We’re asking a simple question – can you love your laugh lines, but still get Botox? We delve deep into the thought process behind getting Botox for the first time:
Ok guys, let’s get real for a minute. I got Botox for the first time at 34, and truly, the internal drama I went through could’ve been a six-ep Netflix series. Was I too young? Was I betraying the sisterhood? Would I become one of those women who can’t frown even when the situation deserves a frown? God forbid THAT.
I wanted Botox. I had a deep, deep crease between my eyes that I hated – the product of too many disapproving looks!? – and my forehead looked like it had had a train track laid over the top of it. Everything was just a little dull, a little drooped… like curtains that need a good wash, if you know what I mean? The texture of my skin was beginning to change too, and I just didn’t froth what I saw in the mirror.
Well, some of it, I didn’t froth. Other parts of my face I rather liked, especially my laugh lines. I love the crinkles around my eyes, in fact: they make me look happy and warm and fun and someone who will always say yes to a cheese platter. They make me, well, me.
But with my wedding coming up, and a lot of “these photos will literally exist forever” energy swirling around my brain, I knew what I wanted. I wanted to walk into my wedding feeling like I looked my absolute best – and radiating sheer, glorious confidence and happiness.
I’ll be very clear here – no one NEEDS injectables. Taking care of your skin can come in so many forms – good skincare, treatments, jazzy new technology – but this was something that I, personally was keen to give a go.
And honestly? I loved it. She was glowing, she was smooth, she was young – she was a bride!
What my skin looked like immediately after Botox
Two weeks later
It wasn’t in a “who is she?!” way – more, in a “did I accidentally sleep for ten uninterrupted hours?” way.
The confidence injection, no pun intended, was amazing. It was like a heightened version of that feeling you get when you go to the hairdresser, or the facialist, or when you find that perfect dress on-sale that makes you feel a million bucks. A huge win.
And yes, my laugh lines, while softened, were still there. Perhaps you CAN have your cake and eat it too?
So What Actually IS Botox, and What Happens When You Get Botox? (The Fun Version)
Botox is a purified protein that temporarily relaxes specific facial muscles, stopping them from over-contracting and creating lines every time you smile, frown or squint at your inbox. It doesn’t fill or plump; it simply tells those muscles to calm down, which smooths the skin and softens wrinkles. Think of it as a subtle refresh rather than a transformation – a way to look a little more rested, even if your sleep schedule says otherwise. The effects last a few months, and then everything gradually returns to normal, giving you the option to keep going or call it a one-off experiment.
The highlights:
- The actual injections take 10–15 minutes – and I was, genuinely, super-shocked at how little it hurt. Some of them I couldn’t even feel, whereas the most ‘painful’ ones felt like a little sting.
- People commonly get the forehead, frown lines (the “11s”), and around the eyes – the classics.
- You might get tiny red bumps afterwards for 20–30 minutes. They go away pretty quickly!
- You can’t lie down for four hours, which is the hardest part if you’re me and love a spontaneous nap.
- Results generally kick about two weeks post treatment
- The effects of Botox last 3-4 month.
Jackie Smith, the founder of Caci, says, “For so many women, it’s not about looking different, it’s about feeling more like themselves.
“Yes, Botox is simple, safe, and fast. But its true magic lies in the subtle shift it creates: relaxing those muscles that pull us into expressions we don’t intend, the frown that can make us look tired, the tension that settles between the brows. Suddenly, your face reflects how you really feel inside.
“And that feeling matters. When you look in the mirror and see a softer, more open version of yourself, something lifts. You feel lighter. Brighter. More confident stepping into your day. That’s the real superpower of coming to Caci. We help women feel positive, empowered, and comfortable in their own skin.”
Botox Has Become the New Brunch Chat – I’m Here For It
At some point in the last five years, Botox, or more specifically, any anti-wrinkle injection, has gone from gals’ dirty little secrets (‘Has she?! Hasn’t she!?) to something we enthusiastically discuss over martinis and truffle fries – how many units do you get? How much does it cost? Who’s your injector?
The Washington Post reports that neuromodulator treatments (that’s Botox, Dysport, Xeomin etc.) have nearly doubled in the since 2019. Botox is mainstream baby!
Celebrities openly talk about it now, which has done WONDERS for the collective anxiety around it. When the people whose literal job is “having a face” admit to Botox, suddenly it feels less like a scandal and more like… an empowering errand?
Still, for many of us, it’s not just a beauty choice. It’s a whole thing.
It’s Ok to Have *Feelings* About Botox
So when I polled my friends on Botox – all of whom are in their 30s or early 40s – it was an exact 50/50 split. Half had tried it. Half hadn’t. And truly none of them were doing it – or not doing it – for deep moral reasons.
The “yes I get Botox” group said things like:
- “I like looking refreshed.”
- “It’s cheaper than therapy.”
- “It makes me look like I feel on the inside”
- “My forehead lines were starting to look like a silk dress balled up in the back of the wardrobe, what do you want from me?”
The “I don’t get Botox” group said things like:
- “I’m scared I’ll look weird.”
- “I’m not a fan of needles.”
- “I don’t need it”
- “I don’t what to ask for”
No one said anything along the lines, “I think women who get Botox are failing at feminism” – it’s literally not that deep and, hail the confidence gods, it seems the conversation has officially moved on.
So, I’m calling it:
You can love yourself and change yourself at the same time – they’re not mutually exclusive. A couple of my mates wanted to try it, but didn’t know how to start (I can’t recommend going in to Caci or wherever you’re planning on getting your Botox and get a consultation first – they’ll be able to work around what you want to keep, change or enhance).
I’ve had Botox three times now, over about 14 months, and I’ve now nailed my exact right dose, placement and frequency – and I don’t see myself going without anytime soon.
And for anyone who needs to hear it, here’s my *hot take*:
You can adore your laugh lines and still soften your frown lines – I did, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.
You can cherish the history in your face and still choose a smoother forehead, whether that’s by injectables or treatments or miracles.
You can be a feminist and still care about aesthetics – because your face is what the world sees, and you want it to reflect who you are, and how confident you are, on the inside.
You can get Botox and still be deeply committed to believing women are beautiful exactly as they are, including you, before and after.
And the older I’m getting, the more I believe that self-love doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means doing what feels right for you. Botox doesn’t erase my identity. It just helps my face reflect how I feel – and I’m absolutely here for it.