister's death and plus other stuff. But I have my general, overall good health where already women just a few years older than I (@53 yrs.) are starting to get arthritis, etc. The latter, my health and mobility is much more important to me and where I would spend time, energy...and if necessary, money, where the public medical insurance will not cover. Great health and fitness is always fashionable, always younger than your age --well my philosophy.

I look at the photos of my mother at the same age I was: it's a difference because she had the physical effect (on her body) and stress of raising 6 children. So by default, I am already younger looking: I never experienced that same magnitude of physical impact, energy expenditure and stress since I never had children. (It's nice to talk about the joys of parenting, but with many children there is noticeable stress at various times. I witnessed too much of it.)

I treat myself for vanity... frequent haircuts. But I am barefaced without make-up when I am at work in the office...for the past few years. So someone like me, wouldn't see botox in part of my arsenal.


As for what my partner thinks: he's relieved I'm a small woman at my age. I'm not kiddin': it means less sagging. He's relieved I don't wear perfume..because he's allergic to any fragrance in soaps, lotions, etc. He's never once told me I should get rid of my tired look. I have this feeling it's like seeing wallpaper to him, he's so used to it he doesn't truly notice most of the time.

He enjoys having a partner who bikes with him, among other things.

Note: I made the initial comments earlier in this thread, because the forums do get trolls and spam. It's noticeable when members don't introduce themselves and talk about their cycling first. (Let us know if you introduced yourself already.)

[TrekDianna]

I couldn't do it...for a few reasons - nevermind what it is made of... I am happy being the age I am and I earned it. I don't wear make-up, don't own a blow dryer, I can shower and get out the door in a matter of minutes. I am about as low maintenance as possible. Doing something like that would go against everything that do to be natural in other ways.

I think if that is someone's choice, that's fine. It's just not a choice I would ever make for myself. I could use that money on something much more fun....like another bike!

[thekarens]

I'm with Diana. No makeup, no blow dryer. I can be out of the house in 30 and that includes shower, feeding the critters and making my food for the work day.

However, I'm not opposed to it. I'm a big believer in if it helps how you feel about yourself then go for it.

[Koronin]

To each his/her own. I'm another that does not wear (or own) makeup. I do however own a hair dryer. However, I love having long hair and there are times it's just easier to use a hair dryer than to wait forever for it to dry on it's own.

[Wahine]

Well, I know I've spent way more money than that on counseling services. I, like many of the women here on TE, am very au naturelle. But if it was something that I thought would make me happy, like spending thousands on counseling, then why not?

Having said that, if it's just a band aid that is covering up some insecurity such that in several months you're going to be looking for something else to "fix", well then, maybe botox and similar treatments would be a money pit that never led to true happiness.

I know plenty of women that have had breast implants that are happier for having done so.

People really do need to choose for themselves.

I wish we lived in a society where youthful appearance wasn't so coveted.

[lovelygamer]

I have considered it for migraines. I have a set of furrows between my eyes from constant tension headaches and I'm not even 40. They told me Botox might ease the furrows and headaches. I never did move forward with it but I don't think Botox is the worst cosmetic things you can do as you age. I know several ladies that do it.

[Crankin]

I've never considered Botox, as I don't have anything that would require it, at least anything that bugs me. I have considered fillers and I am still considering it.
At the risk of sounding "vain," I wear make up, and generally enjoy all things that have to do with making myself look nice. I, too, can be out of the house in 30 minutes, maybe because I have short hair that just requires wash, wax, and fingers. I look pale, with reddish skin under my eyes without a little make up help on my face.
I agree with Shooting Star, that being healthy and not overweight as you age is the most important thing, but I really do not understand why wearing make up or wanting to look younger is "bad." At almost 59, I sure don't want to look "old." I don't want to look 25, either, but I'm pretty happy with the way I look for my age. I attribute most of it to good genes and hard work, as in hard work with exercise and eating healthy. The make up and spending good $ on my hair just make it better. Since I also enjoy getting sweaty, dirty, and suffering in various forms of outdoor activity, no one can accuse me of being a girly-girl .

[shootingstar]

I think the key thing for us here, is that the money spent on botox for those of us who commented, is money we ourselves have earned. And hence, it's easier for us to exercise that freedom to make decisions how to spend that money.

It's more complicated if it's someone else who earned that money.

Still interested in the original poster's comments after hearing from us.

[Grits]

Crankin, I've done fillers a couple of times now if you have any questions about it.

[Crankin]

Shooting Star, I think the issue you raised about money, etc. differs widely in different relationships. DH and I have always had a joint account and for any big purchases we made that benefit us as individuals, we would confer, especially in the beginning of our marriage, when we didn't have a lot of money. We used to have this joke, "How many Liz Claiborne dresses is that worth?" It dates from the '80s, but you get my drift. At that time, DH and I had very different interests and I never really understood how much $ it took to properly run and keep a house in excellent condition.
33 years later, it's quite different. Before I quit teaching, I was making very high 5 figures. I generally didn't discuss any purchases for myself, because I knew we could afford it. When I quit working and was in school, it was quite an adjustment. It was the first time in my life that i didn't work. I started discussing my purchases a bit more, and my DH does, too. I call him Ismelda, as he has quite a shoe buying habit. I never question any bike purchases...
There were times in the 80s I did hide some clothing purchases from DH, but the bills always came and we paid them, no questions asked.
Now that I am working again, we are kind of in the middle somewhere, as I make about 1/2 of what I was making before. We can afford to live quite well without my income, but I still think it is fair to discuss certain things. I don't feel like I have to "ask permission," it's just part of being a partnership, in deciding how we are going to spend our money.