I am a big believer in Botox and have been for quite some time. I first started getting Botox in my late 20s. A friend of mine was having a "Botox Party" and I'll never forget how she approached the subject so cautiously... "hey, I'm not saying you NEED Botox, but I am hosting a Botox Party with a physician and wanted to invite you..." Truth is, up until that point, I was curious about Botox, but I also knew that I would never act on it alone because there was also a part of me that was scared about it, so taking that first leap into Botox with friends seemed like a great idea.
Why was I scared about it? Well, I can sum it up in one word... needles. I am a complete and utter chicken when it comes to needles. Come to find out, Botox is administered with the smallest gauge of needle manufactured, so it's really not that big of a deal. Sure, some areas are more sensitive than others, but even the most sensitive areas aren't that bad (did I mentioned that I'm a chicken when it comes to needles??). I had my forehead done and learned that the spot just above the eyebrows is where the sensitivity can kick in, but again, it's not that bad. The middle of my forehead? Piece of cake! And then it gets a little sensitive again right below the hairline, but again, not that big of a deal at all. There is no actual "pain."
So back to that Botox Party... I watched a couple of the other ladies in attendance get their Botox with that tiny little needle first and they didn't even flinch! Then it was my turn and I admit I was a little nervous, and then a couple minutes later, it was over, just like that! I had built it up in my head SO MUCH WORSE than it truly was! In reality, it was so easy! And a couple of weeks later, I could see the results and they were amazing! I was hooked.
I have moved a lot with my job and have continued to get Botox every three to four months since that Botox Party. That means I have seen several different providers over the years. This is my second time living in New Orleans- the first time I lived here was before the Botox Party so I had no Botox provider to return to- and once I got back here in January, I knew I'd need to find someone. I had Botox before moving back here in mid-January, which means in a perfect world I would have been due again somewhere in the mid-April to mid-May range, but then the pandemic happened and I shelved my plans. Fast forward to August... I was introduced to the folks at First Down Healthcare in Metairie and decided to give them a try, and I am so glad I did! I got Botox with them on September 2nd, a full seven and a half months since I last got Botox, so the previous Botox had long worn off. Tiffaney at First Down Healthcare administered the Botox. First she asked if wanted numbing cream. Numbing cream? Wow, in all my time of getting Botox, I had never been offered numbing cream before! I liked that offer; it was obvious that they cared about me and my comfort, but I turned it down. I've gone all this time with no numbing cream...why start now? She also offered me ice packs. That was also a nice touch! I did try the ice packs, but she was gentle enough that they really weren't necessary.
About a year ago, in addition to getting my forehead done, I added getting a tiny amount of Botox to cure the start of crows feet into the Botox repertoire. I told her of all of my different Botox experiences and she listened intently and was sure to give me exactly what I wanted and needed. Fast forward to now, and I am so thrilled with the results. Amazing!
Now, for the sake of full disclosure, First Down Healthcare and WNOE have a business relationship and I am a paid endorser, but to me, none of that matters because I would never personally partner up with a business that I don't believe in 100%. What matters the most to me is the quality of the work, the friendliness of the staff, the comfort level, and the overall experience, and I give First Down Healthcare an A+! When you walk in the door, you are greeted by smiles and friendliness of everyone that works there, and that goes a long way with me. The business is spotless from top to bottom, plus there are hand sanitizer stations and everyone is in a face mask. As I mentioned with my personal experience with Tiffaney, the customer's comfort level is first and foremost and they go out of their way to make sure you're comfortable. And as a little bit of lagniappe, the owner Scott is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, and he really cares about quality and comfort as well. Side note... Scott was a referee in the SEC, and that's where he came up with the name First Down Healthcare. That's a fun tie-in! But yeah...visiting First Down Healthcare is an exceptional experience from the second you walk in the door until the second you leave, so I am very happy that both WNOE and I personally are partnered up with such a quality business. First Down Healthcare also does CoolSculpting and they're about to add a bunch of other services. That's exciting!
I did a "before and after" video of my experience with getting Botox at First Down Healthcare. Check it out...you can REALLY see a difference! I am soooo thrilled!
Meet Tiffaney. She's great! I totally forgot to get a picture with Scott (we were busy talking about dogs and football!). I will get a picture with him next time...and there WILL be a next time. I'll be back time and time again!