I’m 28, and I Get Botox

It’s kind of scary to tell someone you get Botox, especially in your 20s. There’s such a stigma around the injectable (or really any injectable). The media loves to attack any woman who seems to defy age. At the same time, they also harp on women who appear too wrinkly. Even in day-to-day life, Botox is a popular topic among women – “Have you ever gotten Botox?” “Would you ever get Botox?”

I got my first Botox injections at 25

It changed my life. While Botox is best known for getting rid of fine lines and wrinkles, it’s also been proven to be highly effective in the prevention of migraines. The way Botox works is by temporarily reducing muscle contractions. Botox for migraines blocks the release of chemicals involved in pain transmission.

My migraine experience

I’ve suffered from chronic migraines since I was 10. I can remember having to leave in the middle of skating practice because I could feel a migraine coming on. I’d then lay in a dark room for the rest of the day crying because of the pain. I’ve heard from many people that they had migraines as a child, but then they inexplicable went away. The same was true for me.

I experienced very few migraines in my late teens and early twenties, maybe once every few months. Then when I was finishing up college at the University of Colorado, my migraines suddenly came back in full force. I vividly remember the first one. It came on as I was walking back from class. Starting with an aura which looks like a sparkling crescent across my vision. 45 minutes later I had the most horribly splitting headache. When it lasted more than 24 hours, I went to the ER.

How does it work?

The hardest thing about migraines is that we know so little about them. Triggers can be far and wide – personally I can get triggered by changes in my sleep, barometric pressure, dehydration, light, stress, the list goes on. This makes them so hard to treat. And according to the World Health Organization, it’s one of the top 10 most disabling illnesses.

After years of trying nearly everything, I finally decided to give Botox a try. It ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve made. Botox for migraines involves a series of shots in your forehead, temples, sides of the head, neck and shoulders. While it does hurt a bit when the inject the Botox, all-in-all the process takes about 15 minutes. Within a week the muscles stop responding and “freeze.” The effects last three to six months, at which point new injections are needed.

For me, Botox for migraines has almost completely eliminated the debilitating headaches that plagued me regularly. It eliminated the fear that I could get a migraine at any moment – in the middle of a work presentation (it’s happened) or on my wedding day (a real fear). I can always tell when it’s time to get it redone because the migraines start to come back.

Breaking down the stigma

While I’m so grateful for the way Botox has changed my life, I would be lying if I said I didn’t also enjoy the fact that it clears up forehead wrinkles at the same time. One thing I’ve learned while getting Botox for my migraines, is that it’s ok to enjoy it for wrinkle reduction too. I hate that there is such a stigma around the injections. It’s made me nervous to tell people I get Botox for migraines, even though it’s the only treatment that has worked for me and could help others.

There’s nothing wrong with getting Botox for whatever reason you have. And we should all stop passing judgement on those who get it. If it makes you feel better (whether for migraines or looks), I say go for it.

Have you ever gotten Botox (for migraines or otherwise)? Hate it? Love it? Leave a comment for other readers, and let’s break down that stigma.

Xx, Kelsey