You know you're good friends with someone when...
...they take you to their dermatologist to get a cosmetic procedure and end up almost breaking your hands by squeezing them because of the pain. Haha.
Well, Missy and I decided to use some of our hard-earned money ( since I sent home plenty and have enough already to pay for the hotel and have plenty of money for my books depending on what happens on the 23rd...I am pushing my attorney big-time for that revocation) to get some cosmetic procedures done. Since both of us are going to be 44 soon ( hey, mine is April 27th, her's is August 27th) our idea is that we don't really want that full face lift when we're 50, so it's best to get little treatments done now.
I haven't been able to afford anything for nearly 18 months, and so I figured while the money is good, I'm going to invest in myself. I already posted an entry about coloring my hair for the very first time to get rid of those pesky gray hairs that keep popping up with more and more frequent regularity, and in the past, once a year ( and only once a year, it's all I need and I don't ever want to end up looking frozen or fake like so MANY of the celebrities in their attempt to fight time) I would get Botox injected into my forehead and where the frown lines usually show up. Because I've taken scrupulous care of my body and skin through the years ( despite all the sun and tanning salons I've gone to) and because of GENETICS, I do look a decade younger than 44. None of the girls in jail believed me about that and most people who see my photos or see me in person think I'm still in my early 30's.
Now don't get me wrong. As I age, I have no plans on wanting to look '30' when I'm 60. But I sure as shit am going to get things done within reason. My looks have always been part of my identity ( although in truth, it is a transitory thing, and essentially meaningless if you are not a good person with a good heart. Beauty IS more than skin deep. An ugly, mean or cruel personality makes a physically beautiful person uglier than anything else ever could). And beauty to me first and foremost does mean my health ( hence, working out, trying to eat right).
My dermatologist in Reno charges a LOT of money for procedures because she has a huge overhead with a very large, modern office and a staff of about 15 to 20 people. The price for two syringes of Botox is 600 dollars. At the doctor here in Denver ( specifically about a half hour away from where Missy lives and where I am staying) he has a small staff, a very small office, and so his prices are about half if not more than half, of what I normally would pay. And he's not some crock doctor, his credentials are sterling and he has a huge following.
So we went in and got Botox ( that cost me only 150 dollars versus 300 for the amount of units. He does it very differently than my regular dermatologist.Rather than shoot an entire syringe in one area, he does different areas of the forehead and the brow area, as well as near the sides of the eye area to give a more refreshed look. THE WHOLE POINT of this is NOT to look 'fake' but rather, to me, well-rested) done. Poor Missy HATES the pain and she squeezed my hands so tightly that I have a bruise LOL on one hand.
So you KNOW you're good pals with someone when you can sit there and watch them get injected with this shit. We also both got injections of JUVADERM PLUS. A long time ago bovine and rooster comb collagen were the primary fillers for nasal labial wrinkles. Botox does not work for those areas, only on the forehead, the crows feet, and frown lines between the eyes. Juvaderm comes in two forms, one is more liquid and the other more viscous ( thicker). The one we got ( which normally would cost me 600 for a syringe, cost 400 here) is the thicker version which lasts for about a year and has instant results. But Missy, being very fair-skinned, bruised very darkly immediately. I don't like needles ( who does!!) but for cosmetic purposes, I'll endure it. And this doctor already mixes the Novocain with the filler material inside the syringe, so you don't feel much. I noticed some slight bruising near my nose, but it's easily covered for me with makeup since I'm darker.
In all, what should have cost 1100 cost me less than 600. My next item on the list is a special laser treatment, the very first that is SAFE FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR ( lasers and chemical peels are great for fair-skinned people, who do tend to wrinkle much faster than darker skin, but darker skin like mine is easily scarred and easily discolored by keloids and marks) and particularly Asians. I learned that Asians have the most sensitive and easily discolored skin of all the races. And the doctor here in Denver is Vietnamese so he totally knows what my concerns are.
FRAXEL is a laser that penetrates the skin without destroying it like old lasers. You will look sunburned and chapped for about four days, then everything heals rapidly from within. Over time, dark circles and hyperpigmented freckles and spots ( which I am getting now, because of sun damage, although it's minimal) disappear and collagen is stimulated, producing a younger look and a 'glow' to the face rather than an aggressively used laser that totally rips off your face and makes you look like something from HELLRAISER movies. I saw before and after photos of Asian patients and I was thrilled with those results. Back home in Reno, ONE Fraxel treatment is 900 dollars. This doctor charges 500, and he has a new advanced version of Fraxel where it's equivalent to 3 treatments of the older version.
So when I serve my time, when I get out, I'm staying at Missy's and working, and I'm going to do the Fraxel. I figured if it's less expensive with double the results, this is a good thing. I'm SO glad she recommended this doctor, she's been going to him for five years now. Again, I'm not looking for that fake ass look that horrifies me when I see over-done celebrities or even people I can 'tell' have had cosmetic procedures. I look at this as 'fine-tuning' maintenance. I looked in the mirror and I don't look 'drastically different', but you could say that I look like I definitely am refreshed and well-rested. For myself, doing these things are extra important, especially if I want to keep working.
After all this, the next step is to save money to get a new garage door, new carpets, and repaint the interior of my house, and I'd honestly say I could consider selling it and buying that little condo. In all I think it's safe to say that at this point in my life, I want a higher quality of life, not more material goods. And paying cash for a condo I could call my own with no mortgage to ever worry about and leaving thus more room to save even more money for my future, I can live with that. Fuck yeah.
Well, Missy and I decided to use some of our hard-earned money ( since I sent home plenty and have enough already to pay for the hotel and have plenty of money for my books depending on what happens on the 23rd...I am pushing my attorney big-time for that revocation) to get some cosmetic procedures done. Since both of us are going to be 44 soon ( hey, mine is April 27th, her's is August 27th) our idea is that we don't really want that full face lift when we're 50, so it's best to get little treatments done now.
I haven't been able to afford anything for nearly 18 months, and so I figured while the money is good, I'm going to invest in myself. I already posted an entry about coloring my hair for the very first time to get rid of those pesky gray hairs that keep popping up with more and more frequent regularity, and in the past, once a year ( and only once a year, it's all I need and I don't ever want to end up looking frozen or fake like so MANY of the celebrities in their attempt to fight time) I would get Botox injected into my forehead and where the frown lines usually show up. Because I've taken scrupulous care of my body and skin through the years ( despite all the sun and tanning salons I've gone to) and because of GENETICS, I do look a decade younger than 44. None of the girls in jail believed me about that and most people who see my photos or see me in person think I'm still in my early 30's.
Now don't get me wrong. As I age, I have no plans on wanting to look '30' when I'm 60. But I sure as shit am going to get things done within reason. My looks have always been part of my identity ( although in truth, it is a transitory thing, and essentially meaningless if you are not a good person with a good heart. Beauty IS more than skin deep. An ugly, mean or cruel personality makes a physically beautiful person uglier than anything else ever could). And beauty to me first and foremost does mean my health ( hence, working out, trying to eat right).
My dermatologist in Reno charges a LOT of money for procedures because she has a huge overhead with a very large, modern office and a staff of about 15 to 20 people. The price for two syringes of Botox is 600 dollars. At the doctor here in Denver ( specifically about a half hour away from where Missy lives and where I am staying) he has a small staff, a very small office, and so his prices are about half if not more than half, of what I normally would pay. And he's not some crock doctor, his credentials are sterling and he has a huge following.
So we went in and got Botox ( that cost me only 150 dollars versus 300 for the amount of units. He does it very differently than my regular dermatologist.Rather than shoot an entire syringe in one area, he does different areas of the forehead and the brow area, as well as near the sides of the eye area to give a more refreshed look. THE WHOLE POINT of this is NOT to look 'fake' but rather, to me, well-rested) done. Poor Missy HATES the pain and she squeezed my hands so tightly that I have a bruise LOL on one hand.
So you KNOW you're good pals with someone when you can sit there and watch them get injected with this shit. We also both got injections of JUVADERM PLUS. A long time ago bovine and rooster comb collagen were the primary fillers for nasal labial wrinkles. Botox does not work for those areas, only on the forehead, the crows feet, and frown lines between the eyes. Juvaderm comes in two forms, one is more liquid and the other more viscous ( thicker). The one we got ( which normally would cost me 600 for a syringe, cost 400 here) is the thicker version which lasts for about a year and has instant results. But Missy, being very fair-skinned, bruised very darkly immediately. I don't like needles ( who does!!) but for cosmetic purposes, I'll endure it. And this doctor already mixes the Novocain with the filler material inside the syringe, so you don't feel much. I noticed some slight bruising near my nose, but it's easily covered for me with makeup since I'm darker.
In all, what should have cost 1100 cost me less than 600. My next item on the list is a special laser treatment, the very first that is SAFE FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR ( lasers and chemical peels are great for fair-skinned people, who do tend to wrinkle much faster than darker skin, but darker skin like mine is easily scarred and easily discolored by keloids and marks) and particularly Asians. I learned that Asians have the most sensitive and easily discolored skin of all the races. And the doctor here in Denver is Vietnamese so he totally knows what my concerns are.
FRAXEL is a laser that penetrates the skin without destroying it like old lasers. You will look sunburned and chapped for about four days, then everything heals rapidly from within. Over time, dark circles and hyperpigmented freckles and spots ( which I am getting now, because of sun damage, although it's minimal) disappear and collagen is stimulated, producing a younger look and a 'glow' to the face rather than an aggressively used laser that totally rips off your face and makes you look like something from HELLRAISER movies. I saw before and after photos of Asian patients and I was thrilled with those results. Back home in Reno, ONE Fraxel treatment is 900 dollars. This doctor charges 500, and he has a new advanced version of Fraxel where it's equivalent to 3 treatments of the older version.
So when I serve my time, when I get out, I'm staying at Missy's and working, and I'm going to do the Fraxel. I figured if it's less expensive with double the results, this is a good thing. I'm SO glad she recommended this doctor, she's been going to him for five years now. Again, I'm not looking for that fake ass look that horrifies me when I see over-done celebrities or even people I can 'tell' have had cosmetic procedures. I look at this as 'fine-tuning' maintenance. I looked in the mirror and I don't look 'drastically different', but you could say that I look like I definitely am refreshed and well-rested. For myself, doing these things are extra important, especially if I want to keep working.
After all this, the next step is to save money to get a new garage door, new carpets, and repaint the interior of my house, and I'd honestly say I could consider selling it and buying that little condo. In all I think it's safe to say that at this point in my life, I want a higher quality of life, not more material goods. And paying cash for a condo I could call my own with no mortgage to ever worry about and leaving thus more room to save even more money for my future, I can live with that. Fuck yeah.