MY decision to have Botox didn’t come lightly.
I never had wrinkles until a stressful situation in my life caused me to frown almost constantly for several months.

After a series of difficult situations and plain bad luck, I’d squinted, frowned and furrowed so much that I aged at least five years almost overnight.
But I was terrified of having that ‘frozen’ look so many celebrities suffer from.
So, at the age of 29, with a few fine lines around my eyes and the start of a deep line in the middle of my forehead, it was time to start considering Botox.
Wearing my feelings on my face for 29 years was bound to have had some impact.
I opted to have some of the fine lines around my eyes and the middle of my forehead treated by Luxe Skin clinic’s Dr. Usman Qureshi, affectionately known as Doctor Q to his plethora of satisfied patients.
I tell him my concerns about the burgeoning frown line in the middle of my forehead and how years of cackling at bad jokes has left me with lines around my eyes.

Before

“I don’t like this bit,” I say, pointing to the middle of my forehead, “and these lines,” I add, stroking the outer corners of my eyes.
Reassuringly, he tells me I look younger than my 29 years but that he can easily sort my concerns. Studies show that when Botox is done in your late 20s at the first sign of a deep line, it can actually train the muscle to relax so it doesn’t allow the repeat furrow or movement that created the line, while preventing other lines from forming in the first place.
“We’ll do it now,” he chirps. “It will take less than five minutes and within two weeks you’ll see the results.”
I start to freak out ever so slightly but within a flash, he has me reclined on a chair and the needle is out.
He tells me to frown deeply, smile widely and furrow my brows as much as possible so he can get to the nitty gritty of the worst lines.

I look mad as a hatter making angry faces and smiling like a clown but when I notice how deep my lines can actually go, I breathe a sigh of relief knowing I can fix the problem.
A sense of calm washes over me as I feel two tiny pricks at the sides of my eyes and a mere jab in the middle of my forehead.
I barely feel a thing and start to wonder why I was so apprehensive in the first place.
“All done,” Dr Q says, smiling. My jaw drops at how quickly it’s over and done with and suddenly I feel gleefully excited to see the results.
I visualise morphing into a 19 year old version of myself and getting asked for ID everywhere I go.
Dr Q hands me the mirror and tells me I should start to see results within five days and the full outcome by around two weeks.
I walk out the door feeling more confident than I have in months and phone my best friend straight away to tell her, and she scolds me for getting it done. I don’t feel the slightest hint of regret.

THE RESULTS

After

Although Dr Q says the results normally take five days, I swear I can see a difference within two.
When I smile, the lines around my eyes are much less visible and I feel like I’ve had an intensive facial.
Much to my delight, I haven’t suffered from any bruising and the only side effects are a few minor headaches now and then.
After five days, I can already see a far more youthful reflection and notice furrowing my brow proves far more difficult.
My make up goes on smoother and I feel prettier when I smile as there are less lines around my eyes.

I go to bed excited every night at the possibility of waking up more youthful.
Two weeks later, it’s almost impossible for me to frown – and I love it.
I’m in the middle of France and I stumble to bed after a few glasses of wine, feeling jolly well pleased at the results.
I wake up with a sore head – unsure if it’s been caused by the Bergerac wine or the Botox – and glance in the mirror to see if I’m still looking almost miraculously younger.
My skin is as smooth as a baby’s bottom and I look refreshed, less stressed out and far more serene.
I take a selfie, squinting in the sun, and the line in the middle of my forehead has been ironed out.
I can’t help but peer at the corners of my eyes in the mirror, noticing the smile lines I had forming also seem to have vanished overnight.

OVERALL EXPERIENCE

Despite having never really planned to have Botox, I now can’t understand why more people don’t get it done.
All the skincare products in the world combined don’t offer the same results as the treatment and I’d say it’s definitely worth the money.
Not only does my face look younger, I’ve broken the habit of constantly frowning and squinting while reading which has left me feeling more upbeat and positive.
There are no crow’s feet and my makeup glides on like a dream. I feel far less conscious when I smile or laugh.

Botox can last typically 3-4 months. The results may last longer if more units are used.
Dr Q can also create longer lasting results if you have these muscles injected regularly. This is because the Botox will have more impact on the muscles that are still not fully active.
While I was once firmly on the anti-Botox brigade, I can no longer see the harm in having it done if it makes you feel more confident.
Obviously the key advice is to opt for a professional like Usman Qureshi, who has more than 20 years of experience and makes you feel at ease almost immediately.
Needless to say, I would 100 per cent do it again. When done properly by a board-certified doctor, you can avoid the frozen effect and get the naturally youthful skin you always hoped for.
Now the friend who had originally judged me for having it done is asking for Dr Qs number.
I’ll happily give it out, so long as I can book in again before the big 3-0 next year.