Do these two “problem” photos remind you of yourself?

Shawna Pitts is a guest blogger. She is a patient of Cynthia Abbott, MD at our Midtown location. This is the first in a three part series about her experience as a naive Botox patient. These blogs reflect her individual experience and/or opinion and are not intended to speak for the company as a whole or our individual physicians. Enjoy!
I knew that once I had made my decision to go for Botox I would go to Dermatology Affiliates. I have been to this practice over the years for various dermatology needs and know and trust the staff and physicians there. I wanted to go somewhere with a reputation for quality work, a pleasant staff, and a group whose primary focus would be making sure I was pleased with the results. Basically – a sense of trust and safety was worth more to me than finding a “deal” on Botox. I wanted Grade-A Organic Free-Range Botulism. (tweet this)
I wanted my Botox administered by the kind of trained and competent professional that would have enough consideration to ask me how much ‘come hither’ or ‘oh no you didn’t!’ I wanted my face left capable of expressing. I wanted follow-ups and touch-ups and all those bells and whistles that come with doing this sort of thing with a Dermatologist. (tweet this)
It went a little something like this:

I show up at the office, a gorgeous old home in midtown – it is stunning. As I walk through the doors I am struck with an orb of light reflected from a giant chandelier in the waiting room. The light surrounds me with happy thoughts and feelings of zen. My frown lines are doing a happy dance. DOWN WITH FROWN! Today is the day of reckoning and I am pumped.
I am led to a patient room and wait for Dr. Abbott. She comes in cheerful, a smile that puts to ease any lingering nerves, and takes a seat so we can chat. She asks me to explain why I have come to visit and what it is she can do to help. I tell her I have two problems.

I am certain that there was no need for verbal articulation of my needs. ‘BOTOX STAT’ might as well have been written with Sharpie on my forehead. Nonetheless she humored me as I shared lots of facial expressions and elaborate tales of the incredible strength of my brow muscles. My face was out of control.

In addition to the desire for Botox to quell the brawn of brows – I had some general questions about the rest of my face. I have lost a lot of fat in my face over the years and have since noticed the creases around my mouth and under my cheeks deepening. This gives off a sort of ‘my face is slipping off the map here’ look that is no bueno. She asked if I had children and if my weight loss had been attributed to nursing – I answered in the affirmative. She shared some of her own experience and information about changes in the body/skin as we age. Then she told me about fillers that could help with that. This was all very informative and helpful.
After our chat, I was ready for Botox. She sticks me in all the places. I might as well be having acupuncture – it was not very painful at all. She notices at one point that I have a little brow thing going on that I might be interested in keeping, because you know, sexeh. I explain that I just had a baby (2 years ago…but close enough) and say ‘nah, I’m good.’

I left very excited about my facial immobility. I was optimistic that I had made a decision that I would not later regret and that Dermatology Affiliates would see to it that improvements in the depth and severity of my lines were being made.