“I’m not a ‘botox person’.”
I 100% understand what is meant by this phrase that I hear, not uncommonly. On the other hand, what is *really* meant by this phrase? When I have thought this myself, and heard it from patients and friends, I think we mean that we aren’t superficial.
I’m a woman who doesn’t mind getting muddy, camping in a tent, climbing a tree with my kids, showing up at Fred Meyer bare-faced in sweatpants. But in the last 5 years I am also a woman who *is* a botox person.
I recently had a conversation with a photographer that I respect, and she was sharing about her passion for a particular type of photo shoot: Bordeaux shoots. “We as women wear so many hats. But women are also just beautiful. And underneath the many hats we wear it’s easy to lose ourselves and the awe for what our bodies are capable of.”
She shared that she has photographed women of all sizes, and especially enjoyed photographing a 70-year-old.
The conversation really resonated with one of the reasons I love cosmetic dermatology. I have been asked questions about cosmetic injectables by men and women that our culture would stereotypically NEVER consider to be “botox people.” Just like the reasons a person might pursue a Bordeaux photo shoot are varied and personal, so are the reasons a person might consider cosmetic injections. And just like joy and empowerment and artistic expression energizes this photographer, so I am electrified by my passion for my artistic science.
Yes, some people pursue botox and fillers out of a deep sense of insuffiency, a lack of self-confidence, a need to fix something broken. The same way we can turn to diet, exercise, a Netflix binge, or even endlessly helping others in an attempt to fill something empty inside ourselves. Are any of the above things to be discouraged? Not if they are pursued out of a sense of pre-existing wholeness. In the same way, I applaud women who are brave enough to boldly own whatever version of beauty they embody. Our culture has made it shameful to “work too hard” on looking a certain way. Don’t be too glam, too metro. Don’t have heels that are too high, lips that are too red. We also have plenty of shame to dole out to those who have no interest in perfecting the newest eyeshadow techniques, keep up with latest fashion trends, or change the color of their hair bi-annually. Guess what. Some of *these* bare-faced beauties also have lip filler.
Let’s stop with the judgement for other men and women. Let’s stop assuming that there is a specific type of person that we’ll call “botox person.” Let’s support each-other’s journey to age gracefully. Whether or not that happens to include botox.
Be well and love each other,
Kari Knight FNP-C DCNP