Giving my face an MOT, my thoughts on Botox and Fillers

My oh my, how time flies, huh? Back around my birthday in June I posted that for my 32nd I was giving my face a full MOT; botox, lip fillers, teeth whitening – the lot. Some felt disappointed in my actions while others appreciated the transparency. I promised to follow up with a post on the results, my feels and everything that’s happened since. I’ll let you know right now, if you’re looking for some sort of botox horror story, you’re not gonna find it here!

Where did I go?

For years I’ve laughed and joked with friends of my plans to grow old as disgracefully as possible. Now, this is only partly true. I am 100% supportive of all plastic surgery if it’s what you want, but that’s not to say I want it all. I had a few “problem” areas that really effected my confidence both on and off the camera. Starting with my “number 11’s” in-between my brows and ending with discolouration of my teeth after one too many Irn Bru’s, I wanted to find a doctor who could do it all, and that’s exactly what I found in Dr Rita Poddar from The Peppermint Group on Bath St, Glasgow.

Before I delve any deeper, it might be useful for those who are new to botox or lip fillers to understand what’s involved. The most important thing before even considering any procedure is finding the right person to do it. I was determined to find someone who specialised in natural, unnoticeable work and who had been recommended more times than I can count.

With a background in dental, Dr Rita Poddar knows exactly how the face and our muscles work. With a passion for skincare she ensures patients leave with information that will help them from the inside out. After around a 20 min chat, I knew that I wanted to go ahead.  There was no pressure, the consultation was completely free and she talked the procedure through from start to aftercare. The clinic was extremely clean and all the staff were super friendly from start to finish. All of these factors combined made me feel super comfortable, and that’s exactly how you should feel when you’re about to get needles in your face!

Remember, if you’re interested in botox, lip fillers or any kind of aesthetic treatment, research should be your first port of call. Find reviews, slide into some DM’s and take full advantage of your consultation. Unless you feel fully comfortable with everything, do NOT go ahead unless you are 100%. It’s your body, and your choice after all.

What I got done

I decided to break everything down into separate visits. I know I am a go big or go home girl but not when it comes to my face! For my first visit, we tackled the botox. My forehead was the main area I wanted to focus on so Dr Rita strategically dotted 1ml of botox around the top of my head and the corner of my eyes for a smoother effect. Gone was the scrunchy face as soon as the sun came out, even after a few drops I felt a million bucks. Two weeks later I went in for  check up and to get my lip fillers.  I had a little more added where I lost some volume in my brow and opted for the small .5ml measure of fillers for my lips to see how I got on. Rita noticed I had slight drooping from years of anxious lip biting, so she concentrated around the cupids bow to create a fuller perfect pout. Two weeks after that, it was back in for the first stage of teeth whitening and voila! The best version of my natural self.

Did it hurt?

Unsurprisingly, this is the most asked question I’ve had so far. For me, it really didn’t hurt much at all (as you can see from the videos in my highlights!) Botox feels similar to the sensation of bursting a spot while lip fillers can be a lot nippier – although not so much thanks to numbing cream! I could barely feel the needle, although there was a little bit of a burning/stinging sensation as the gel was distributed. Your lips are more sensitive in some areas than others – for example, the deeper the needle went into the middle of my lips, the more it did begin to hurt, but this pain lasts for a second tops so it’s totally bearable. The effect of this is that towards the end it’s pretty close to painless – more uncomfortable than anything.

How much and is it worth it?

If there’s one thing I can stress, is don’t be tempted by cheap prices. Infact, be deterred by them! Price will differ depending on location and the doctor you choose, but botox can start from £150-£350 where fillers have a starting price of around £250. I love how natural my face has turned out and if you’re keen to get work done then it’s always going to be worth the price.

The results

Although it’s been disappointing news to some of my decision to venture into botox and fillers, I’ve actually never felt more confident. Yes, I’ve had a wrinkle free face before, but I’ve never been 32 before! Turning 30 changes you for the better and with each year you care a little less about the things that used to get you worked up. It’s like that saying you would always rolled your eyes at:  “confidence comes with age” but it’s true! I’m not here to be a role model for young girls to stay clear of plastic surgery, I’m here to do what’s right for me, and I don’t regret it one single iota. Hell, I even got rid of my beloved fringe to show my face off more! It may not be for everyone, but a little goes a long way and it feels right for me.

Stay tuned for part 2 where I talk teeth whitening and top ups, head on over to my story highlights if you want to see both the botox and the lip filler procedure live in action! If you are based near or around Glasgow, I honestly cannot recommend The Peppermint Group and Dr Rita Poddar enough. Let me know your thoughts on botox and fillers over on Instagram @foreveryoursbetty!