39 Year Old Facial Rejuvenation with Botox and Juvéderm - Leeds, GB

To be honest, I am unsure as in the UK I've not heard of the term "units", seems to be a US/Canada term. Generally here places go by "areas", usually 1, 2, or 3. I have 3 areas done: between my eyebrows, forehead, and outer edges around eyes. I will ask next time I go in if there is a unit equivalent; I'm due for Botox again in about a month xx

Isn't that interesting.  So at least over here you pay per unit.  For example I paid $10/unit for 20 units (US dollars).  I'd assume that this would equal one area (I had my forehead done).  How much do you typically pay for an area?

Ten dollars a unit is a VERY good deal! Even in my cheaper area of the country (Virginia, the poorer area not the north), we pay twelve a unit. I never see it as low as ten unless someone has a special, and I read somewhere that when it's ten a unit for a special to avoid that since that means they are trying to get rid of old botox and they also dilute it far more. Which would explain why when I had it done at a special it never worked at all....but I had to know. I wish there was something out there that worked better than botox to be honest. Or at least something that lifted better.

They do a "Botox Wednesday" promotion literally every Wednesday for 10/unit but normally it is 12/unit.  I feel like I've been seeing the price go down across the board everywhere- never under 10 but I think 10 is becoming the norm.  Not sure if that is because they (they being everyone) are diluting it more than they use to or if because it is becoming more affordable on their end.  Also I think a lot more people inject it now than in years past to they all have to be a bit more competitive with their pricing.  Only time will tell- if it wears off in two months it was definitely too diluted.

Hi again Jill - every now and again, the place I will go to will have an offer, one area of Botox for £99. (that is about $150-160 when you convert it). Usually they will run that offer twice a year. I have the three areas done for £245 so when you convert that, it is about $460. I am going in on the 21st of August for Botox so I will ask Petra if she knows of places here that do it by the unit, or, if she knows how many units I have when I get it done :) xx (btw not that it's relevant, but I'm an American living in England so when I come back to the States, it's good to know how it's done :) )

Now I'm curious how it is done everywhere, I just assumed it was all the same.  How long have you lived in England?

Hi Jill - just a quick follow up as I went to get my Botox again today - I get a total of about 50 units, 20 between brow (I have a strong scowl lol), 20 in my forehead, and around 5 each eye area (I believe this was the breakdown!!) She has suggested now that I space it out a bit longer between treatments - she said she would like to see me in 6 months instead of 4 as it was this time.

Oh thanks so much for asking her :)
That is awesome that you can space it out a little more.  Always nice to save some money!

Wow - seriously you made my day! Thank you so much for the kind comment!! :) Petra is truly gifted in her work. She actually told me the same thing...no more to the face. I did ask her about a slight amount to my lips just to enhance the vermillion border (do not want sausage lips) so I may just get a half a ml there and I'll be done :) xx

well it is true, just saying what I see. A really gifted injector will tell you NOT to do stuff and I say listen to her. I had a gifted injector tell me not to do stuff and I stupidly didn't listen and lived to regret. I can tell you that when you go overboard it sucks. Also when you do way too much (as people start to do -- it gets addictive in a way) or your skin doesn't rebound or react well, filler can have the opposite effect of kind of aging you. It's almost like a person who loses and gains the same five pounds over and over -- it starts to take its toll on your face because it stretches the skin out. So just please be careful as it can do this. Stick with what works but do NOT go overboard as there is truly a happy medium! And you have attained it.

Thank you, I can see how it would get addictive. She said no more to the face (cheeks for volume, nasolabial folds) but thought I would be fine with a bit in the lips, but again, she said no real volume in the upper lip, just enhance the vermilion border and a bit of volume in the lower - you can't really tell in the pics because I do wear a ton of gloss. My lips aren't thin, but I would say they were on the smaller end of average. Ultimately, I WILL trust what she says as I have NEVER felt like a priority was making money. She has ALWAYS been honest and would discourage more if she thought it would make someone look bad. I never understand why someone would encourage unnecessary work...at the end of the day, if i were a Dr or nurse prescriber/practitioner, I wouldn't want my name associated with someone who was "overdone" and have my reputation at stake!

she sounds great. I love when I find someone who knows what's what. You know, some people say, oh, ONLY go see a facial plastic surgeon. But I remember how much more care and how much more artistic an RN was (with no complications either) when injecting my face with botox and juvaderm. She didn't just put stuff where she was "supposed' to, rather she looked at my face as an individual canvas, and figured out what would help in the best possible way. So rather than inject my lips, the way a plastic surgeon had, she took the stuff out -- dissolved it! I was scared at first but she told me it would look better. Then she injected juvederm in my cupid's bow and into those two lines that come down from the nose --- i forget what they are called, but I think it's the philtrum, to create a more youthful look. They had actually gotten droopy and flattened from guess what? Filler in my lip, plus botox beneath the nose tip weakened those. She kept squeezing them with her hands, to make the divide more defined. By making it puffier with the juvederm -- and she took GREAT care in doing it well -- it looked so much better than automatically just shooting stuff into the top lip which really had looked horrible. So those who claim only a facial plastic surgeon should inject are discounting the most important facet of this of all, which is artistry. Something I wish doctors were required by law to have before delving into this field. As an artist myself (I draw) I can tell you that it is all about the sculpting and molding and aiming for perfection, rather than just blindly doing what you are told will look good. Perfection is stressful but you just can't stop until you strive your utmost for it; my RN said "I like to WIN" and I knew just what she meant -- you want it to be the BEST it can be. Yes you need to know about facial muscles and all the other medical stuff, but there is also that vital piece -- the pursuit of the perfect word/shade/shadow -- that I think many doctors simply don't care about.

nadia - you know, I 100% agree with you regarding nurses/drs. Petra is an artist - she takes time to look at you, and look at your features, and suggest what is appropriate - not what would make her the most money (at least that's what I believe). I am sorry that you had bad experience(s) (and I have read your reviews) with some doctors. My undergraduate degree is in medical biology - and I'm doing a master's degree in biomedical sciences. I would like to think I am reasonably aware of medicine. I would never go to someone where I didn't feel comfortable and like they knew less than me. Just because you have a medical degree does not mean you are good or great at what you do. xx

by the way - in checking your profile out - you are WAY too hard on yourself!! You are most definitely not saggy and ugly! We are our own worst critics - I think you are stunning :) xx

Yes this is true --- and thank u soo much! I have in fact been trying to be less hard on myself, since really, it is just too much damn work! And I have a life to live, of course.

I have always wondered how Europeans are about appearance. It fascinates me. Americans have this overly bleached teeth bleached blonde too tan too big boobed thing (or they did, for a while) and not enough classy looks -- how could you describe the British look or ideal, if possible? Americans, for example, tend to get these enormous "chompers" that are really too white, like piano keys, with very large jaws, and too large cheeks. Other countries (I have heard) would never do this. What do you think? I love comparing the different ideals and standards of beauty in different countries. I know the Brits were getting extensions way before Americans hopped onto the trend, but what other things are popular and considered beautiful that we don't do so much here?

It's in Leeds, England - far away from Eau Claire if you are in Wisconsin! (I'm from Minnesota originally and have been to Eau Claire before!!)

Hmm, it's a tough one really. Because I have blonde hair (dark blonde naturally but I highlight it (see avatar picture) I have TONS of people telling me I LOOK American (but maybe that's because they know that I am American?! You really don't see too many celebrities with bright white veneers though and I have noticed that for sure. Also - something else I have noticed...You know how news anchors in the States always look perfect?! Here, news presenters almost look 'normal' if that makes sense! Less of an emphasis on looks over here if you are on camera. I can't really think of things they do over here that they don't over there! Usually, trends are set in Hollywood and then they start in the US and filter in over here. I think things like boob jobs are almost passé in America where I rarely see women with obvious implants here. Keep in mind I'm in northern England - down south in London it may be completely different.