"I Tried Botox for The First Time - Here's How It Went"

Although Botox has become the norm among my fellow beauty journalists, I’ve been apprehensive, nervous, cautious, and everything in between about getting it for several years. But when my forehead needed some serious smoothing and my skincare routine just wasn’t cutting it, I finally took the plunge. Welcome to my first Botox journey…

My consultation

After extensive research, I made an appointment with Dr. Sophie Shotter, who practices on London’s prestigious Harley Street. With a roster of A-listers and industry insiders naming Dr. Sophie as their go-to, I knew I was in safe hands. Her bedside manner was warm and understanding, with no pressure at all. She assured me that good Botox should be our little secret—no one should ask for her business card because it shouldn’t be obvious. You should look like a better version of yourself, leaving people wondering why you look so fabulous.

Good Botox should be our little secret—no one should ask for her business card because it shouldn’t be obvious.

Dr. Sophie pointed out that my face isn’t symmetrical (totally normal, she reassured me), and that my right eyelid is heavier than my left. She explained how Botox could subtly address this and smooth out those fine forehead lines—a pretty standard request.

What I expected

Being quite expressive, my face shows it. This isn’t necessarily bad, but years of raising my eyebrows reviewing umpteen mascaras have left their mark. (Try applying mascara without raising your eyebrows. It’s almost impossible!) I expected a painful needle jab and an instant vanishing act for my forehead lines. Spoiler: neither happened immediately.

The appointment

Right after the injections, I had teeny bumps and little dots of blood, similar to mosquito bites. These disappeared by school pick-up time two hours later. The real skin-smoothing magic, however, takes a bit longer. It took about ten days for the Botox to fully kick in and reveal a smoother, line-free forehead.

Botox will soften lines, not get rid of them

Does it hurt?

I can’t stress enough how quick and painless the procedure was. It took a mere five minutes—I’ve had blood tests that were more painful and took longer! Dr. Sophie was fantastic, explaining where she was placing the needle and expertly distracting me with regular chit-chat while doing her thing.

Does it work?

In short, absolutely yes, yes, yes! It’s the best decision I’ve made. I just kick myself for being such a scaredy-cat and not doing it years ago. I left Dr. Sophie’s office elated, practically skipping to the train station, wondering if anyone could tell I’d just had Botox. Since then, I’ve been scrutinising everyone’s face like I’ve joined a secret club. Do they know I’m now a member?

How long does it last?

Amazingly, there’s no real downtime with Botox. You don’t need to hide away! Dr. Sophie recommended avoiding excessive sweating or exercise for at least 24 hours post-treatment, as it can spread the toxin to unwanted areas. Stick to your regular skincare routine but skip retinols and acids that day to avoid stinging. It’s crucial to avoid touching your face where you had the injections so the Botox can settle properly. And finally, avoid too much sun exposure to prevent bruising. Other than that, you’re good to go.

The results

Five weeks on, my skin looks flawless—not tight or expressionless, which was my main concern. I can still raise my eyebrows and frown, but my lines are smoother, and my face looks more youthful. I returned for a follow-up with Dr. Sophie a fortnight later to ensure I was happy with the results. Dr. Sophie believes in the “less is more” approach, so follow-ups are usually for a little top-up, but we both agreed I didn’t need it.

If you take away anything from my Botox experience, it’s to find a practitioner who cares, listens, and knows their stuff. I feel incredibly fortunate to have chosen Dr. Sophie—she just got me, and most importantly, my face.