Two months before turning “the big 3-0,” a more mature me knew my former lifestyle had way past its expiration date. I desperately needed to start preserving my damaged skin before its fate quickly became matching the weathered handle of my latest Louis Vuitton. Just short of two years thereafter, I’ve religiously followed a daily skin care regimen, including SPF.

Despite my tireless effort and having become a slave to every anti aging product on the market, I’m still overly conscious of the permanent reminder my careless youth has etched across my forehead. Therefore, when presented with the opportunity to try Botox, I happily obliged. I jumped at it actually, while jumping up and down (like the little girl who created the necessity in the first place).

My SmoothMED Experience

Today I had an appointment at the SmoothMED spa for my very first Botox treatment. Beside myself with excitement (yet nervous inside), I walked into the 59th Street clinic; which is conveniently located midtown, between Park and Lexington Avenues. The door opened off the street into a cute and modern setting with a super friendly and helpful staff. After I filled out the typical doctor’s office paperwork, the receptionist took a quick “mug shot” for my chart. This office has a unique way of uploading a patients image onto a graph, so the exact location of injection points is conveniently filed for quick follow-ups. This is the only salon in the city that offers that specific charting protocol. After my picture was taken, I was led to an office where I met Dr. Jack Berdy, SmoothMED owner and medical director, for our consult. He was amazing, a wealth of information and excellent at breaking down medical jargon into terminology that was understandable to my non-medical mind.

What is Botox?

Dr. Berdy explained that Botox is the brand name that represents the protein (botulinum toxin) that is produced by a bacteria known as Clostridium Botulinum. In large doses, this protein causes “Botulism,” a paralytic illness most often seen in cases of food poisoning. It was discovered however; that in small dosages, this protein could be used in cosmetic medicine to treat facial creases, folds and wrinkles. Botox can also be used in non-cosmetic medicine to treat excessive underarm sweating, migraine headaches, chronic pain, esophagus problems, lazy eye syndrome and in some cases, severe clinical depression due to aesthetic and body image distortion mental disorders.

How Does it Work?

“Acetylcholine” is the substance responsible for transmitting messages from our nerves to our muscles, triggering them to contract. Botox works by blocking the transmission of acetylcholine; therefore, the muscles lose their ability to contract. As a result, wrinkles smooth out and soften. It takes the human body 4-6 months to recreate and replace this protein, hence the reason Botox is a temporary solution that needs to be repeated every 4-6 months (depending on individual tolerance and the patient’s personal vanity as fine lines begin to resurface and appear).

Let the Botox’ing Begin

Yep, I learned ALL of that interesting information during my ten minute consult. I’ve never been so thoroughly educated by a physician, this eased the butterflies in my stomach slightly. So did learning the fact that all physicians must be Board Certified in order to administer any injections in the SmoothMED office. It was during this consult that we decided on a “non surgical eyebrow lift” and to fill the lines in my forehead. The doctor asked if I was sensitive to needles, in which I am not. He offered a numbing cream, but I decided against using it only after he assured me that he uses one of the thinnest gauged needles.

About ten minutes after walking into SmoothMED, I was laying on the exam table and ready to begin my injections. The doctor wiped off my makeup but assured me (speaking more to my vanity) that I could touch it up as soon as he was finished. He started my treatment and explained each move he made and reminded me of the reasoning behind doing so, throughout the duration. Any nervousness that was left had diminished.

The entire process lasted a couple of minutes and was relatively painless. Honestly, I was shocked at how little pain was involved. There were a handful of injections, the most severe was slightly less intense than a minor mosquito bite. If patients have 2-4 minutes to spare, it is recommended to ice the area to reduce redness and minimal swelling. I had plenty of time and was handed an ice pack. A few minutes later, the physician removed the ice and handed me a mirror to assess “the damage.” To my surprise, there were only a few miniscule red dots across the top of my forehead. I didn’t bring any make up with me and didn’t think twice about the 26 block walk back to Penn Station which speaks volumes for it not looking bad at all.

I was reminded that it takes 5-7 days to see any results; therefore, if you’re planning on getting Botox for an event, be sure to schedule your appointment at least a week in advance. Also, I was instructed not to rub the area, lay down flat or work out to avoid dissipating the injected bacterium to an unwanted spot, potentially causing an adverse reaction such as eyelid and/or eyebrow drooping. Although this is extremely uncommon and reversible, these precautions should be taken seriously. All normal activity (including normal skin care) can be resumed the following day. I was warned there could be a slight headache as a side effect, but its 4 hours later and I feel great. The only thing I feel is a slight tightness around my eyes, very similar to when a ponytail is pulled too tight. There is no pain or discomfort involved.

Twenty minutes after walking into SmoothMED, I was thanking the staff and walking right back out the door. SmoothMED‘s “concept is to obtain expert Botox® treatments and/or injectable facial fillers in a safe medical setting in 30 minutes or less.” I can truly vouch for that and I would absolutely do a “fly by” Botox treatment on a lunch break and even before a date or a big night out. My favorite “perk” is that there are no appointments necessary. I can guarantee I’ll be back at SmoothMED for my follow-up “Expert Botox…On the GO!” before my sister’s wedding in September.

Okay, so you got me to admit my age this once but now I’m going right back to claiming my eternal 21…thanks to todays “lunch break Botox” I have the smooth, young face to “prove” it!

For more information checkout SmoothMED.com and ask about some of their specials for SpaWeek! Check out our video below!

1. 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar

I’ve heard that Braggs ACV is the best brand because it is the only one I’ve run across with raw enzymes. Honestly, I’ve had wonderful results and have only used a generic supermarket brand which is about a dollar and change for a liter compared to $5 for Braggs.

2. 1/8-1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

Baking soda neutralizes the vinegar, preventing you from damaging the enamel on your teeth. It neutralizes in your stomach anyway so you are still getting all the benefits of the apple cider vinegar (ACV), but it is actually easier for your body to absorb what it needs if you neutralize it first. By taking out that step, you saved your body that work (read: work = energy) and now it can use all of its energy to absorb what the nutrients from the ACV. You want to get it to about a 7% alkaline level. The ACV you buy in a grocery store is about 5%. The more that acid bothers you (GERD, acid reflux, etc.), the more Baking soda you should use. Start with 1/8 of a teaspoon and assess your tolerance. I have found ¼ teaspoon to be the magic number for me.

Remember Baking Soda is sodium based, you may find yourself retaining a good amount of water for the first couple of days until your body becomes accustomed to the additional salt. I am extremely sensitive to salt and couldn’t get my feet into my heels the first night!

3. 1/2 fresh lemon, juiced
4. 1 Tablespoon Organic Honey

Add about 4-6 oz of water and drink 2-4x/day. If you can get it down once on an empty stomach, you’re doing better than most people out there. I warm my water and make it into a tea. I find it to be a lot tastier when I throw in the additional (less palate pleasing) ingredients listed below.

ADDITIONAL INGRIDENTS – OPTIONAL:

1. 20 drops Ginger Extract. Ginger/Gingerol has TONS of benefits. Check out www.superhumanradio.com and tune in to the show on Ginger-”The Uber Herb.” Carl Lenore explains all the benefits of ginger.
2.   1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper, if you can stand it. Go slow with this to assess your tolerance. I LOVE spicy food so the first day, brass guts over here decided to throw an entire teaspoon right into the mix. I thought my throat was going to close. Me and my daring (read: dumb) Rosanneisms! Heehee. Cayenne pepper heals and rebuilds tissue of the digestive system, increases the effectiveness of other foods and herbs when used with them, and is also linked to healing the heart and cardiac tissue. Cayenne has been known to stop heart attacks. Contrary to popular belief, it does not cause ulcers, it actually heals them. That’s if you can deal with the burn if you suffer from one. Enough facts, lets get down the nitty-gritty of why everyone is reading this….cayenne is a natural thermogenic which has been proven to raise body temperature, boost metabolism and ultimately aid and speed fat loss. Just think increased circulation = increased lymph flow (that means decreased cellulite ladies) = detox = ULTIMATE HEALTH, FATLOSS AND BODY WEIGHT MAINTENANCE (we’ll get into that another time).
3. I’ve also been adding 1 Teaspoon of Turmeric Powder. It’s an extremely acquired taste. To be perfectly frank, this stuff is icky!!! (And I can stomach most everything “nasty.”) However icky it is, it helps restore flora in the intestinal track. Turmeric has also been proven to clear the skin of those who suffer from acne and blemishes, help eliminate facial hair growth in females (not sure that this is proven internally, but I found a lot of studies on using it topically). CAREFUL with this stuff, however….it STAINS!! After all, Tumeric historically has been used as a dye in India, but I learned this the hard way. It stains EVERYTHING! And I mean everything from bed sheets, clothing, towels, down to the skin on my face. It’s a nasty orange color but stains a fluorescent yellow color…think the color of a yellow highlighter exploding all over you!

Start with this recipe to ease yourself into a detox routine. I’ll be posting additions and other remedies regularly, so look for my updates! — Rosanne Clemente