I’ve always been a pretty low-maintenance person. Not because I have “given up” on myself or don’t care. It’s mostly because I just don’t have the time or energy to do a lot for myself. I know that I should do something for myself. I know that working 2 jobs and carting my boys back and forth to school and sports and after-school activities can add stress to anyone’s already busy life. I have no problem going above and beyond for my family and I hate sounding selfish, but as long as they are taken care of and not neglected, why shouldn’t I take care of myself?
This year has been a turning point in my life:
- I turned 40 this year.
- I got married to the love of my life.
- I now have a middle-schooler.
- I’ve started having more noticeable gray hairs and wrinkles.
- I’m not getting any younger, and I stopped getting carded when I pick up my weekly wine assortment!
This is the year that I decided to make some changes, for ME. Not for anyone else, but for me. I need to fall in love with taking care of myself. Body, Mind, and Spirit.
One way I was surprised to discover I can take care of myself, my body, is through Botox. Yes, I said Botox. You might think that’s a jump from what could be considered “regular” monthly grooming that most women think of. Actually, it’s far from it!
Getting Botox is a simple and easy way to refresh your look and feel better about yourself.
I recently saw, Dr. Caitlin Lochtefeld at Dayton Comprehensive Dentistry in her Springboro office. (Many of you live in those fabulous Northern Cincinnati suburbs and while they have three locations in the Dayton area, this particular office would be super convenient for you!) I know what you are thinking right off….a DENTIST? Absolutely! Think about it. What other doctor has such in-depth knowledge of the facial muscles and nerves? Did you know that originally Botox was FDA approved for use in the facial muscles for those with jaw clenching and nerve issues? It has since branched out to other medically approved uses over the past 20 years, most popularly, for smoothing facial lines and wrinkles.
Before you get that vision in your head that Botox is a far-reaching procedure that only the rich and famous get, stop. Botox is now the most common minimally invasive cosmetic procedure. Not only is it the most common procedure, but it’s become one of the more affordable options.
Botox is done usually every 3-4 months, depending on the areas you have done. Manicures, pedicures, facials, hair treatments, etc are usually done every 3-4 weeks. It’s much easier for me to find one time to “treat” myself every 3-4 months as opposed to several hours a month. And the costs associated with Botox come to about the same or even less than all the monthly grooming costs many women find themselves prioritizing.
Just as any other type of cosmetic type procedure, be it facials or even a simple manicure, the treatment is individualized to the specific needs of the customer. What I see as an issue on my face may not be an issue for someone else. What’s great is that what YOU want to be treated is what will be treated. Over time, the skin that was wrinkling and folding over on itself will become more minimal. So at that point, there will be a lesser amount of treatment needed.
During my recent visit, Dr. Lochtefeld was very thorough, describing any side effects (minimal as they are) as well as what was entailed in the actual injections. (Fun fact… Dr. Lochtefeld is also a local mama and member of the Dayton Moms Blog team!) She made sure that I was relaxed, comfortable and completely at ease. I mean, I was about to have a needle stuck in my forehead a dozen times! That can be a little nerve-wracking when you think about it! But let me tell you this.
Plucking my own eyebrows hurts worse then all the Botox injections combined that I received on this visit. I kid you not!
The whole visit from start to finish was no more than 15 minutes. Dr. Lochtefeld marked the areas she wanted to inject based on the muscles affected, completed the injections, notated my chart so we have it for future reference, and cleaned me up. That’s it! It was so simple and honestly, it was virtually painless!
The results of the Botox can take 2-10 days to take full effect. For the first day or two you want to take it relatively easy with no major working out routines or other facial procedures. I had a small bruise on one of the injection sites, but I was the only one that noticed it. That was the only side effect I had.
The results one week later are remarkable! I am beyond floored by the difference in my face. My deep forehead lines are gone. The even deeper crease between my eyes is almost invisible. The only drawback of that is that my boys don’t know when I’m truly angry without my furrowed brow. I can handle that for a side effect!
Take a look for yourself! This is after one week of having Botox injections with Dr. Lochtefeld.
Whatever your choice is for self-care, do more of what makes you happy. If you’re happy getting a pedicure every month, do it. If you’re more inclined to get a facial, go for it! For me, the easy and most rewarding decision is to get Botox. It’s not a taboo subject anymore. It’s affordable and shows results rather quickly. It’s honestly one of the best things I’ve done for myself in a very long time.
I feel amazing and I’m pretty sure the results look even more amazing!
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