Botox with Dr. Stoker

BOTOX with Dr. Stoker: Have I Done It and My Thoughts On It

BOTOX… a topic many people are familiar with, but few want to talk about. Well, as one who isn’t afraid to dive into those awkward conversations and share personal experiences, I want to open up a discussion about BOTOX here on the blog. My thoughts on injections and plastic surgery have always been and will always be this… do what makes you happy… within reason. You have the pleasure of looking at yourself in the mirror every day. If there is something you are not happy with and have the option to (safely) change it, why not?

As a 30-year-old woman in Los Angeles, anti-aging products and procedures are a constant topic I hear time and time again. I know plenty of people who have had injections… fillers + BOTOX.  Everyone is allowed to have their own opinions on this topic. My take on it? I am open to it and believe that BOTOX truly can be used to prevent aging by not allowing the fine lines and wrinkles to form in the first place.

My curiosity to try BOTOX has been around for quite some time. I just did not know where to start. My biggest hurdle to making the first appointment was finding a doctor’s office I could trust.  Fate answered my search when a representative from the office of Dr. Stoker reached out to me. Dr. Stoker is a Board-Certified plastic surgeon located in Marina del Rey, California. He specializes in breast, body, face, and mommy makeovers and has also been featured on Extreme Makeover and The Biggest Loser.  After doing a bit of research and familiarizing myself with Dr. Stoker’s work and practice, I felt this was a great opportunity to finally try out BOTOX for myself and in the hands of a professional team that knows exactly what they are doing and who could help guide me through my first round of BOTOX.

The First Treatment…

In preparation for my first treatment, I asked the receptionist at Dr. Stoker’s office questions about how to prepare for the appointment. She instructed me to avoid blood thinning agents (herbal or medical such as Aspirin, Tylenol, ibuprofen, etc.) and alcohol to minimize the risk of bruising. While most people don’t bruise, I wanted to be safe by avoiding these things. I also made sure that I did not have any plans for the next 4-5 hours following the appointment that would not require me to bend over at all.

My Facial with Natalie…

Walking into the office I was quite nervous, but upon seeing the smiling faces at reception I immediately felt relaxed.  I had the pleasure of receiving a facial with their aesthetician, Natalie. I explained my skin issues with her (including dryness, sensitivity, and hormonal breakouts) and she put together a customized treatment plan for me.

She started off with a healing essential oil blend and then did several different cleanses to be thorough in cleansing including an organic cacao/ herbal infused chocolate mask to detox, tighten and stimulate blood flow.  Slight extractions followed by oxygen infusion and a calming mixture of botanicals to soothe the skin.  Next came a clinical strength vitamin c serum – vitamin c is an antioxidant that slows the rate of free-radical damage which can damage collagen and cause skin dryness, fine lines, and wrinkles. Next up Natalie used an oil elixir by Jenette All Natural Skincare, moisture balm, and finally sun protection (a must every single day!)

She gave my skin all of the TLC it needed after a week of my hormones going haywire. I honestly wish I could see her every week. After only a 30-minute treatment, my previously tired skin felt rejuvenated and hydrated once again with Natalie. My breakouts subsided, and the youthful glow reappeared!

BOTOX with Stacy…

Next up came time to prep for the BOTOX treatment. Natalie handed me off to Stacy, a Registered Nurse and one of Dr. Stoker’s injection and laser specialists. Stacy calmed my nerves while she answered each question I had for her. Although not completely necessary, she applied numbing cream to my forehead and frown line areas in preparation for the injections.  She used BOTOX by Allergan which is the FDA approved for the upper facial area.

There was a slight sting at the injection site.  However, the needle is so small that it was only a slight discomfort in comparison to a much larger needle from a flu shot. Of course, a needle coming at your face is never comfortable, but it is only the initial fear of not knowing what to expect that seemed to cause me the most discomfort. After the first injection, the next few around different areas of my forehead and around my eyes were quite bearable. We used 26 units for the initial appointment and agreed it was best to go conservative and come back for a follow-up appointment to make sure I liked the results. I always appreciate a doctor’s office with a conservative outlook. It lets me know that they want the most natural results just as much as I do.

The Cost…

While some people may shy away from BOTOX due to the price (a few hundred dollars depending on the number of units used), I see it as an investment in myself for the prevention of fine lines and wrinkles. A prevention that no amount of expensive anti-wrinkle cream can guarantee. Like I’ve said before, BOTOX can be preventative in taking care of those fine lines before they get deeper and more difficult to deal with. Invest in yourself. If you are curious, try it. If you don’t like it, in a few months it will wear off and you don’t have to do it again if you don’t like it.

Post Treatment…

As I went home I was careful not to bend over for the next 4 to 5 hours to let the BOTOX settle into place. At one point around hour 3-4 my forehead started to feel a bit heavy. This subsided as the evening went on. That evening I got ready for my date without any issues and felt completely normal the rest of the night.

The Effects…

The next few days I started to see the BOTOX take effect. While I still had movement in my forehead, I noticed I could not form the deep, wrinkle-causing lines that I was before. I noticed the skin on my forehead and the around my eyes where I used to get laugh lines was smoother! My eyes felt more open and less plagued by the fine lines that had been there just a few days before. To put it lightly, I was loving the effects that both my facial and the BOTOX treatment were having on my skin!

My Thoughts…

It has now been one month since my initial treatment. Since we went conservative on the number of units in my initial treatment, I went in 2 weeks later for a follow-up appointment.  After examining my face, Dr. Stoker, Stacy, and I all agreed that the initial treatment had been the perfect amount and no more units of BOTOX were necessary at the current time.

I am happy that I’ve finally tried BOTOX and had such a positive experience with Dr. Stoker and his team. I’m actually looking forward to visiting them again for my next appointment in 3-4 months!

Contacting Dr. Stoker…

If you’re looking to get BOTOX or any other plastic surgery/cosmetics procedures, I highly recommend you check out Dr. Stoker’s work and available services on his website: www.drstoker.com. He also has a number of before-and-after photos and educational videos here on his website and Instagram,  @stokerplasticsurgery. You can also read more about his work and background in his bio here.

While I am not being paid to write this post, I would like to disclose that I did receive BOTOX and a facial treatment in exchange for writing about my experience. You as my readers know that I would never recommend a service or product that I could not fully stand behind.  Especially, when it comes to any kind of injections!

Curious about BOTOX, facials, or any other kind of cosmetic treatment? I recommend making an appointment to speak with Dr. Stoker and his team about your options and their professional opinions.  You can call the office to book a consultation or appointment: 310-300-1779.

Behind the Scenes Videos…

I am sharing videos from my appointments as well as a look of the before and after effects on my Instagram stories and highlights:  @Laura_Lily. 

If you have any questions for me I am more than happy to answer them! You can leave me a comment below, or if you’d like to remain anonymous, just email or DM me on Instagram and I’ll answer your questions in private.

As always, thank you for reading. I hope you learned something new and interesting from today’s post!

xoxo,
Laura