I Got Botox for the First Time—Here's What I Want You to Know

Since around my mid-20s, I've been curious about Botox. Despite being a beauty editor and having access to great skincare and professional treatments, I had started to notice some changes.

I've always had naturally hooded eyes and low, straight eyebrows, and whilst I like to enhance and highlight these features with my makeup, I noticed that my eyes weren't looking quite as "awake" as they used to, and the eye makeup I'd depended on for years just wasn't working with my eye shape anymore.

I'd started to develop some crow's feet around my eyes, and where the outsides of my eyelids curve downwards, doing any kind of winged eyeliner is tricky over the natural fold of my lid. I felt as though my brows had sunk downwards a little too, which I felt made me look a little bit cross when my face was fully relaxed. Of course, we all have things we fixate on that no one else would notice.

Eleanor before Botox.

Subconsciously, I'd been raising my eyebrows to make myself appear more awake and refreshed, but over time, this left me with a horizontal line across my forehead from permanently raising my brows all day, every day. And although I'm on it with a skincare routine (focusing on retinol, vitamin C and SPF), I know there are limitations to what skincare can do to make big changes to my skin, which led me to investigate aesthetic "tweakments" such as Botox for the first time.

Eleanor before Botox.

I'd like to preface this article by acknowledging that no one ever needs Botox (unless you suffer from temporomandibular disorders, chronic migraines or teeth-grinding, which are all conditions that have, in some cases, been proven to be relieved by Botox injections), and I'd never want you to think that I was trying to sway you into thinking that you need it.

Going down the route of injectables is a personal choice, and people may choose to do it for many reasons. At the time of writing, I had been considering Botox for the past 18 months, but I wanted to do thorough research and find the ideal (and highly qualified) practitioner for me. So, if you want to find out more about Botox and my experience with it, read on below for a comprehensive guide to first-time Botox with expert insight from Dr Raj Acquilla, one of the UK's leading practitioners in facial aesthetics.

What Is Botox?

Much like how we call a vacuum a Hoover, Botox is a brand name that is often used in place of the drug's actual name, botulinum toxin. "Botulinum toxin in microdoses in facial aesthetics interferes with the communication between the nerve ending and the end target; in this case, the facial muscles," says Dr Acquilla. "Low doses in the frontalis procerus corrugator [the muscles that lift the brow] and orbicularis oculi muscles [the eyelid muscle] create stretching of the skin, improved skin quality, eyebrow lifting and an appearance of restfulness and wellness in the eye and periorbital regions," he says.

When Do People Have Their First Botox Treatment?

Dr Acquilla says that most people he sees for first-time Botox are in their early 30s. I had my treatment done at age 27, and he classed this as a preventative treatment. However, he tells me he is also seeing a rise in patients having first-time Botox in their 60s, too. Whilst Botox is well-known for its anti-wrinkle and lifting effects around the eyes and forehead, it can also be used in many other ways. For example, it can be injected into the masseter muscle on the jaw to slim the lower part of the face and help prevent teeth grinding, or even injected into the palms of the hands to reduce excessive sweating.

How Much Does Botox Cost?

The cost of Botox really depends on the area(s) you have treated, the practitioner you see and where they are located. My treatment with Dr Acquilla addressed my crow's feet, brow area and forehead (one of his most popular treatments), and would usually cost between £300 £400 in his London clinic. However, the only way to determine the cost of your treatment is to have a consultation, in which your practitioner will be able to assess your individual needs and concerns and provide a customised quote, which will vary from person to person.

How to Choose a Botox Practitioner

What many might not realise is that because the aesthetics industry is currently unregulated in the UK, it's very easy for non-healthcare individuals to perform Botox treatments without legally required qualifications or training standards. Not only is it dangerous, but you may also end up with unsatisfactory results. In fact, Dr Acquilla tells me that he's conducting more and more Botox corrective work. So, it's safer to go to a qualified expert, and by seeking an experienced doctor in the first place, you'll have better results.

Your practitioner should be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC), British College of Aesthetic Medicine (BCAM) or the British Association of Cosmetic Nurses (BACN). Research your practitioner and their qualifications, and don't be afraid to ask questions during your consultation. A directory such as The Tweakments Guide is a helpful way to find experienced practitioners near you, see pictures of their work and check out their website and social media. "An experienced practitioner will be able to give you a tailored, bespoke treatment rather than a one-size-fits-all treatment," explains Dr Acquilla.

My Botox Experience

Upon arriving at Dr Acquilla's clinic in Chelsea, London, I had a consultation that included my medical history and what I wanted to achieve from my treatment. I explained that I wanted my eyes to look more refreshed and open, with a slight elevation of my brows and to address my forehead lines. These are some of the most common concerns Dr Acquilla sees in the clinic.

However, his approach is totally personalised and goes beyond the treatment alone. He likens his technique to that of a couturier, designing a treatment to the individual's needs, and even their personality. After all, Jennifer Lopez and Taylor Swift would both wear very different dresses for a red carpet, and the same goes for facial aesthetics. He asked me to describe who I am, my personality, how I like to wear my makeup and how I want to be perceived, too.

He also studied my eye shape in great detail. "For example, Keira Knightley has a quite narrow orbital aperture and almond eyes that will close off when smiling. Whereas someone like Natalie Portman has more open eyes; she is more 'Disney' than Keira Knightley," says Dr Acquilla. "On you, it will make you look softer, but it's going to change the way that you look and how people perceive you," he told me.

Eleanor immediately after her Botox treatment.

I wanted to retain my brow features and still look like me, so we agreed to open my eyes and lift my eyebrows very slightly. This would result in my outer eyelid being more open, and my eyebrows elevated at a 10-degree angle. It would be subtle enough that I would still look like me, but a little more awake and refreshed. Dr Acquilla injected around my eyes, brows and forehead, and the entire procedure took a matter of minutes.

Does Botox Hurt?

In short, no. Of course, we all have different levels of pain tolerance, but as someone who isn't a fan of needles, I found it to be totally fine. During my appointment, Dr Acquilla used incredibly fine needles that barely pinched my skin. To be totally honest, a blood test is more painful! However, some clinics may apply a numbing cream beforehand to reduce any discomfort.

The only area that was slightly more sensitive was just above my eyebrow, because I had been compensating by subconsciously raising my brows, so I had developed more muscle here, making it sting a little more. Dr Acquilla told me that some people may experience a dull headache after the treatment (which I did), but this went away after a couple of hours and a few paracetamol. Because the needles were so fine, I was left with minimal redness on the injection points, which were barely noticeable and subsided within an hour.

How Long Does It Take for Botox to Work?

It takes two weeks to see the full effects of Botox. However, I started to notice initial results after five days.

How Long Does Botox Last?

Dr Acquilla explains that you can typically expect Botox results to last for 3 5 months. However, this varies from person to person and may be affected by how much you exercise and how expressive your face is.

What Are the Risks Associated With Botox?

Immediately after Botox, you should avoid doing anything too intense, such as going to a sauna, exercising and drinking alcohol, but these can be resumed 24 hours after the treatment. However, there are some risks to be aware of, and a good practitioner will be happy to discuss these with you before your treatment and will have you sign a consent form to say you've understood.

"The risks of botulinum toxin are generally associated with misplacement, incorrect dilution and dosage and the orientation of injection," says Dr Acquilla. "The most common risk is heaviness or a descent of the eyebrow and the upper eyelid. This is generally because of injecting the toxin into a muscle that has a suspensory function in the upper third of the face. Very rarely, it can cause eyelid ptosis [drooping], which affects vision and can be relieved by eye drops such as iopidine and oxymetazoline," he says.

"Injection around the lateral orbit for crow's feet can also result in a reduction in the mechanical pump effect of that muscle, therefore increasing lymphatic outflow obstruction and swelling in the lower eyelid, which ultimately makes patients look more tired." This is why it's crucial to see a practitioner who is qualified, experienced and who can deliver desirable results safely.

Before and After

Eleanor before her Botox treatment.

Eleanor two weeks after her Botox treatment.

Is Botox Worth It?

After my treatment with Dr Acquilla, I would most definitely say that Botox is worth it. My results are subtle (which was what I was after), but I feel that I look more refreshed, and the lines around my forehead and eyes have lessened. Close friends of mine could notice a subtle difference, too. As my brows have been lifted upwards, I'm no longer raising them subconsciously and causing the forehead lines to worsen.

My outer eyelid area is now smoother, which means I can more easily apply eye makeup such as eyeliner (which used to crease when I tried to do a wing), and it now stays put for longer. It's also reassuring knowing that the effects will wear away after a few months if I did want to revert to my natural state.

Around three months after my treatment, I found that the Botox had worn off. Movement in my forehead and around my eyes has fully returned, although the expression lines are yet to settle back in. Would I have Botox again? Quite possibly, but I have to admit that I don't think I could foot the cost of a treatment every three months, as it is a big financial commitment. However, going to see a practitioner like Dr Acquilla is definitely worth the investment, as you'll get the results you seek from a safe pair of hands.