The French, of course, have a saying for it, "Il faut souffrir pour etre belle", which means, “You have to suffer to become beautiful". This is something I found myself thinking as I lay on a doctor's couch a few weeks ago, with a small needle being injected into my forehead. You see, I'd do just about anything to look younger.
After all, I’ve had colonic irrigation to cleanse my insides, Restylane injected into my face to plump out my skin, and microdermabrasion to give my skin a sandblasting exfoliation. I’ve even had Isolegen – a process where cells are taken from behind your ear, cultured in a lab and then injected into your face. Just show me a method of limiting the ageing process and I’ll be there before you can say ‘fountain of eternal youth’.
Of all the anti ageing treatments I’ve tried, I’ve come to the conclusion that Botox is the best. As have millions of women across the globe, because Botox, or the botulinum toxin, is the western world's most popular medical anti-ageing treatment. I am ageing and vain - but not bonkers - so I did quite a lot of research into the procedure before I first tried it out.
Botox is safe, but don't take my word for it. It has been used medically since 1980 (treating facial tics, muscle spasms, excessive sweating, lazy eyes and cerebral palsy) and was approved by the FDA in 1989. It has been used cosmetically since 1987. Last year, the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology reported the findings of the first independent study on those who had had Botox regularly for more than 10 years. It wasn't stored in the liver, or elsewhere in the body, and it didn't leave long-term treated muscles withered and dying.
Botox stops the muscles from contracting, but only for a limited time before the body naturally breaks it down and gets rid of it. That's why I have to keep going back for top-ups.
This is, in a roundabout way, how I found myself having a needle inserted into my forehead almost two weeks ago. I recently turned 40 and decided that it was time to book my face in for an MOT, so I headed down to the Renaissance clinic in Howth for a treatment. When I arrived there, I was led into a small, clean room where I mounted one of those high examination beds covered in white paper. The doctor, Michelle Caraher, discussed the possible side-effects and checked my medical history. There was no anaesthetic – just a little dab of sterilising solution. "Sit up and look straight ahead," Dr Caraher said. "Or, if you prefer, you can close your eyes."
She gave me a number of injections between my eyes and along my forehead. I didn’t even flinch. Three areas were targeted — my forehead and the areas to the right and left of my eyes. It was painless and I soon had five teeny blotches that lasted for about 10 minutes. I was free to put on make-up and left after 20 minutes. She advised me to remain upright for three to four hours after the treatment and not to massage my forehead.
And so to the big question: how much did it hurt? Barely at all -honestly.
After only a couple of days, that miserable frown line on my forehead had softened and, after six, it was gone. My eyebrows were once again the well-formed arches they had been a year earlier and my crow’s feet were gone. The horizontal lines were less pronounced, and when I raised my eyebrows, my whole forehead didn't wrinkle up. The net effect: I looked wonderfully rested, refreshed and yes, perhaps, a little younger. Having Botox injected isn't scary. If anything is frightening, it is the simplicity of it. You can walk in off the high street, have a treatment that hardly hurts, and return to the office with only barely visible tiny pink bumps that mark where the needle went in.
So far I’ve had five Botox treatments and I wouldn’t rule out having more because I’ve always been delighted with the results. So I am always a bit surprised at people’s reactions when I discuss my treatments. Some tut-tut, others just look puzzled and presume I’m a little mad. But I’m not exactly the only one giving myself a little help. At fashionable parties or launches in Dublin, I am surrounded by glamorous women their 30s and 40s. They are immaculately dressed and well-groomed and, most strikingly, have remarkably wrinkle free faces.
Many Irish celebrities vehemently deny having Botox – but isn’t it strange how they all seem to have the foreheads of 17-year-olds?
BOTOX: THE FACTS
* How does it iron out wrinkles? Botox works on wrinkles that develop where muscles contract frequently. It doesn't correct lines caused by the sun or sagging skin caused by age. Temporarily paralysing facial muscles and preventing expressive contractions makes the area look less wrinkled. The areas where Botox works best are in the upper third of the face — frown lines, forehead creases and crow's feet. The effects last between three and six months, depending on the individual.
* The pain factor. Botox is injected into the muscles and treatment takes 10 to 15 minutes. There is no anaesthetic. Because the needle is very fine, most people report only minor pain. There may be bruising.
* Botox, which is a trade name, is a prescription drug used in a medical procedure, so only go to a clinic or surgery where a qualified doctor injects it. Dysport is another, slightly stronger and widely used form of the botulinum toxin.
* Ask the right questions. How long has the doctor been injecting Botox? How many patients do they regularly do? The longer they have used it, the more experienced they are.
* Botox safety. Botox in Ireland is self-regulated by doctors but it is open to abuse on many levels. There is a huge problem with beauticians and nurses administering Botox, despite the fact that they are completely unqualified to do so. Botox is a medication in the same way as penicillin and therefore doctors are allowed to prescribe it as they see fit. Make sure that you go to an experienced doctor.
* Less is more. Going back for a top-up is better than looking like a death mask for three months.
*Get to know your face. While you can "freeze" the negative (angry frown lines), expression lines on the forehead and around the eyes look better when just "relaxed".
* It does hurt - you are having small injections on your face.
* It can bruise, too, but generally, expect nothing more than tiny mosquito bite marks, which can be covered with make-up.
* It takes 3-10 days to work, and in the early days, expect some mildly strange sensations, as some muscles work less while others feel as if they are working more.
* Flying, or lying down (going to bed), soon after treatment may encourage the Botox to migrate - another reason not to go to an evening Botox party.
* Botox should last for at least three months, but we all metabolise it at different rates - sunbathing seems to destroy it faster.
For more information go to: www.renaissanceskinclinic.ie
