What happened when we tried the new Botox technique?

Having worked in the beauty industry for 14 years, I'm well aware that there is no cream that will reverse the hands of time. The only thing that will do that is with injections like Botox.

Botox. Yes, we're talking Botox.

I'm not going to deny it; I've done it before. I've been to a few of places over the years, in fact, some good and some not worth speaking about. One even left my face slightly descending on one side which I had to get fixed elsewhere.

You see, I have a very expressive face. I'm also one of those people who can't really hide their emotions at all. I smile a lot and was a huge sun worshiper in my late teens and early 20s, spending two - three months abroad each year covered in factor 2 oil. I have since realised the error of my ways, but I have a good amount of wrinkles around my eyes and forehead. So, when the lines began to bother me, I did my research and made an educated decision to go down the Botox route.

Being in the beauty industry, I had heard the name "Mulrooney" on more than one occasion. I had heard that Dr Katherine does Botox in a completely different way to the rest. My wedding is coming up, and I'm well aware that my face will be in every photo; I just couldn't risk anything but the best.

I went to visit the gorgeous clinic on the Eglington road for my treatment. Dr Katherine was exactly as described: a true professional. First, she did a consultation. As she did, I could see her taking in all my facial movements. Next, she mapped out my face with a pencil. The process consisted of me scrunching my face in many ways.

Before

She decided to do a full face of Botox, which is not 'the norm'. Usually with Botox, they talk in 'sections', so you would get it around your eyes, your forehead or frown lines. This was a whole new approach, like a complete face lift!

The process is relatively simple, and in this case, pretty much 100% pain-free. I had a numbing cream applied on my skin, and when it came to the injection part, I genuinely didn't feel a thing. A tiny pinch if anything, but nothing to write home about. The process began at the neck and went right up to the top of my forehead.

During the whole process, Dr Katherine was so gentle and lovely. She really put me completely at ease with her mannerism and approach and even gave me a stress pig to squeeze just in case.

Results take about a week to work, and three to fully settle. During the course of the week to follow, unlike past treatments I have had, I didn't feel a thing. Before, I felt my face starting to freeze a bit, and up until now, I didn't really like the look of the Botox effect for the first month until it settled a bit. Again, this time it was completely different. Every morning I woke up and subtlely started to look younger, fresher and a lot less tired. People kept commenting on how well I looked for the first time in a while.

It was like someone had lifted my whole face upwards, yet I still had movement and just looked younger.

After

All in all, having had this treatment, I'm a convert. I would never go back to the former approaches of Botox in just one, two or three areas. Your whole face is connected through muscles which all droop over time and should be treated as a whole, not just the ones around your eyes.  You wouldn't just apply foundation around your eyes to brighten up your whole complexion, would you? The same thing goes with Botox. When you apply it to your whole face, the results are better.

Results last three - six months, depending on lifestyle.

I can't recommend Dr Katherine high enough. Now I know why she is the Botox Queen of the beauty industry.

For information on treatments, visit Dr Katherine at 69 Eglington Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 or visit www.drmulrooney.com.