I can’t even do. I was going to post a picture of my face post VI Peel. What I forgot is I scheduled an appointment today to go in for the IPL laser treatment along with some injections of fillers. Then I ordered Sushi. It seems important to have Sushi after any cosmetic procedure, I’m not sure why. Ideas?
And they were having a special! So if you did one syringe of filler, the second was half price. On top of that, because I did the peel two weeks ago, I got 10% off of all my procedures today. I mean, I can’t resist that. Check with your local injector and see if they have a similar special going on, it sounds like both Restylane and Juvaderm are running the special. I’ve never done that many syringes, and I go a long time in between injections. I just don’t like the overly filled look for me, so I wait – sometimes too long, and my lips look like a couple of flat tires with the treads showing on top.
I keep thinking one day I’ll regret my very open yakking about my cosmetic procedures, but right now I can’t see why. So on the menu today was IPL, which I’ve done before, but this time they did it at a much higher zappage (not a technical term, just the way I think of it), so my face is more reddish today than it usually is, but not too much, and they said that should diminish in a day or two. They also added another laser just for broken veins so they could zap a couple around the nose. I’m anxious to see what the higher zappage will do. I tend to ruddy/rosacea skin, and IPL just gets it almost all out of my skin, it’s amazing. It’s also expensive, like 300-450 per treatment, depending on location, and I suspect some areas it runs higher. This is the one cosmetic procedure that I think it so worth it. The laser creates wounds under the surface of the skin, and collagen comes running in to fix it, and you wind up with plumped up, glowy skin.
For filler, I did a new thing! In the tear trough under the eye. I know, I know!!! I cringed, but I was told it really doesn’t hurt, you just get a little oogied out. It didn’t hurt, it does feel weird. I closed my yes, felt a teeny stick. I’m a little bruised right now, which should go away in a week or so, but makeup will cover it up, but the results? Can i just say how amazing it is to have almost all of my undereye shadowing gone? I had no idea what a great transformation it would be. It lasts a year or more, so at $400 for a tube of Restylane to get it done, that just doesn’t suck, and it beats surgery, which I really don’t need at this point, but I sure did want to diminish the undereye yuck. It’s almost an optical illusion. The shadow under your eyes get worse when the fat does a vanishing act, which happens to everyone as they age, some faster than others. As that fat diminishes, it creates more of a trough under your eye for shadows, a place light can’t get to as easily. If you pump up the tear trough with a little filler, that reduces the area for shadows. It’s nifty!!! Eventually I’ll do a lower bleph, but I’d rather put that off for a few years so I can get as much mileage as possible out of it when I finally do get around to it.
We also put a little in the frown crease in between my eyes. I wanted to do that instead of Botox. I’m just not a huge fan of Botox. I’d far rather have all of my expressions, including wrinkling, available to me.
Then we also re-filled the lips, but since we had gone through all the Restylane around the eyes, we used Juvaderm in the lips and between the eyes. Juvaderm I like much better in the lips. I’m really particular about lip fillers. I hate the trout pout, overfilled lips that look like they don’t belong to you, so before a needle hits my lips, I give this long thing about what I want them to look like and that I want a mirror halfway through to make sure. So I got exactly what I wanted, plus he gave me the little ridges above the lips. I know, right?! As you age, those two ridges from the points of the upper lip to the nose flatten out, and that ages you a lot. He ridged me right back up, and I’m jacked with the result. I also insist in a little pout thing in the middle of the bottom lip, which helps make sure your lips are more matchy and one doesn’t look bigger, it just balances them out.
I promise pictures next week. All the after-effects should be definitely gone by then. For those of you that have done any cosmetic procedure, facials, whatever, what is the one that you think gives you the best bang for your buck and that you would really feel pain not to be able to do anymore if you couldn’t afford it?
Long time reader, rare commenter here; the posts on cosmetic procedures and nailpolish don’t bother me at all. And, if you could find me a less-expensive ringer for OPI’s Nomad’s Dream, that would be swell!
I will say, however, beware of any surgeon who pushes you towards that freaky, duck-lipped,skin pulled tight, cheekbones-at-right-angles look. It’s everywhere now! Recently, I saw a woman–obviously one who spent lots of $$ on her appearance–who looked like a duck with a shiny, shrink-wrapped face. Ouchhhh!
And I think Madonna and Dr. Brandt are starting to look alike too– like a cosmetic surgery “groupthink” or something!
I can’t stand it. I see it everywhere. I saw Mary Tyler Moore one day not too long ago and she scared the crap out of me. Just take a walk on the Upper East Side and you will see scores of women who all have the same blonde doo from Serge Normant, the same red soles on their shoes, the same Goyard totes, and the same frozen foreheads, sandblasted complexions and absurdly augmented cheekbones. I hate this stuff. We are becoming a nation of Barbie-droids.
Sorry. I guess that was way harsh, and it’s just one layperson’s take on the subject. I probably just see way too much of it around here and I should try to be more generous toward the ladies-who-lunch, although it’s a tough call. I find it much easier to feel compassion for those without quite so much disposable income who are borrowing or frittering away what little they have on procedures they can never maintain; time marches on and sooner or later and they find themselves right back where they started (or worse) but broke or up to their ears in debt.
These are medical procedures, very often being performed by non-medical personnel, or by some dentist who took a week-long courses in injectables. What’s more, no one yet knows the what the long-term consequences of these substances might be. Yeah, they have been tested, but they haven’t been in use for long enough to know anything about what might happen down the road, and some of these fillers are permanent. A friend who is a very well-respected dermatologist here in NYC told me that she would never have anything available on the market today shot into her own face except botox and perhaps fat, and even those only if done by someone who has a million procedures under his or her belt, of which there are maybe 50 in this country.
Safety issues aside, it seems to me that there is so much pressure to be perfect, to be “ourselves, but better”, to never age, at least not on the surface. But to my wrinkled old eyes, if you are sixty with 60-year-old hands, a 60-year-old neck, and a 45-year-old face, you don’t look “rested”, you look look foolish, and just a little bit desperate.
I don’t think it was harsh, Carter. We all need to hear that. there is a very real danger of everyone starting to look the same, if we all do the same procedures as we age. I’ve seen it, and it weirds me out. The second I think I’m entering into that territory, I’m out, and will just accept my darn wrinkles with as much grace as I can muster, which isn’t much.
There was an article in my doc’s office, taken from the New Yorker or something? About how women’s faces as they age are now getting plumper. Their bodies are getting leaner and stringier, but instead of sacrificing their butt for their face, like Catherine Deneuve said, they’re injecting their face beyond loads of plumpness. And they look alike. I think anyone who undertakes the filler/surgery route needs to make sure they have a great, cynical friend they trust who will tell them when to whoa. You can only go so far, and then you just start looking ridiculous. Every time I have a procedure, which is only about once a year, and usually maintenance, I cringe, fearing I’ve gone there. Then the swelling goes down, the skin finishes peeling, and all is right with the world, I still look like me, just a more rested me.
but that fear of looking like Madonna or Faye Dunaway keeps me awake at night and usually in check.
As far as the procedure talk specifically, I’m kinda queasy about it; as far as the concept, I’m not inclined. But that’s ME. In the words of Sly and the Family Stone…different strokes for different folks. Maybe someday we can yammer about it over tea…but the very fact that I said tea, not coffee or cocktails, kinda suggests a leaning, doesn’t it?
Of course, I like coffee at times. And love me a cocktail. 😉 Who knows, maybe someday I’ll forgo my “natural beauty” for something, um, aided and abetted beneath the skin. Other than sleep, diet, exercise, and a generous measure of balance. Kind of funny…for a person like me, who a) has a keen disinclination for cosmetic procedures, but b) is a migraineur, modern medical treatments may put me in a conundrum: research is accumulating that Botox is an effective long-term prophylactic against migraines.
For now, I shall continue to apply perfume. 🙂
I do get the queasy. I used to be because I hate needles, but somehow I got over it. Age maybe? Vanity became more pressing?
You are just so darn wholesome! 🙂 But I’ve met you, you look fabulous. AND wholesome!!!
I had heard that about Botox. i’d give it more time for research, but I know a lot of people with debilitating migraines, and if that could help them, I know they would be grateful.
Botox has a pretty strong record of working well with certain types of migraines. I’d get it in an instant for my migraines (and the shots are often not in “vanity” spots), but…great surprise…most insurance doesn’t pay for it. Shockingly, they’d rather support the pharmaceutical industry…
I have a thing that looks like a headset on the Enterprise called Safetox. It is designed to relieve migraines, which is why I bought it, but happy side-effect is that over time it “opens” the face by electrically stimulating certain muscles, mostly in the center of the forehead and the back of the head. It is kinda fun, too. Takes 5 minutes, and you can just put it on and go about your business, as long as you don’t plan to leave the space station. Happy to provide addn’l info if anyone is interested.
It is exciting to read how all this works–smooths out the line between the eyebrows, the marionette joint around the mouth. It’s a wonderful thing. It’s too late for me. I have to have the “knowledgeable crone” posture, because well, you know, that little rosebud I got scandalously tattooed on my bosom at 16? It’s a long-stemmed rose now. I need a pulley and a front loader to fix it all, and it’s too late. Which is why I love fragrance. It’s ageless and makes me feel like I smell. Ahhhhh. . . .
You know, I never think it’s too late, but you cracked me up with your description. I used to think about getting a tattoo when I was younger and am now so glad I didn’t. I can’t think of one area of my body that isn’t giving way to gravity. Even my feet!!!
Fragrance, though, does make you feel more beautiful, sexy, mysterious whenever you want.
What a timely discussion. I came home from the dermatologist office yesterday and opened up this discussion. I had my second session with Restalyn. I am very close to my 67th birthday and I had my first injections in May. Wow! What a difference. I don’t want cosmetic surgery so this seemed like a reasonable alternative. I don’t look 20 years younger (nor do I want to) but I look very rested. I, for one, welcomed your account of your experiences with your injections. My doctor is super conservative, takes a low key approach…but , like you, I am very happy with my results. Even one day later, I look pretty good! Thanks for your imput!
Patricia, that is so cool. I think anything you do that eases some of the pains of getting older and looking at that isn’t all bad. Some of us can live easier in aging, but I’ve never been a very accepting person about anything life handed to me that was bad, so it’s completely in my nature that I wouldn’t accept that aging without at least trying to slow its sure growth is inevitable.
I always ruled out surgery of the facelift variety. I’ve been around people that had it done, and it just freaked me out. But you know what? As I move closer to 60 or even 70, I don’t know that I’ll stay there. They do a lot minor and less dramatic lifts now that look really great.
Maybe? Maybe not. But I’ve learned never to say never. 🙂
Well, hell. I’m gonna just go ahead and say it.
I’m pure-dee jealous.
I wish I had:
The Time (I haven’t even been able to get my hair cut! and let’s not talk about color, okay? ick). Working on reorganizing my life – I should have time to at least paint my toenails, dadgummit.
The MONEY (but that will come soon – I just hope it comes before it’s Too Late! (cute spooky music)
The noive. Okay – I have the noive.
What I really want? A nose job. Srsly. Not because of my Outside Nose but because of the inside – the septum looks like an Escher staircase!
Of course, while they were working on that I would be thrilled to have a little ‘lift and tuck’ done 😀 – that whole post-50 drop and spread thing, ya know? You’re 15, with a cute little nose and the next thing ya know it’s cozying up to Jimmy Durante!
dang.
xoxo >-)
Sweetie, you HAVE to promise, when you get around to doing this, we will get all the deets. I love makeover things, whether it’s makeup/clothes, or deeper changes. I never liked that Extreme Surgery show because while some of the people had disfigurements that I totally could root for them to get all done over, it just seemed like a glorification or something. I don’t know. I wish it had just been more sensitive and less sensationalistic. Maybe do less on one person in one shot. I think people have to be used to their faces when they do things.
right now, I’m still weirded out by my face. Not sure because it’s swollen in the cheeks where they did the fiercest laser, but because it’s bruised under one eye and just swollen under the other. I look so bizarre!
Anyway, when you do it, we want pictures, the story, everything!
I am 49 too Patty, and I suppose I am just like your Mom, I hate to say it but genetically gifted. People tell me I look like I am in my 30’s all the time. I just ordered Retin A, to keep the “look”.
I have no judgements on what people do. Everyone should be free to look however they want. Whether that is letting all those chin hairs just go long and crazy– or doing many procedures, it is all an individual choice which I want no part of in judging.
I remember well when I said I would NEVER color my hair. Oh how wrong I was. Its full of gray and I color it about every 3 weeks now. It all happened so fast. It just makes me look older and I dont feel old. I hear you that you want to look the best you can, for 49. Me too. When my face does need something, who knows what I will do. I wish I had the $$$ for some body work, but alas I dont. And I think if I had the choice between body/face work or travel, I would choose the travel for sure.
I am very new here at Perfume posse and I am enjoying whatever the days topic brings. I think it is very cool to share these thoughts with other women.
I think that is so awesome. You know what was weird, I thought my face was holding up well as long as I smoked. It’s like once I quit smoking, then it fell apart. 🙂 I kid! But the timeline was about right.
Y’all may be treated next year to my travels through body work. I want another 6-8 months of yoga and exercise, and then I’m seriously thinking tummy tuck/liposuction just to get rid of some areas that bug me that won’t go anywhere now. What I’d really love is a knee tuck. Is there such a thing? I have my aunt’s saggy knees, and getting worse every day.
Just a thought on the sushi question:
There is a lot of good nutrition in raw fish, plus it’s all wrapped up with seaweed and rice. And on top of that the california roll has delicious avacado. You are probably getting all sorts of great healing vitamins and minerals!
It IS a great comfort food! 🙂
While I love sushi, and agree with the nutritional value. . .I worry about sushi post filler treatment. One of the big problems is swelling. Sushi and its accompanying soy sauce has tons of salt, and I’d be worried about worsening the swelling. (even with low sodium soy sauce)
Otherwise, enjoy. . .and I agree that all that fish, rice, seaweed and avocado is yummy.
Ice packs are your friend post filler. I’m a fan of frozen peas/corn wrapped in a dish towel as a nice soft ice pack. Just never eat the frozen corn from my freezer with the skull and crossbones on it; it’s been thawed and refrozen too many times to be safe 😀
The good news is, I never use soy sauce, way too salty for me. I don’t like much salt at all. I do just cover it in so much fresh ginger, it’s ridiculous. I think I could live on fresh ginger. 🙂
Well, that’s what I kept telling myself. 🙂
Hmm, I’m only 43 and so far things are holding up pretty well, I guess mostly I’m a scaredy cat when it comes to injecting foreign substances into my skin or having major surgery, so I’m not sure I’ll ever have anything done. Also, my SO is 15 years older than me and his eyesight isn’t what it used to be, so I still look great to him. 🙂 I’m going to keep spending my budget on perfume for now. I tried the IPL a few years ago for brown spots from sun damage and it was a total waste of money IMHO. The only thing I’ve had done that I’m thrilled with is laser hair removal on the bikini line. Now THAT was worth it.
Tara – I did the laser thing, too – lower legs and bikini line. Even with fine hairs growing back (and I was warned some would), that was money very well spent. Shaving my legs once a month, just in case the little hairs catch the light at the gym? Oh yeah.
I’ve thought about the hair removal. How many sessions does it take, and does it hurt? I’d love to skip waxing once a month.
Interesting timing, Patty. I had dinner with a friend last week and she told me she has had Botox. Now, this is someone I see fairly often, and I swear, I had no idea. She does NOT have that frozen quality about her forehead at all. Prior to knowing this about my friend (who is, incidentally, 40 years old) I would have said: never, never, never. However, I’m rethinking that now. She truly looks great and can emote with her face and all that. She gave me the name of the place she goes to….MAY check into it, providing finances cooperate. Also, I have a condition called Graves Disease and the accompanying eye disease, so would obviously check first to see if there is any worries about combining Botox with my eye issues, but still…..seriously considering it – which shocks the heck out of me!
Food for thought, at the very least.
Thanks for the perfectly timed post!
Karin
Oh, I know Botox can look greats. I’ve had it a couple of times, and I may do it again too. I just have a really expressive face and thought parts of it weren’t moving with the rest, so it was weird for me. I think other people it really suits. I’ve seen some great Botox that I didn’t know they had had anything done at all.
I would be careful with the Graves. I don’t know if it has an impact, but as long as you have a good doctor, you’ll be fine. That’s the most critical part, getting an honest doctor who will tell you how far you should go, or even if you should do it, doesn’t overfill, and has a lot of skill with injections.
Hi-I have thyroid issues (post Grave’s) and get botox-if you’d like, get my email through the Posse contact box, and I can let you know my experience.
I enjoyed your post today, Patty, and don’t mind the off-topic write ups, be they on filler, lipstick, or kid’s antics.
My mom was fully opposed to PS of any kind-until she needed a reconstruction of her nose because of skin cancer. She subsequently had a face lift, and looked (and was) fresher and happier ever after.
I am over 50, and play regularly with a little botox and filler, and (obviously) freely admit to it. No shame for me in admitting that I really enjoy the freshened up look of a little “work” 😉
Personal choice, baby!
Exactly. I fully support everyone who doesn’t want to do it, but I think most people are surprised,once they dabble in it, what a difference it can make in just looking fresher.
I guess my original post wasn’t so much because today’s topic wasn’t perfume…..I’ve been reading awhile and have seen lots of off-topic posts about nailpolish and lipstick etc. I just read them and then come back the next day hoping for ‘fume. I guess I was just taken aback by how cavalierly you spoke about the fillers and procedures. I DON’T consider filler injections to be cosmetics, like any other product. It seems far more invasive than a simple application of mascara or blush. I think that the companies that sell these products hope to convince us that they are just “cosmetics” but regular “cosmetics” don’t need to be approved by the FDA before use. ( Now there’s another whole argument waiting to happen since I’m sure some people think they should be!) I wonder if, years from now, these types of injectables might be linked to health problems. There are a small number of publications out now that suggest this could be the case. Okay….all that being said…..I am only 41 and noone I know IRL has had any of these procedures carried out. Nobody that I deal with IRL talks about this at all. So maybe I just haven’t been exposed to these sorts of things and my discomfort was an overreaction. I know you had planned on “aging gracefully” as I do now….and perhaps I’ll change my mind in a few years, who knows.
I hope that I haven’t offended you.
(I still plan on popping in everyday….no matter the topic!)
Well, once the real aging starts, for most people, it’s not that graceful. 🙂
Not that many of my friends have had any work done or very minor. I don’t think of it as minor, but it’s a lot more minor than surgery. I’ve done both, and fillers and lasers are a nothing compared to the other.
Pleading the fifth on this one 🙂 My beauty, it’s all natural, baby!
of course!!!!
I generally enjoy all of the posts, on topic or not. And if something doesn’t quite suit me, I’ll just check back again tomorrow. So, after today, my only question is, next purchase, perfume or Perlane? Tough choice.
I know!!! As weird as I know it is for some people to be yakking about filler specials, saving 1/2 and getting a discount on top of it is a difference of hundreds of dollars, so I was jacked.
I try to limit my cosmetic crap to 1-2x per year because I really prefer to spend my money on so many other things, like travel, perfume, cosmetics. For me, spending on cosmetic stuff is like buying a new fridge. I know I need it and will appreciate it, but I don’t like blowing the cash. for some reason, I don’t feel quite the same about makeup and skin care. Odd.
Hey, a few years ago, I wasn’t terribly keen on the idea of cosmetic procedures, but now that 43 has arrived, I’m Changing My Mind. (If only my bank account would automagically adjust with my adjusting attitude.) Odd what a couple of years of wear and tear can do to your view!
I’ve been watching my parents’ aging processes over the last few years, and sure enough, the changes in them are slowly showing up in my mirror’s reflection. My latest concern has been the gray caverns under my eyes, so your post here is pretty timely. Thanks so much for the information, I was pondering how this could be taken care of!
I’m looking forward to pictures, and I hope you heal up very quickly!
Yeah, that was me. 🙂 Swore I would age gracefully until the reality of what that meant started looking at me.
My mom has never had anything done, and she looks fabulous. She’s also been out in the sun all of her life and tanned dark, and that seems to not have affected her in the least, so I think she’s just really, really genetically gifted. I think though, even her, she’d do a couple of tweaks if she could, like the wattle on her neck and the undereye area. She has fabulous deep-set eyes, but they do get dark circles under easier.
Word of warning on the undereye thing, which it hadn’t happened last night, but it does swell up on some people! They told me they thought I was one that would because of the way the injection was going, but I’m referring to it as my lion face this morning. I have no lower eye area. I really look ridiculous. If that happens, they said it can take up to a week for the swelling and bruising to subside. Just a note on that if you have to be out in public, you might want to schedule it for late in the week. I suspect enough swelling will be out in 3-4 days that I won’t need dark glasses.
Good luck, whatever you decide to do!
Patty, you must look gorgeous!!!! I cannot wait to see the pictures.
I couldn’t agree more with frozen-can’t-squint-can’t-express-any-emotion-other-than-blank-stare-look and boy do I see a lot of that in my youth-oriented, fair city. (Miami Beach.)
For that very reason I am new to this tweaking bit. I finally decided to visit a Dr.’s office specializing in all of these procedures about 2 months ago. I went in with hesitation and instructions. Luckily, the Dr. who saw me agreed with me on that fake/plastic/fish trout look. She said their office had just done clinical trials on a Botox alternative called Dysport and recommended it for the wrinkles between my eyebrows because it was a little softer. For those of you considering Dysport, she mentioned Dysport not doing as well as Botox in other areas. (I didn’t have it injected anywhere else, anyway.)
The thing that ages me the most, I think, are the folds from nose to corner of mouth. She used one syringe of something called Perlane (a filler) in those areas. I know there is a medical term for both the areas I mentioned but I cannot remember and am too lazy to look them up. 🙂
I’m not sure I look much different than before with those 2 little tweaks but my mom says I look a little less tired. So, yay!
Thankfully, I have high (eyebrow) arches and my Dr. said that adds to a youthful appearance and my lips still look pretty good. I never noticed the ridge thing before you mentioned it but I promptly checked and it has not flattened … yet. Tee hee!!
What a great topic. I have so much to learn and I appreciate your detailed descriptions. Thanks, Patty!
I wouldn’t say gorgeous at all.
Dysport? Thanks for that info, that’s really helpful. I like softening lines, I just don’t want to be immobile. It just doesn’t work well on my face, but I know it works great on others.
I’ve been really lucky on nasolabial folds. I have them, but not at the level that I really want to do anything about them. I totally get the people that do and have the deep ones.
You know, if anything I’ve said here has helped anyone be more comfortable either deciding not do do anything or to do anything, then I’m okay with it. I think that’s just what people have to decide for themselves. I guess I just don’t want people deciding no because they are embarrassed or think it makes them frivolous.
Okay…this is the first PerfumePosse blog that has me sort of squicked out. I’m not sure how I feel about cosemtic procedures in general but you talk about it like you’re painting your nails or something. Please don’t flame me, perfumeposse people. I was just thinking I’d find a new perfume review to savor….not an endorsement for restylane and rejuva-what’s-it.
Agree!! Call me stick-in-the mud but I prefer perfume & don’t mind looking older – it means I’m still alive!!
I’m having a little trouble, too. Patty, I’ve really enjoyed how you’ve challenged my ideas about all these procedures, and I will totally admit to looking in the mirror after reading your posts and wondering what it would be like to tweak a little here, a little there. I’m considering some cosmetic dentistry to fix an old problem, and I have friends who have completely transformed themselves via surgery, genderwise, its a wide spectrum with a lot of pretty complicated stuff going on in it. So I had to ask myself what was different about this one and — I think maybe it’s the 2-for-1 special!
Let me clarify that — because it’s not about you, Patty.
It’s the whole idea of a 2-1 special at the plastic surgeon’s office (or the dermatology office, or wherever). The whole idea that bargain shopping or buying-in-bulk could apply to those procedures, that makes it sound like a trip to Walgreens. I think, also, I’m suspicious of the company’s motivations. I know, personally, once I got a taste for MORE it would be very hard to go back… It’s a little too much like free samples of an addictive drug.
Um, not that there are any parallels with perfume there. (Where is that damn whistling emoticon?)
I guess I don’t look at it that way. The fillers aren’t surgery, they are completely cosmetic and optional. I look at it like any cosmetic or perfume. I would never myself or suggest to anyone that they should go for the second syringe of filler because it was at a discount, but if you need two syringes to begin with – and the doctor has to agree with you – then it’s a savings. If someone went for the additional filler just for the bargain and they didn’t need it, that’s ridiculous, but most of these places can also store the unused portion for you, and you use it the next time, even if that’s a year from now.
I mention those things because I was surprised, I’ve never known filler companies to do much in the way of promotions because I don’t think they have had to, but I suspect the downturn in the economy is affecting them as well.
No flames here. I know I always run the risk of squicking people out when I post these, but I also get a lot of e-mail too from people who were considering it and having more information has helped them decide a definite no or a definite yes. I’m not a proponent of anyone having any cosmetic procedure ever.
so if someone is a big no, I think that’s great. I’d just like for it to be as okay for people who are yesses on these to not feel somehow ashamed for wanting/doing cosmetic procedures.
I know it’s not perfume, but we wander around off-topic pretty regularly here, and it’s okay for people to just skip the posts about off-topic things they don’t like or don’t care about. 🙂
Ok, so I love botox. Not the overdone, I can’t even squint amount, but I do love hearing that my forehead is like glass. I also have done radiesse in the “parantheses” around my mouth and THAT is what I detested the most about my face. It is SO absolutely worth it and I would give up botox to keep my radiesse. The funny thing is, no one really notices other than I look well-rested or I’ve done “Something”….
I love these little tweaks, and for the same amount of money one can spend on silly creams and ridiculous serums that do literally nothing (ask Paula Begoun), we can get instant, long-lasting results that have been proven to prevent actual lines from forming. Yeah!!
Radiesse, really? Is that permanent’ish or longer lasting? I do want to do the corners of my mouth with something, but Juvaderm doesn’t work there, I was told.
Radiesse is supposed to be longer lasting than the others and actually help to build your own collagen up a few months after treatment. My last round of radiesse lasted about 16 months. Pretty good stuff….but can’t be used in the lips…too hard I think.
I haven’t done a thing to my face but wash it. I would do some nips here and there but I can’t afford to.
But whatever you’re doing, you’re doing it right. If I hadn’t read it I would only think that you lucked out in the genes department.
What’s weird here is that among some women having that immobile, pulled-tight trout pouty look (with optional chiclet veneers) becomes the norm. I’ve sat in meetings with people who resemble “Team America: World Police” in the amount of expression they can muster. I mean, I want to look young, but I want to be able to raise and/or lower my eyebrow..
ha ha! Team America! Totally.
I’m a bit torn about the whole thing. I guess I’m still in the keep it to private thoughts and questions stage. I do know this- I don’t like people telling me what I ‘need’ to have done, especially if I haven’t asked! Ack! The physical transformation to (almost) 40 can be demoralizing enough when I look in the mirror.
I’ve been working on getting used to feeling good about looking older- and looking for good older role models that have a similar sense of style and attitude. Not younger ones. We all start feeling this strange fear, and then we have to decide what to do with it. I just know I don’t want to be scared and self conscious all the time.
ok, that sounded like I was naysaying Patty’s post. I’m not! She sounds so excited and happy, and that’s what we want for each other. I’m totally for it in that respect.
I may at some point do something. But feel like I need to get a better handle on how I feel about myself first. Also, there is a huge financial barrier that prevents me from even considering a consultation…so that is another reason it’s not in my realm of possibilities.
cheers, everyone.
Oh, dea, don’t even worry about it! I don’t know if you’ve been reading our blog for a long time, but I have an ongoing commentary about any and all cosmetic procedures I have had done for like the last year. I did do an upper bleph on my eyes a year ago that I posted pictures of the after.
I’m all for people doing what they want to do on this – either do or not. On the low side of my 40s, I still was swearing I’d never do anything. Somewhere after 45, my face started to descend, and I changed my mind. I didn’t want to look younger, I just didn’t want to look like a bad 49.
I think there are lots of people that shouldn’t have procedures done, especially if it bothers them that they are doing it. It doesn’t bother me in the least. 🙂
It’s just a hugely personal decision, and I think everyone should be okay with what others do. I even fully support people that wind up with the Team America face. If that makes them happy about looking in the mirror, and that’s the version of themselves that works, they should go with that. It just doesn’t work for me. Much like I think even what I do wouldn’t work for a lot of other people. 🙂
Team America, that’s a great visual! Yeah, I feel the same way. I’m counting on my family and friends to tell me whoa if I’m entering that realm. I think botox is great, but it’s one of those that I think can sneak up on you and you don’t realize how immobile your face is, it just looks so smooth and unwrinkled. Some is great. Too much is tragic. Getting the balance is tricky.
and thanks! I think I look every one of my 49 years, even with procedures, but I don’t mean that in a bad way, and I don’t even want to look younger than I am. I just want to look the best 49 I can.
I’d love to see pictures! the tear duct sounds freaky though. You are brave.
It was freaky, but not in a hurt sort of way. I just closed my eyes and didn’t think about it too much. Today? I’m all swollen, I look ridiculous, but they were pretty sure I’d swell just based on how it went during the procedure.
I can’t wait to see pictures. At this point I would like an entire head transplant but I don’t think that’s exactly in the offing. But I’m sure you look even lovelier than ever.
No head transplant for you! You’re gorgeous, you really don’t need to do a thing, Francesca. I’m serious.