As I kept looking at my reflection in the mirror in my late thirties every morning I started to notice frown lines on my forehead! Gosh, I felt old and unhappy at the same time it hit me how life short is! I started contemplating the idea of botox as is so popular among not only celebrities but friends too.

Hello my sweets how are you! How life is going? I hope you are well and everything that you desire is working out for you 🥰 I am well I cannot complain, grateful for breathing air, having a job, and having the opportunity of expressing myself thru here and social media 😍 let’s jump in today’s episode. 🙃

Since when I first saw those dreadful frown lines in my forehead and looking at them every day just getting more and more pronounced haha. I am 42 it took me a few years to decide to do botox. I read articles about it. Some celebrity’s experiences and friends. In the celebrities, the case is a mix of good and bad The friends I know to do it are very happy with it.

My friends recommended I go to a spa where the price is a bit less than a dr and also to not wait much longer since it would take more botox to make an effect in a more wrinkled face! 😳 I felt a bit uneasy about where to go something I value a lot is my face! In spas, they have botox specialists that are not necessarily a doctor some do have a Doctor but you may not be seen by the dr but by a specialist if that makes sense. I decided was best to go to a place where I would get seen and treated by a Doctor I feel is the safest way to do this kind of procedure even if will cost much more. After looking only for 5 stars reviewed doctors I chose Dr. Gregory Lewen he is a double board-certified oculofacial plastic surgery Doctor.

First of all, I liked his website he made emphasis in this paragraph extracted from his website:

“The cost of receiving injections of Botox® in Miami does not just include the cost of the actual product. Unfortunately, this is an error that is made by many people when considering the cost of this treatment, and it can be very dangerous to consider where to have cosmetic treatments such as Botox® injections performed based solely on the cost. The cost of Botox® most importantly incorporates the level of skill and expertise of the injector. Many people perform Botox® injections without ever receiving the proper training on the anatomy and physiology of the face. Some injectors will simply attend weekend courses before starting to inject patients with Botox®, while others may not even have the proper license, appropriate credentials, or required oversight to legally perform these treatments.

When a US specialist purchases Botox® through Allergan or a distributor authorized by Allergan, it is guaranteed quality. Unfortunately, some injectors purchase Botox® from other sources inside or outside of the country to save money on the cost of the product. Botox® that is purchased from non-reputable sources is not regulated by the FDA and is not always controlled for proper storage conditions or expiration. Such Botox® will typically be offered to patients much cheaper. Lastly, Botox® requires reconstitution before injection. Some injectors will intentionally dilute the product before treating patients to save money”

This sold me out is what I needed to hear. I called in made the appointment they charge $150 to book the appointment is nonrefundable but if you decide to do the treatment it can be used towards the payment so I booked the appointment and paid the fee. I leave here a link to his website.

https://www.lewencosmetic.com/

The day came to see the Dr. I was nervous but ready I thought it will be just an injection and that’s it no pain, no fuzz nothing just forget about it lol. Nothing like that.

Here are my impressions:

They have a nice office, they literally only see one patient at the time I was the only one there, prior I was waiting in my car to get called in.

The staff was friendly

Dr was attentive to questions, professional, patient, and friendly explained everything in detail felt in good hands.

These are the questions and answers given:

Botox is to relax the muscle

Filler is to give volume.

Botox what are the side effects or cons? Swelling, droopy, dry eyes, blindness.
What about fillers? Same as botox rare reactions. He uses a cannula to avoid blood vessels.
Type of filler that you will put on me? hyaluronic acid it’s dissolvable
When is a good time to stop? Dr will tell the patient but one has to watch oneself to avoid looking like a cartoon in the future.
Is there more than one type of filler? Many types 
What happens when filler fades away? Look back to normal

He said that he likes to apply botox and fillers in a way it looks natural and that feels comfortable for the patient. I loved this!

For example, in botox he wanted to relax my forehead in areas that will help give a natural look but not too much that would make the brows feel heavy he said if not done properly that is what happens you feel that heaviness, and the only way to fix it is to wait it out.

Fillers he explained my problem is the wrinkles around the mouth in my perspective that is, he said our faces one side is a little bigger than the other making having a good side for photos.

By applying the filler on my dimple area would smooth it out but not go completely.

He also mentioned that if I apply on the area on top of my cheekbones that would immediately lift a bit my laugh lines area and also would help to brighten up the eyes lifting it a little bit in the eye bag area opening the eyes.

I decided after he spoke to me to do the botox in the forehead area. He with his assistant took me to another room and started injecting it was not painful as I imagined he was gentle and the procedure was done in minutes I had small bumps where he injected that scared me but he said do not worry they will be gone in the next hour or so and gave me an Ice pad. He said I could go to work right after but I decided to take the day off. He also said I would start to see results by next Tuesday This was done on a Friday, by Sunday the frown lines were gone! I was beyond surprised! I was delighted No more blurring or smoothing my forehead on my pictures! 😆 I felt well through the weekend, started to have mild headaches by Monday that could be easily treated with Advil.

Tuesday came and oh my gosh the horror my right eye had some lid drop like there was a bit of excess of it best explained by this two little video I made of it.

I called the dr he saw me right away and he said not to worry that he did not want to put much botox in that area to avoid feeling a heavy brow and it should go away in the next week or so. Then I decided to talk a bit about fillers I said to him I don’t like the lines around my mouth he said to take it easy that we can do it little by little and that we could start with the area around the eyes cheek fillers this would brighten up my eye area, brighten up my face and give a youthful appearance he also told me he is against permanent fillers the one he offered would last one year and a half to two years…I was sold! He told me to think about it and when ready to do it but I am an impulsive person I confess and decided to do it then and there.

He prepped the area with a numbing what it looks to me soap and told me to close my eyes and not to worry about the popping sounds I will hear he used hyaluronic acid. So I closed my eyes I felt the popping sound is quite nerve-racking and felt he was molding that area. The procedure was done in what felt like 20 to 30 minutes he gave me some Ice told me I could go to work right after if I wanted to but again decided to take the day off he said no exercising in 24 hours that is normal to feel pain and see bruising.

Well, I felt well during the weekend I kept looking at the mirror but could not see anything meaning the fillers. To me, I looked the same haha had no pain and no bruising I did break out a bit of pimples but nothing alarming then Monday came I put on my makeup as always, and oh my gosh I saw the difference! I almost fell to the floor I was pleasantly surprised and delighted! I looked beautiful! I had cheeks! And had a contoured face! I was so so happy and I confess I wanted more done in my face this can be addicting people!

The next weekend came I had to wait one more week for a follow-up a scheduled appointment with the dr where he checks all is ok which I do like about this doctor. And this particular weekend I felt terrible, headaches if I turned to the right side in my bed the whole room would spin I felt dizzy every time I did this. I could not get up from bed mostly due to the headaches that receded on Monday thank goodness. Went to my follow-up appointment he said that the dizziness he did not think was connected to it but most likely to my Vertigo I do suffer from vertigo once or twice a year and recommended I go see my primary dr. He said all looked well on my face. I asked about fillers around my mouth he explain what he could do and also said to wait on this. He set an appointment for botox in February since botox lasts approximately 4 months and that we could discuss that in that appointment that there is no rush.

After this visit I have not felt bad, no headaches I can sleep on my right side and don’t feel dizzy, my right eyelid does not look droopy the only thing I experience is when I get stressed I feel the tension in my forehead like around the eyebrows and goes away once I relax.

Overall it’s not peaches and cream to do this kind of procedure and we are all different and may react differently. It’s important to think this thing through and not be impulsive like I am haha ask as many questions as you want and understand the risks. If done incorrectly many things can go wrong like getting blind! if botox is not injected correctly or getting the filler gets injected in the blood vessels which may cause among many horrible things death so is important to not think about how much money you can save forget about that be ready to spend and look for a board-certified Doctor, not just a person that will offer you to do it for less money but will cause terrible effects in your face that may kill you. So keep this in mind I beg you 🙏 this is a hard job if you ask me! Very delicate to be a plastic surgeon.

What I liked about this Doctor and his clinic well I liked they only see one person at a time to protect you and them of course from the virus. You are not rushed thru the visit, the dr is not cold and is patient when answering questions, and of course very professional has a soft hand when doing his procedures. His office is super clean and organized, his staff is nice and polite. I also loved he is not in the urge to sell you a service he tells you to think about it to take your time that is best to go little by little. I guess the only con I have is that I did not see hand sanitizers all over and available for the patients but if you ask them they will give you or tell you where to wash your hands.

The cost.

Botox the cost is $ 637 they deducted the $150 booking fee came to a total of $ 487

Cheek fillers: the cost for both cheeks is $ 2, 150

It is expensive the cost of Botox is very much the average price when done by a certified Dr. The cost of the fillers is high but if you put into account how long it lasts then seems less expensive if that makes sense.

I asked him what to look for in skincare products he told me to look for this so I leave it here to share with you beauties:

When using face cream for anti-aging 5 ingredients are important:

Retinol
Vitamin C in Serum
Peptide in growth
Suncream

I got all of these plus I bought myself an LED mask to help collagen and to prep face for skincare now the mask is expensive because the infrared led you can find cheaper alternatives without the infrared led that will do nothing hence why is expensive. I list here the products I bought.

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost SPF 50
• Rejuvenate advance multi-peptide youth cream
• Skinception Kollagen Intensiv
• Glow recipe Avocado melt Retinol
• Skin Medica Eye repair
• TruSkin vitamin C facial serum
• Currentbody skin LED face mask

Overall I feel very happy with the results, happy in my skin. I confess I am terrified of getting old I don’t like it society associates it with ugliness but it’s not true! I was watching the other day Wayne Goss and he was talking about his skincare routine and he said these words of wisdom getting old is a privilege not all of us reach to grow old and is not about avoiding getting old but to age positively and gracefully which is what I am aiming for 🙃 I just pray to know when to stop doing injectables and live my old years embracing me. 🥰

Before Botox and fillers photos

After Botox and fillers photos

There you have it my loves. I hope you liked this episode 🥰 if you did give it a like and I invite you to become my friend on Instagram I am there as beauteeindistress

I post every Monday and a revised Spanish version on Tuesdays. Be safe out there enjoy life and give it a thought about aging positively and gracefully 🥰 Bye for now 😘