Screw anti-aging, I like living! (p.s. I got Dysport.)
Life has a funny way of nudging us toward unexpected paths. When my previous med spa dropped me as an Influencer because of a candid CBC interview I did about beauty and aging in which I said, among other things, “I hate the term ‘anti-aging’” & “I wish beauty choices always came from a place of self-love”, it was my first (and only) professional breakup. I was heartbroken. But windows close and doors open! I landed in a safe place at SKN Med Spa. They embraced my weird, granola, self-assured wild streak. I’d been vocal about not yet getting Botox because I didn’t want to stifle my expressive face, vocal about people being beautiful in a variety of ways, vocal about all personal aethetic choices being valid… and they just got me. Over the past year, SKN Med Spa has been there to support my skin goals, my comfort. And in a plot twist, because of the trust between us, I found myself asking them about Botox!
(Okay, it’s Dysport. But a neuromodulator nonetheless.)
Now, my beliefs haven’t changed in terms of everyone’s aesthetic being personal and that beauty is in diversity. My personal skin goals remain to reverse some sun damage, stay hydrated, and feel radiant. With good quality skin care, Secret RF facials, & a lil laser, I’m a happy gal when I look at my skin! But there’s one more aspect to skin, and that’s the way it feels to live inside it. So, although those collagen-building treatments mean my skin bounces back quickly from facial expressions, my ‘concentration’ expression is an uncomfortable one I make all the time. My solution for the last 15 years has been tapping.
Yes, tapping. When I was typing at the computer, I was also taking breaks every couple of minutes to tap my forehead and calm my knit brows. When I was driving, I’d be tap tap tapping so I didn’t squint. It works! It’s free! And after many years of doing it, it’s something I wanted to stop.
That’s what led me to ask Shereen (Owner of SKN) about Botox. She remembered that my biggest concern with Botox was being expressive and told me that although some people like being totally frozen, a smaller dosage is an option. She validated my feelings that any ‘first’ is a big deal but also reminded me, it’s not plastic surgery. The treatment lasts 3-4 months and if I don’t like it, it’ll wear off then.
A recent revelation that a couple of my friends are fans was another nudge. Despite being close, I had no idea they got the treatment.
So, I had a consultation with the clinic Doctor and made an appointment with Nurse Jenna, an ER Nurse whose own journey with acne first brought her to SKN as a client. Like everyone I’ve met at this multi-SABEX award winning local business, Jenna is professional, a good listener, and most important, genuine. She used Dyport on me because it has a slightly wider spread (which the internet tells me is more natural looking) and the treatment only took about 20 minutes including a few questions. It didn’t really hurt, and the only side effect was a mild headache the next day which Tylenol took care of.
It’s now been two weeks. I’ll tell you about it! We did keep some eyebrow movement (because again, I wanna emote!) but it’s much softer. When I raise them, for example, there aren’t lines across my forehead. And usually, I’ve been knitting my brow while I sleep and wake up with a crease in the middle, but that doesn’t happen anymore. ‘Rested’ would be my description. Some people don’t love the feeling but I really do. It almost feels like smiling. No tension to tap away.
In this unfiltered skin journey, my takeaway continues to be that adhering to a singular beauty narrative is limiting. I can be granola in some aspects of my life, I can also choose a med spa for certain treatments. It's liberating to break free from the notion that we must fit neatly into one box. Our choices, like our personalities, can be multifaceted. And we’re allowed to change our minds as preferences and comfort zones evolve. Life is too short to negatively judge someone else’s journey of beauty, confidence, and comfort. Here’s to YOURS, whatever path you take!
xo Maygen
p.s. If you’re interested in Dysport, laser, radio frequency microneedling, or just a really great facial, SKN Med Spa has changed their consultation process and now charges a low fee, but it can put toward any treatment.
