I tried botox for the first time!

and a comment on anti-aging from someone who is pro-aging

I am filled with oxymorons. For the sake of this post, let’s say Botoxy-morons.

I am vehemently pro-aging, and yet I’ve done a few ‘anti’ aging interventions over the last few months.

The phrase anti-aging is incredibly obnoxious and quite frankly a marketing scam that feeds on insecurities. Whereas in reality, it is an enormous gift to age. If there’s anything my job has taught me, it’s that.

In terms of my own philosophy, I don’t even necessarily want to age gracefully. I want to age loud and weird and wild.

And yet I’ve also been curious about a few things in the beauty industry department.

One of them being Botox.

Does this make me a hypocrite?

Maybe! Probably! Almost definitely?

Though it’s remained locked in the box of curiosity for the last 5-7 years. A popcorn of thought that settled and returned to hibernation.

That is until a few weeks ago.

I was walking to the T (subway for non-Boston people) to get to my favorite movement class. As I was crossing a parking lot, I saw a massive bus with an somewhat alarmingly overhyped and energetic DJ in the background, especially given it was 11am.

A quick Google search showed me it was botox that was going on inside that bus.

Botox in a bus, you say? Not sketchy at all!!

And yet I saw the establishment doing it that day was LexRx, a reputable aesthetics facility with multiple locations in the Boston area. I’ve known about this company for some time because I have a friend who works in the emergency department at MGH and some of the NPs who work in the ED are also injectors at LexRx.

Out of curiosity, I looked at the times available, and saw it would work perfectly with my schedule that day. I texted some friends to ensure it wasn’t an entirely manic decision. And then went to take my class, allowing some distance between stimulus and decision.

On the way back, seeing a still open slot with Alexandra, one of co-founders of LexRx, I booked the appointment. Booked it ~5 minutes before it started to be exact.

So yes, despite considering it for years and never following through, I got my first experience with Botox on a bus, entirely unplanned, on a random Thursday afternoon.

This post is about this decision, and also a few other things I’ve done for the sake of aesthetics / anti-aging over the last few months, namely micro-needling, red light mask, and Invisalign. As someone who has felt like they’ve done a lot of inner personal and professional development, this will be an interesting one to write because it is entirely rooted in aesthetics, for which some may say is superficial.

This post also includes pricing of said procedures/interventions, a video of me getting Botox, as well as the most unflattering series of selfies I’ve ever taken, equipped with Botox before and afters.

As always, acknowledging privilege up top. In addition to Botox, the other treatments mentioned are expensive, and not universally accessible. Nor are they needed!! If you’re in a place of low self esteem or confidence, or feeling vulnerable in any way, this may be a post to skip.