This post was done in partnership with JUVÉDERM®,and Allergan Canada however as always, all opinions are my own.
How can one year be the best and worst in your entire life? I didn’t think it was possible, but between seeing my newborn grow into a 1-year old angel and ending an 11-year marriage (15 years together), 2018 was the best and worst year of my life. Enter 2019 and I’m ready to focus on me. Over the last year, my mental, physical and emotional health have been stagnant and on the back burner (I’m sure you can relate?) Being a single mom with a full-time job is INCREDIBLY hard, but making the time to improve the way I look and feel is a priority that I have committed to this year. I want to be the best mom, the best boss, the best employee and the best friend that I can be, and in order to do this, I need a solid plan for improving myself. I’m doing this in a variety of ways (focusing on diet, exercise, meditation, journaling, etc.), all of which I will devote another post to, but today I want to talk to you about one thing that I’ve been thinking about doing for a long time and finally took the plunge – injectable treatments (yes fillers!)
The Apprehension
(before: no makeup)
Why, as women do we constantly put ourselves last when there are simple things we can do to help us look and feel great? I’m turning 40 in May, and let’s just say the last year of stress and aging has not helped the way I look or feel. When I started researching things I could do, I began to take an interest in injectable treatments. I think when many of us think of filler, we are apprehensive because of the ‘botched jobs’ we’ve seen – am I right? Don’t worry – I did too. I was truly very apprehensive.
As I started collecting real facts and researching JUVÉDERM®,I scheduled a consultation to make my final decision. After meeting with a leading dermatologist who specializes in natural looking rejuvenation treatments for women, I realized that injectable treatments could be done in natural way which could help me feel better about myself. I met with Dr. Julia Carroll at Compass Dermatology who sat down with me for 30 minutes to discuss what I liked, or disliked about the way I looked. Some of my concerns: the ’11s’ and lines on my forehead, saggy cheeks and small lips could all be addressed with some simple wrinkle reducing injections and facial filler injections. In order to achieve a customized approach, Dr. Carroll uses MD Codes™, a unique approach to treating the signs of aging, which targets the underlying cause rather than the problem areas themselves. This bespoke treatment made me feel so much more confident that I would be able to achieve something that would make me feel better about myself.
We scheduled 2 appointments – one for the wrinkle reducing injections and a second one two weeks later for the filler. Dr. Carroll really believes it’s important to start slowly and add a small natural amount of wrinkle reducer/filler so that you have time to sit with it, get used to how you look, before adding any more. I loved this approach because it really connected with the natural approach to beauty that I was looking for. I didn’t want anyone to notice that I had anything ‘done’ to my face.
The Treatment
The wrinkle reducing injections took all of 5 mins, and the facial filler, maybe 15. That’s what I would compare wrinkle reducing injections to. I have friends who are petrified of needles, but honestly it’s not a big deal When Dr. Carroll administered the facial filler, she first drew a little plan on my face of where she wanted the injection sites to be. I was worried about the pain from the needles, but it just felt like a little prick and it was over so quickly. Now the lips were another story. For me, I thought the lips were more painful, but still tolerable. My sister (who has had filler done before) warned me to have something to eat prior to my treatment, so perhaps I was more prepared. Good advice. After the treatment, I was advised that I may have some bruising and swelling, but honestly my lips were sore and a little swollen, but nothing that was noticeable to anyone else.
Having had my initial doubts about injectable treatments, I can’t speak highly enough of my experience. I look and feel like an enhanced version of myself. My confidence about how I look has increased dramatically. My results are so natural that not one person has ‘noticed’ that I’ve had anything done, but I’m constantly complimented on my skin. When I mentioned this to Dr. Carroll, she said because everything is tighter and lifted, it makes my skin appear more luminous. For those interested in how long these treatments last? I’ve been told that Juvéderm can last up to 24 months.
Will I Do It Again?
Absolutely! It’s a no-brainer. I feel great and I honestly think that I can approach turning 40 and aging much more gracefully now. Yes, it’s so important to put other people first, but remember that you’re important too and sometimes you have to put yourself first to be the best YOU that you can be for others.
Is it Right for You?
If you’re thinking about injectable treatments, start by visiting: www.juvéderm.ca for more info on facial fillers and to find a qualified doctor in your area. I would urge you to book a consultation too as there’s no commitment to getting the treatment. JUVÉDERM®, also has a Visualizer tool that allows you to take a picture of yourself to see what the different treatments might look like on you – how cool is that??? The application tracks facial features like wrinkles, folds and loss of volume and performs a life-like 3D simulation of clinically-calibrated changes to the skin so women can see – as if looking at your own reflection in a mirror to see how treatment can impact your appearance. If you’re considering a treatment, I would recommend checking out Juvéderm’s Rewards Program – Brilliant Distinctions to make sure you’re earning points. There’s no question that I’ll be heading back to see Dr. Carroll so a rewards program is appealing!
