I’ve always had a very expressive forehead and thin lips and in recent years, it’s really started to bother me a lot more. Especially now, with my career as a content creator! I am constantly posting photos and videos of myself, so it’s really east to criticize little things about my appearance. I don’t think that anyone should feel like they have to change their physical appearance, but I also think that you should do whatever makes you feel happy and confident. So I finally decided to get botox and lip fillers! I wanted to share my experience with you guys in this blog post.

SKIN BY LOVELY

I got my botox and lip fillers done at Skin by Lovely in Lake Oswego. I had done some research about medical spas in the Portland metro area and Skin By Lovely really stood out to me! They have such an amazing website and their center is absolutely beautiful. Somebody did a great job designing that place! Semona did my botox and lip fillers and she was super friendly, informative, and made sure that I was comfortable the whole time.

BOTOX

What is Botox?

Botox is a neurotoxin that when injected into the skin, relaxes the muscles and can prevent wrinkles from getting deeper. An alternative to Botox is the neurotoxin Juvederm which is what I ended up getting. Semona injected me with Botox, but definitely talk to your injector about both so that you are informed. Botox is the most common!

What are common misconceptions?

A common misconception about Botox is that you should only get it when your older and already have wrinkles so that you can look young again. That’s why a lot of people may think 25 is to young to get Botox. The benefit of starting at a younger age is that you’ll require less Botox as you age because you are preventing deep lines from forming in the first place.

Another misconception about Botox is that it will change the way you look completely. Neurotoxin (Botox) has been studied for 30-35 years now. It was approved by the FDA for use in 2002. It’s used in over 70 countries and there is no evidence to date of any long term safety concerns associated with the treatment. Essentially what botox does is freeze the muscles and causes relaxation in them. This makes it so that your muscles don’t over react when using facial expressions so that you don’t get fine lines and wrinkles. This is why it’s also known as “preventative”. Botox is the first step in stopping lines caused by facial expression from getting any deeper.

When should you start getting preventative Botox?

It’s hard to say when the appropriate age to get Botox is because everybody has different factors that affect the formation of wrinkles. A lot of it actually depends on genetics! Genetically, I have thinner skin with not as much collagen in it. While other people genetically have thicker skin, less expressive faces, etc.

Now that I am in my mid 20’s, I started noticing lines developing even when my face was relaxed due to my genetics and expressive face. So I wanted to go ahead and prevent those wrinkles from getting any worse. Wrinkles are going to happen with age and it’s totally natural, and of course Botox is not a necessity, but if it’s something that bothers you I say go for it!

How much does Botox cost?

This will depend on the areas in which you are getting Botox and how many units you get. Botox costs about $10-$20, depending on demographics and location.

How many units of Botox did you get?

I have a very expressive forehead so I needed a lot more botox then some! I ended up getting 40-units to the glabella, crows feet, and forehead. I got 1 syringe of Juvederm Ultra XC which is expected to last 9-12 months.

Where did you get Botox?

I got botox in my forehead, the 11’s (frown lines between the eyebrows), the outer corners of my eyers (to prevent crow’s feet) and a little brow lift. I love how it makes me look a lot more awake!

Does it hurt to get Botox?

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the Botox injections really weren’t that bad and I have a really low pain tolerance. The needles are very small! They kind of feel like a little sting but that’s it. Some places are more sensitive then others and some you really don’t feel much!

How long does Botox last?

The duration of Botox results is on average 3 months. However, it can very depending on how you metabolize it. Different people metabolize it differently and at different rates. For example, working out multiple times a week can contribute to a higher metabolizing rate. In general, you should return every 3 months for Botox touch ups.

Do you recommend it?

What I love about having Botox is that my forehead had literally never looked this smooth in my entire life! The 2 units under my brow makes me look so much more awake too. I don’t even feel like I need to we are makeup anymore when I go out and I feel like I wake up feeling pretty! It’s been such a self confidence booster!

That being said, I do not think Botox is a necessity or that everyone should get it. Aging and wrinkles are a part of life. I just wanted to be open and honest and share my experience and questions that I had for those of you that interested. 

LIP FILLERS

What are lip fillers?

Lip fillers are a type of dermal fillers, or hyaluronic acid fillers, which a cosmetic surgeon (or RN etc.) will inject to plump up your lips.

What are common misconceptions?

A common misconception is that you will end up looking like you have duck lips. Skin By Lovely, where I got my lip fillers done, makes sure that they keep your lips looking natural and compliment your natural lips. A good center will never let you look duck lipped! My close friends all raved about how natural my lips look which was really important to me!

How much do lip fillers cost?

Lip fillers can range from $500-$800, depending on the type of filler you get. It can often take 2-3 treatments to achieve your desired volumization. I ended up using the rest of my syringe in my top lip when I want back for my follow up 3 week later. I wanted it to be a little bit bigger since it was so thing to begin with!

How many syringes did I get?

I received one syringe in my lips, definitely more in my top lip! At my 3 week follow up, I ended up getting a lip lift which was 4 Botox injections above my lip to get the lip to flip out more because with the anatomy of my lips, my top lip kind on naturally tucks under. The lip flip really helped achieve the top lip I wanted!

Does it hurt to get lip fillers?

I have a very low pain tolerance, so in my option the lip filler injections hurt! The botox injections were a cinch compared to the lip fillers. The initial prick was definitely more painful. I did have some bleeding and bruising as well afterwards. The bruises lasted for about a week. They got a little bit better every day but I was able to cover them up easily with lip stains when I went out. Lip fillers are different for everyone so some people may not find it painful and may not experience any bruising.

How long do lip fillers last?

Lip filler lasts 6-18 months depending on the type of filler used and the amount of filler injected.

Do you recommend it?

If your lips make you feel insecure then I definitely recommend lip fillers! I was always insecure about my thing lips. When I smiled, my top lip was pretty much non existent. I didn’t like the way my lips looked in video either. Semona made sure not to overdo the lip filler and instead compliment the anatomy of my natural lips. Even just the small amount that we did has made me feel so much more confident! The profile of my face always used to bother me because I have a large nose with a small bump, but the lip fillers actually make my nose less noticeable from the side and they balance out my profile. It has made a huge difference in my self confidence and appearance in photos and videos.

BEFORE

AFTER

Skin By Lovely has locations in Portland, Lake Oswego, and in Santa Monica. If you live in the Portland or LA metro area, I definitely recommend them! Use the code UrbanDarling to save 10% off.

XOXO