I got Botox at 23 and have zero regrets

Picture a Botox devotee. The woman (it’s always a woman) you’re thinking of looks like a Real Housewives castoff, right?

But at a marginally fresh-faced 23, I’ve officially joined their ranks. Yes, in my early 20s, I paid a doctor to shoot poison into my forehead to make my eyebrows more Jenner-like — and I’m so fucking happy about it.

When relaxed, my eyes could best be described as looking like they belong to a newborn gerbil. They’re small, downturned and never look fully awake (see dog pic 1 for reference). A more alert, intrigued look was what my face needed. Kylie Jenner’s arched brows and permanently interested expression was the ideal, of course. Her eye situation said to the world, “I hear you, but I’m not like, crazy interested in what you have to say.

A brutal ‘before’ shot, complete with Dogface to soften the makeup-free impact

At a routine visit to my dermatologist, I asked her if she administered fillers and injectables in-office and, if so, would they work to achieve the desired look. My doctor said that a quick five CCs of Botox could give my brows the Kylie lift and even fill in a super tiny wrinkle that was just beginning to sprout on my forehead — and she could do it right then and there.

The Kylie look of legend

After a quick consultation with my mom, a hot as hell fellow filler fan, she agreed to front the small £50 charge (that’s a tenner per CC) to finally achieve my dream of having my eyebrows arch just above the frame of my sunglasses. After filling out a quick form that said we wouldn’t sue if my entire face became paralyzed and/or fell off, and a nurse gave my forehead a quick swabbing with an alcohol pad.

My doctor seized my head and just kind of went for it, jabbing the needle into strategic points above my brows and forehead. Both the swelling and pain were minimal and I was sent on my way just minutes later with strict instructions to do some crazy face exercises in the car and a caveat that full results wouldn’t be visible for a few days.

Redness was minimal, my glee was off the charts

My face finally settled about three days later. My relaxed eyes looked like they would when I was trying be as wide-eyed as possible. My tiny forehead wrinkle vanished as well, and my 20-year-plus goal of having eyebrows that arched over my sunglasses was achieved.

I’m (clearly) a very open person, so my Botox experience is something I usually feel pretty damn comfortable talking about. It’s other people who seem to be a little taken aback when it’s mentioned.

The most common reactions are people who ask if it was for a health reason like excessive sweating or migraines (nope, just my own vanity!) or comments like “You didn’t even have wrinkles to begin with.” Why do women’s beauty procedures always have to be followed with a “you didn’t need that”? Isn’t just wanting it enough? Call it a radical act of self-love, but if I want to stick needles in my face until it’s falling off, that’s my right.

Guys, see how intrigued I look!

All in all, my experience was overwhelmingly positive. Something I didn’t particularly like about myself was corrected under the care of a badass female dermatologist. There’s something about making a physical change to your body, whether it’s a haircut, a tattoo or a filler that makes you feel in control. This is my body, and I’ll do what I want with it.

Sunglasses goal: achieved