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I’ve gotten asked a lot of questions about my first experience with Botox, so I wanted to share a few of the common questions I’ve received. For those of you that haven’t been keeping up, yes I tried Botox for the very first time this past fall (courtesy of Northwest Arkansas Center for Plastic Surgery), and YES – I fell in love. Hopefully my answers here will help those of ya who are on the fence!

Did it hurt?
After my very first injection I was like, “That’s it?! That’s WAY too easy.” And it was. My NWACPS nurse injector (AKA my new best friend, Annie) first gave me a little ice pack to numb my injection areas, so it really just felt like tiny little pinches. Bonus: I got to keep the reusable ice pack. We keep it in the fridge and Iris uses it as her “ouch pouch” whenever she gets hurt.

Does your face feel any different?
If anything, it feels little tighter – but in a good way. Overall, it’s not very noticeable though.

Where did you get the injections?
Where my lines and wrinkles have started to form – My crows-feet, forehead, and in-between my eyebrows.

Can you really tell a difference?
Absolutely! It’s subtle, but smooth – just like real-life photoshop. Now when I’m outside in the bright light, I don’t look like I’m scowling. When I smile, I don’t have drastic wrinkles by the corners of my eyes. And since I no longer have bangs, all you see is a smooth forehead!

Can people tell that you got it?
If I wasn’t broadcasting it on my blog (and to everyone I meet), I think it’s safe to say that no one would look at me and think, “Botox!” But once I point it out, I think the difference is pretty clear (see the before and after photos below). I’ve said this time and time again, but I love NWACPS‘s approach to Botox. They start out small because you can always add more later, but you certainly don’t want to over do it! As for right after the injections, I had little dots on my forehead, but they were gone by that evening. In fact, I got my injections on my lunch hour and went straight back to the office. Keep in mind that the effects aren’t instant though. I didn’t start seeing results until after about four days and after about two weeks it should be fully set.

How long does it last?
For me, it started to slowly wear off around the three-month mark. You can probably make it stretch more towards four months, but it’s actually more beneficial in the long-run to get another treatment when you notice it starting to fade. Since it prevents your muscles from moving, it’s also preventing some of those new wrinkles from forming! You may even find yourself needing less injections.

Have you tried any other injectable?
I have not, but I have asked about fillers. One day I might give them a try, but (thankfully) my face is still pretty full and youthful according to Annie – she’s my best friend for a reason. 😉 And that’s why it’s so important that I’m taking such care of my skin now (beyond Botox) through an advanced skincare routine – so that hopefully the need for other treatments will be a lot further out. It’s all about preservation!

Would you get Botox again?
Yes, yes, yes, yes, YES. In fact, I’ve already gotten my second round. In a perfect world I would go every three months.

Okay, okay – I get it. You love Botox. But what about some before and after photos?
Oh I love a good before and after, so here you go. These first photos are from my very first visit to NWACPS:

And here I am recently (about two weeks after my second round of Botox):

If you live in Northwest Arkansas and are thinking about it, I will forever recommend going in for a skincare consultation at Northwest Arkansas Center for Plastic Surgery. Not only is the consultation free, but they work with you based on your personal needs and budget (not to mention they are the sweetest bunch of people you will ever meet).

Nearly everyone vows to take care of their health as part of their New Year’s resolution – exercising more, eating better, but what about taking care of your skin? Last January I started working out regularly and, one year later, I’m still going strong. So now that exercise is a normal part of my routine, 2017 is the year I pledge to take care of my skin.

Thankfully, I have a head start as I’m entering the New Year with a fresh skincare routine, which I thought would be fun to share. I will say that the best part about my routine is that it’s tailored for me. If you’ve been following along on my skincare journey, you’ll remember that I met with Krissa, my lovely esthetician, at the Northwest Arkansas Center for Plastic Surgery’s Skin Care Center a few months back (see that post here). They give free consultations and help guide you in the best direction not only for your skin, but for your time and budget.

A solid three months in and I can honestly say that my skin has never been smoother, softer, or glowy-er (that’s not a word, is it? It should be). The only downside is that when I do have an imperfection, it’s so much more noticeable because now my face is such a fresh canvas… but that’s an amazing problem to have. You can check my updates via previous posts here and here. As for my personal skincare regime, I have pretty sensitive skin so everything that NWACPS has done for me has been with that in mind, including the products that I use. Take a look!

Morning:
– I start with washing my face with warm water and SkinMedica Sensitive Skin Cleanser.
– After rinsing and patting dry, I apply a few dabs of SkinMedica Redness Relief CalmPlex. This cream smells like cinnamon and has a slight tingly feeling that my face now craves every morning like a strong cup of coffee. The main perk is that it helps pull out the redness that I get oh-so easily, especially along my T-Zone.
– From there, I apply a penny-sized portion of SkinMedica Replenish Hydrating Cream. If the cold weather has dried out my skin, I may add a little more. I’m kind of picky when it comes to facial moisturizers, but I’m in love with this one – it hydrates, soothes, and smooths all at the same time (and a little goes a long way).
– Lastly, I use SkinMedica Total Defense & Repair as the final step before makeup. With SPF 50, this goes beyond UV protection and also defends against infrared rays.
– About 2-3 times a week I also start my routine with Theraderm NuPeel. I apply about a nickle-sized portion to completely dry skin. As I scrub, it gently removes dead skin cells. Basically it’s an easy, natural facial peel that you can do at home.
– Throughout the day I apply Theraderm Anti-Aging Lip Complex (in the winter months this helps keep my lips from becoming chapped as well).

Night:
– Wash again with warm water and SkinMedica Sensitive Skin Cleanser, cleaning off any makeup I wore that day.
– About three times per week I also wash with AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser. This step gently scrubs away dead skin, improving skin tone and texture.
– Next comes the GOOD stuff – TNS Recovery Complex. Orange in color, and a bit odd in smell, you can tell this really works. It rejuvenates, reduces appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and enhances skin texture and tone. It dries very quickly, so I spread it out as fast as I can savoring every last drop. Again, a little of this goes a long way.
– Finally, I once again coat my face in my favorite SkinMedica Replenish Hydrating Cream, then off to bed I go!

Maintenance:
– At the center of every good skin routine is a good core of maintenance. I’ve been getting Dermaplane once every month and, as you can tell from my previous post, it’s one of my favorite things. Not only does it leave my skin soft with an incredible glow, but the procedure is actually very relaxing. Dermaplane removes the peach fuzz from the face, while also creating a good foundation for other things, such as peels.
– Speaking of which, I’ve also done a couple of lactic peels, some very light and some a little stronger. I love that NWACPS eases me into things so that we can see how my skin will react. Over the last couple months my skin has become less sensitive, so I’m able to try out the stronger stuff. Yeah!
– For tougher spots to treat (like my nose), I’ve had microdermabrasion treatments instead of Dermaplane. Having the option to combine both in one sitting is great (once again, THANK YOU KRISSA!).
– One word: BOTOX. I’ve gotten it once and, three months later, I’m set to get my second round this week! While I know it can be a little intimidating to try at first, I can tell you that it is worth it a million times over. At 36-years-old, I have wrinkles that have started to form where I don’t necessarily like them (my furrowed brow, crows feet, and forehead). Botox has subtly smoothed out these lines and will also help in preventing new ones. Done and done!
– Last month I also added something new to the mix – laser! At NWACPS they used a machine called the Nordlys Hybrid Experience, which is a less painful form of laser. I must admit, I was a tad nervous to try this because I had no idea what to expect. My nerves were all for nothing though, because the pain level was completely bearable (at most it felt like a rubber band snap) and there was no recovery afterwards. The round that I did was to remove brown spots under my skin’s surface and my next round will be to remove the redness (which I have a ton of). Overall, this will give a more even look to my skin, making it look even better overall!

While this may sound like a lot, I actually only spend about 5 minutes every morning and night, plus I look forward to each face wash (and of course to each appointment). Because my skin has already changed since beginning my new regimen, I’m sure that means my routine will change as well – and that’s why I’m so happy to have professionals helping me along the way. I highly recommend at least starting with a consultation and, if you’re in NW Arkansas, NWACPS can’t be beat. Dr. Stacey and everyone who works there is so warm, welcoming, and helpful. I’ve asked a gazillion questions and I love that they’ve explained the process to me every step of the way. And while I am loving the results that I’m seeing, what’s even better is knowing that it will have lasting effects that I’ll see as I grow older.

This post is in partnership with NWACPS, however the words and opinions in my blog are truly my own.