Comments on: Tell us what you think about women using botox and other cosmetic procedures?

By: Ann

Ann — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:03:49 +0000

I have had botox and juvederm….I will never use juvederm again, I felt so ugly and even though I was told “No one will notice…” every one did and I was very embarrassed. Botox…I have had one extreme to the next…One that froze my face , one that makes me look like a crazy person when I smile, and one that was “ok”. I haven’t done anything for over a year and feel better in my own skin. I still hate my chin and neck, but, hopefully, with diet and exercise will lose some of the fat and enjoy my “more mature” skin! Loved your article in “MORE” magazine February 2012. My question is to you…why are long, fake, catepillar eyelashes in style??? They are AWFUL!!!!! :)

By: Marie

Marie — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:06:04 +0000

Botox and cosmetic procedures or for that matter other modern tools to adjust our appearance are just that, tools. With all due respect I would ask a different question like. . . when or how should we use these things. I suppose I am splitting hairs but, like anything it’s not the tool, the drug or what have you but how and how much you use them. I think you have to examine what you are doing with them. Are you painting green on Fall leaves? And if so, is that your aim or are you only able to feel okay in our youth-oriented culture if you try to turn the clock back?

I am amazed at how horrified I am at turning older. I thought I would be okay. But I am scared to death. I realize it’s because I don’t want to lose my value. So at least I have identified the fear. And where it comes from. And I think it behooves all of us to dive deep and look at our motives whether we use botox or other means to look younger (I won’t say better here because then I am committing the crime of what upsets me most, those who value youth over age and the subsequent look of youth.)

By the way I use botox, not too much, try to just use it to look “fresher” not turn the clock back per se but then I get quickly into the place I don’t want to go. Ahhh this is hard.

By: Richard Temtchine

Richard Temtchine — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 18:45:31 +0000

Why is American culture (in particular) so fixated on youth and therefore youthful looks? Where does this overwhelming fear of aging comes from? Why the ever growing necessity for altering what nature has in mind for one’s face or one’s body? Taking good care of oneself; eating well, exercising, sleeping and of course a good positive attitude towards life should suffice. How far will the craze for physical alterations go? Will the future see a 10 year old girl having breast implant?. Alarming isn’ t it? I think American women should be better educated about the price they have to pay for going against the grain.
I am currently planning to address the issue at hand and would be delighted to share. Thank you.

By: Sally

Sally — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 03:18:52 +0000

I am an esthetician and have been in the beauty business for over 20 years. I have witnessed how women react to aging and the extreme measures they take to preserve their youth. Years ago, I wrote a piece called “Eternal Beauty” which in summary, states that we, as women, must detach from the voice of society and define beauty by going “within.” When we develop compassion for ourselves, we discover “a beauty that cannot be bought, cpatured or lost with time.” I know how difficult it is to age and see your skin start to wrinkle. You start to become invisible and the attention you once recieved is no longer there. I do not attach my value to my aging looks. I am 54 and a first year college student studying to obtain a psychology degree. I hope to combine my “beauty experience” with psychology and help women to move through the aging process with dignity and grace. The longer we live, the more life affords the opporunity for us to grow and evolve. We can embrace maturity with joy and dignity.

By: Bogna

Bogna — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 15:00:13 +0000

I’ve heard that the best way to look younger than you are is to have many children. It work’s for me :D
‘t’s a big difference between looking good and appropriate for your age and trying to look 10-20-30 years younger.
I can’t really understand what motivates women to spend lot’s of money and experience lots of suffering just to look younger. There are so many much important things in life.
OK, there is one motivation I can comprehend – “I want to look 20 years younger, because of fear that my husband/boyfriend will exchange me for another (younger) woman”. But… If he is this sort of person, he will anyway prefer “fresh meat” to a fake one.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 20:42:01 +0000

For me women using Botox show how much unhappy they are with they life.
This is something more and deeper scar inside their souls.
I think people who do not accept themselves think that by changing everything, starting from visible point such as look, think will cover their real problems.
The point is that they will never be satisfied cause always there will be younger and beautiful girls. We should be models for our own generation. If we are 60 years old we should be a model for this group of people which means to love ourselves with our wrinkles. To accept the way we are and to feel freedom and reject – vouge effect. We must live our life with dignity and not to take part who is younger,better as nobody like this exists. Life is to short to take this run for the beauty.

By: GG

GG — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 11:09:39 +0000

The comments are all very enlightening. There’s a sense though that looks still reigns no matter at what age and at what cost. I live in the South of France and yes women are allowed to age with grace. The patriarchal society might send a different message to other cultures but all in all, everyone indeed that includes the male species simply appreciates women at whatever age.

We don’t even know what or how a surgical enhanced face looks like unless we watch television or read those bling bling magazines. Cosmetic surgery is a rarity more than the norm here. When I go back to the U.S. I’m always amazed when I watch television, the women look so fake without any real expressions. The female newscasters look like cartoon characters and more evident when they are delivering bad news-their faces are frozen. It’s disconcerting to watch.

I just read excerpts from the Face It book but will be ordering it for my kindle asap. Thank you for publishing this book as it can help women come to terms with moving onto another phase in their lives that is full of potential and possiblities jam packed full of excitement and adventures and to boot have the wisdom and experiences to fully and jofully appreciate them.

Just remember fear is fattening (it would take too long to explain in this post). It’s true because the biochemicals involved basically hijacks your body in fight or flight mode.

Feel fabulous at forty and fifty and zensational from sixty and beyond! Additionally, come live in France :)

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 21 May 2011 15:31:32 +0000

I have had Dysport twice. The first time I like the way I looked, however, the second time they injected too much and I didn’t look or feel like myself. The lip area was so “lazy” that I couldn’t eat properly for weeks. I will not have it again as I truthfully believe that it affects me mentally and makes me feel a bit out of sorts as it goes through its various stages.

By: Lenore

Lenore — Sat, 14 May 2011 23:59:32 +0000

When I was in my forties, I thought the idea of cosmetic surgery of any kind was ridiculous – something I’d NEVER do. Well, I’m 64 now and am considering a neck and possibly a lower facelift as well. Soooo, I now think folks should have the freedom to do whatever they are comfortable with, as I want to do the same.
My goal is to age gracefully, not to turn back the clock. One big concern is not recognizing myself if I did the facelift. I want to continue to look like the “me” I’ve looked like for 30+ years – just older. For the most part I love my silver hair, just wish it were thicker! I also think it is so important to maintain good health and a healthy weight, to exercise, dress well, and be yourself.

By: Dr.Vivian

Dr.Vivian — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 12:10:39 +0000

You sound like one of the women for whom my book “Face It” reinforced what you already know! It’s wonderful of you to share how you deal with your changing looks. There are many who struggle a great deal more and sharing your thoughts help them. Thanks. Dr. Vivian