Growing Old Gracefully Can Suck It

Also known as, I turned 40 and had a Herculean panic attack.

It’s one of those things we’re not really supposed to talk about. We might even be trained to feel guilty about it. Or heaven forbid, vain. Because you know, we have to keep our kids happy! Our homes clean! Our marriages solid! Our cars maintained!

But.

What about my face? What about the first thing people see when they look at me? Or more importantly, the first thing *I* see when I look at myself? Why do we fear judgement for not wanting to be asked, “Are you a good witch, or a bad witch?”

For the last six months I’ve been on a “skin journey” with the Kansas City Wellness Center and Medical Spa. Aka: my favorite place on earth. I’m so excited to finally be able to walk you through what I went through, answer any questions you may have, and heeeeeey-oh! – there might even be a discount involved for my local pigeons.

Excited? Duh.

Let’s look at some grody, extremely vulnerable photos, why don’t we?

This is me last September, before it ALL BEGAN. I have a few sun spots on my left cheek and forehead, a bit of light, spotty rosacea in my t-zone, some wrinkling in my forehead, and overall blah-ville dullness in my skin tone and texture. In other words, I’z gittin’ old.

But guess what! You can totally do something about it. You are allowed to be good to your face, and even *gasp* – talk about it! Let’s think of it as an OIL CHANGE FOR YOUR FACE. We take care of every single other dang thing. Time to rotate your face tires. (<–I don’t know.)

(you’re like, TELL ME ABOUT THE BOTOX ALREADY.)

We focused on two services (plus a skin care line!) during my partnership with the KC Wellness Center.

1. a few rounds of Forever Young BBL
2. and Botox. (<—a freaking life miracle)

I’d always been told, “Botox will paralyze your face!” And I’m like, “SO DOES HAVING YOUR WISDOM TEETH CUT OUT WHEN THEY HIT A NERVE.” True story. It’s why I have a lazy jowl on one side.

Let’s start with the life-changing Forever Young BBL. Or, BroadBand Light. Or – LASER. You guys, this simple and nearly painless procedure is magic. Its overall mission is to improve the appearance of your skin. Specifically, it will decrease rosacea, lessen sun damage and aging spots, and give you smoother, more elastic-looking skin. You in?

Like, read this: “A groundbreaking study on BroadBand Light (BBL™)  published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology performed at Stanford University supports the hypothesis that genes in aging skin can be altered using Forever Young BBL technology to provide a functional change, rather than just a temporary change of youthful appearance. In other words, youthful genes are activated and aging genes are deactivated.” HI, YES.

She’ll slather this cool gel stuff on your face, place the little metal eye goggles over your eyes for protection, and start ZAPPIN’. It can be a little startling, yes, but I wouldn’t call it painful. Just  . . . zappy. But you’ll start to really get into it. I kept saying, “Zap that one again!” Kate would sigh, “Bev, calm down. I’m getting it.” “Me, “ZAP IT. ZAP IIIIIIT.”

There’s a reason Cher wrote “If I Could Turn Back Time”. It’s about BBLs. I’m sure of it.

I also experimented with the ZO skin care line. That ish is intense! In true transparency, I had to back off on some of the steps, and concentrate on just the cleanser and moisturizer, because it basically gave me a chemical peel. Super cute. I love love love the cleanser, though. See, everything is anti-aging, (like, gets doooown to the dermis) so you must follow a strict regimen so you don’t end up looking you just poured a vat of Elmer’s glue on your face. (I got a little, um, overzealous.)

This (^^) is right after a BBL. The targeted spots get super dark, then gradually fade and flake off over the following weeks. Yes it looks insane immediately after, but I still went to the grocery because I’m a troll.

Depending on your skin, they’ll decide how many procedures you might need, and closely watch the results to see what’s fading nicely and what’s being a little stubborn. (I had this one a-hole of a freckle that was in a raging protest, but we eventually broke him down.)

Also, that above photo on the right is before Botox. Ha-yikes.

I cannot recommend Botox enough! It doesn’t really hurt (I went through IVF, nothing hurts me), and it’s a fascinating sensation over the next few days, as you feel the gradual tightening in your forehead, and you watch those lines seriously VANISH. I think it’s just wonderful. It lasts about 4 months, and the results are fantastic! And you can totally still move your face and make your insano expressions and everything. Botox paired with a few rounds of BBL, ohhhhh sister friend. Yas.

Let’s talk about my specific results:

In short, YAYAYAYAYAYAY!

In long, I’m glow-y-er! My rosacea is much, much less than it was six months ago. My sun spots and cheek dots are much lighter. Not gone, but very faded.

But the main thing I notice is the lack of fine lines and the improved TONE of my skin. Even the texture. It feels different. More supple. Smoother. It has this evenness to it, that it didn’t had before. And I’m not just blowing smoke here, I can honestly say I look better in this 40-year old skin than I did a year ago. Would you mind if I squealed right now?

(you’re like, GET TO THE DISCOUNT ALREADY.)

First of all, it must be said that the staff at the KC Wellness Center and Medical Spa is FANTASTIC. Kate, Dr. Carter, and everyone else there is so knowledgeable and friendly and eager to make you feel good about your body. Like, I even showed them my c-section belly aftermath and no one barfed. That’s saying something.

Local gals! If you’re curious about any of their services, or just want to go in for a consultation, mention my name (Bev Weidner, Bev Cooks – whatevs) and you’ll get 10% off your first procedure! (the consultation is free, obvs.) (oh, get a Dermaplane! gaaaaah.)

I want to go back and have them replace my whole neck.

HA!

I’m serious.

Aging happens. I’m never going to look 25. I don’t NEED to look 25. Or 26. 27. Or 28. Maybe. Okay, I’d like to look 28. FINE, I CAN EMBRACE LOOKING 28.

But if my 40 makes me feel less “good witch/bad witch,” I’m all in.

“IF I COULD TUUUUURN BACK TIIIIIIIIIME. IF I COULD FIIIIIIND A WAAAAAAAY.” Cher knows.

(This post is in partnership with the Kansas City Wellness Center and Medical Spa. All ramblings are totally my own. Coo?)