Lifestyle

Life takes its toll on your face, and mine was no exception. I'm a 36-year-old busy working mum, and I was fed up with looking in the mirror every morning and seeing someone I didn't recognise.

Luckily I had a very specific problem area, just between by eyebrows. What had started as simple frown lines had got out of control, and turned into heavy and permanently-in-a-bad-mood-lines. I'd written and read about Botox in the past, so I knew it was probably the solution. After a few months of deep thought (bad for the frown lines), I made the decision to go for it and reclaim my forehead while I still could.

The science bit
Making the decision to have any cosmetic treatment should not be taken lightly. Botox is a toxin, which is injected into your face and you should probably mull that thought over before going any further. The medical name for Botox is botulinum toxin and it's a poison that's produced by the bacteria that causes botulism. As a cosmetic treatment Botox is used in small quantities and it works by freezing nerve impulses. This means the muscles that we use to frown or raise our eyebrows are paralyzed. After Botox, when we relax these muscles any fine lines and wrinkles smooth out.

The history bit
Botox has been around for more than 20 years, but it took a while for its cosmetic potential to be realised and it was first used to treat muscle disorders such as lazy eyes, ticks and uncontrollable blinking in adults and children. It's recently proved successful in treating kids with cerebral palsy. As we all know, in recent years it's become one of the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

What's it recommended for?
Botox is generally used in the upper part of the face, so frown lines, forehead creases and crow's feet. So my annoying frown lines were the perfect candidate.

What can't it do?
Before you run out and ask for your entire face to be injected, it's not a miracle cure for every aging problem. Botox can't fix fine lines caused by excessive sun. And very heavy lines may need more than one treatment.

How do I find someone to inject me?
Botox is a prescription-only medicine, so it can only be administered by a medical practitioner. However, due to demand for the procedure, you'll now find dentists, plastic surgeons, general surgeons, dermatologists, GPs and nurses (if a doctor has seen you first), all offering to fix your lines.

For me the decision was simple, I wanted a doctor to perform the treatment, and one with extensive cosmetic experience. I wouldn't go to a hairdresser without a recommendation, so it seemed sensible to at least apply the same rules. My research was a combination of digging around in magazines and websites, and asking everyone I knew until the same name came up a few times. But even then I wasn't 100% convinced I'd go through with the procedure until my consultation.

Where did I go?
I chose Dr Daniel Sister (yes really), who works at Beauty Works West in London's Notting Hill. He's been a doctor since 1974, first in Paris (he's a charming Frenchman), then LA where he worked with the Hollywood elite, and now London. He's also a member of the General Medical Council (UK) plus similar organisations in the USA and France. He's also appeared numerous times on TV and has had books published. In short, this guy knows his stuff. He's also got a reputation for not going ahead with a procedure if he feels you don't need it. So if I am making a fuss about nothing, he's the man to tell me.

The consultation
I was nervous beforehand, but Dr Sister quickly put me at ease. My friends who had commented "You don't need it", "You're crazy, you still look really young" etc were instantly put in their place as he pulled back my fringe and said that yes, he could fix those nasty lines. However, when I pointed out other bits of my face I thought could do with a bit of tightening he told me I didn't need anything below eye level. Small mercies, and maybe I don't look as haggard as I'd started to believe.

Before going any further he explained the history of the procedure, what it would feel like, how long it would take, and how quickly I would see the results. Apparently some practitioners reel off lists of do's and don't after Botox, he only had one; don't go shoe shopping. Apparently all the bending down and looking at your feet isn't great for your freshly injected forehead!

Interestingly he also told me that the cosmetic dose he'd use was around 10% of that used medically to treat a child with cerebral palsy, so if that's deemed safe, this is a walk in the park.

How was the treatment?
First my forehead was cleaned with an antiseptic wipe. The injections took just a few minutes, and they did sting but only slightly. The hardest part was frowning to show my lines at their worst, while all the time trying to stop laughing at his surreal French sense of humour.

When could I see the results?
Dr Sister warned me that it can take from between three days and two weeks to see the results. He follows a less-is-more philosophy, and actively avoids creating that expressionless freshly Botoxed look. So as part of his service he offers a free follow-up consultation, that way you can have a top-up if needs be. After a few days I could see some improvement, but not quite the result I'd hoped for; the lines looked plumped out, but they were definitely still there. I popped back two weeks later and he agreed I need some more, this time the results were amazing. Within a week the frown lines had completely gone. The truly brilliant part is that I still have facial expression, and feeling, but I look and feel like me again.

Had anyone noticed?
My husband, bored of telling me to stop squinting and frowning, is overjoyed. I'd only told two friends what I was going through with it, and they've both been giving my forehead close and thorough inspection throughout the process. One of them is about to make her own appointment with Dr Sister, the other is pretty sure she'll be there in the next 12 months. People I haven't told have commented that I look well, that I look rested, and happier.

How long does it last?
The average time between treatments is three to four months. It's now three months since my treatment, and I think the lines have slightly re-appeared. However everyone else says they still look fine. Mind you, with a summer holiday planned I probably will book a top-up in the next month or so.

What did it cost?
Botox costs between £170 and £350 per treated area. I paid £180 and saw Dr Sister twice.

Will I go back for more?
Having Botox has changed my life. I'd got to a stage where I hated looking in the mirror, I was aware that people were wrongly judging my mood as my frown lines were making me look grumpy. After Botox I feel like me again, and I look like me five years ago, and who wouldn't want that? So would I go back for more? Just try and stop me.

Dr Sister can be found at Beauty Works West, 8/9 Lambton Place, off Wesbourne Grove, London W11 2SH. 020 7221 2248.