My appointment with Dr Torgerson eventually arrived. I was terrified. I'm not usually a bad patient but this really did worry me. I was volunteering for a medical procedure based purely on vanity. No medical need whatsoever. It wasn't going to make me healthier, just a bit less grumpy looking. And for that I was risking a frozen face and droopy eyes. Was I crazy? What would my mother say if she knew? And why was I spending so much on myself when I should be saving to go home and visit my family?!?
Despite the major butterflies (seriously-they were more like huge flapping bats) in my stomach, I arrived at Dr Torgerson's office. My nerves pretty much vanished when I met his office staff-Helen and Breanne. They are so nice and so warm. It was impossible to stay worried! Helen is also Irish which was a bonus. I was given a lengthy medical questionnaire and a cup of coffee and settled down to my form filling.
Dr Torgerson was maybe half an hour late seeing me but the time passed quickly and he was obviously with someone else-not just messing around on Facebook or something! Helen took my "before" headshots and I waited in a big dentist-like chair in the treatment room.
When Dr Torgerson came in, any lingering fears vanished. He is immensely likeable and spent the first few minutes just chatting about my work, the move to Toronto and so on. We then discussed the Botox and he commented that glabellar lines are perfect for it (I think they were the initial cosmetic indication too). He explained the physiology of action, the duration, what I'd expect during and after the procedure and potential complications. He likes to completely freeze the muscles involved in creating those lines (which he likes to call "concentration lines") unlike other parts of the face where he tries to retain more movement. The usual dose he uses is 25 units. He then said there was one more thing that I might benefit from at some point. My heart sank. I'd been dreading the critical eye of a plastic surgeon and the pronouncement that I needed a nose job, a jaw revision, new ears, Botox all over, new lips. "In fact", I was sure he'd say, "we should just get a refund on this face and get you a new one altogether". He didn't. With apologies for being mean and picky, he said that I had "tear troughs"-a fold/hollow at the edge of the eye. He reckoned it probably looked flatter and I looked more drawn when tired. I had to agree. He told me that filler (like Restylane) could be injected to plump it-giving a fresher appearance. He by no means pushed the procedure-just said it was something to think about. These photos made me think that he's probably right! Still can't afford it though.
Anyway, I signed my consent form for the procedure and we got on with it. His fancy chair can be tipped back and he told me that he uses a teeny tiny needle (32G!) for the injections. I was given a squeezy Botox toy just in case. The injections were really fine. 5 of them in total. Some felt a bit funny-like a crunchy sensation by the inner brow-but perfectly tolerable. It really is just a little pinch. I held a little gauze to my head for a few minutes and then was ready to go. He said it would take at least 3 days to show an effect and that top-ups were free if I didn't see enough of a change. He also mentioned that they were getting Latisse the following week...which definitely sounded interesting too!
I chatted with Helen and headed out the door.
How did I feel? Fine. Can't say there was much of a sensation. That part of my forehead felt a little fuller than usual and a bit heavy but didn't really bother me. The tiny marks weren't even visible. I went home, my Botox virginity lost forever...
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