DEAR LUCY

based on a column by Lucy Kellaway

I recently lost my job and am now freelancing as a media consultant. This involves constant networking and pitching and is a bit soul-destroying.    A friend has suggested that I boost my self-esteem with a bit of Botox. She argues it will make me look younger, fresher and smooth out the lines of worry on my forehead – and will quickly pay for itself. I can’t help noticing that I am looking much older than a lot of my peers, all of whom have had work done.    Should I go for it? Is it a good investment? Struggling consultant, female, 48

		Lucy’s answer
		This is a question I can answer with considerable authority, as I’ll explain in a
		moment.
		But first: is Botox a good investment? In theory I don’t see why it shouldn’t be.
		There has been quite a bit of research done to show that people who look good
5		do better, mainly because they are more confident. If Botox made you more
		confident, then you might well land new business as a result.
		However, this is an area where it is hard to get good advice. If you ask
		people, especially men, whether you should inject nasty things into your face,
		they will all say no (which is just as well as you wouldn’t want them to say yes,
10		would you?). Most women say no too, even the ones who secretly sneak off to
		dates with doctors with syringes themselves. People lie about their Botox even
		more than they lie about how much they drink.
		I only know a small handful of women who openly admit to having had this
		done. It would be nice if I could say that they all looked grotesque, but alas they
15		all look annoyingly good. Thinking about this, I used to feel the same as you –
		that if everyone else was moving the goal posts, perhaps I should too.
		[id:96310] , a few months ago, I went with
		a friend to a doctor who shone a bright
		white light in my face and carefully
20		explained how my cheeks were
		collapsing and how the lines were
		deepening. Even parts of my face that
		I hadn’t noticed were bad turned out to
		be so. “You’ve got a very low brow,” she
25		said disapprovingly.
		The urgent work would require three
		syringes of “filler” at about £300 ($471) each, all lasting only nine months, with a
		bit of Botox around the edges. The bare minimum would cost about £1,500 a
		year.
30		I looked at her peculiarly smooth, impassive face, and I considered my
		options: looking old or looking weird. Expressed thus the answer was easy:
		looking old isn’t so bad. And it’s much cheaper.
		In return for listening to just how clapped-out I am, I paid a fee of £90. It was
		the best investment I have ever made, and I strongly recommend you do the
35		same. This wretched doctor has put the fight back in me. Never have I felt
		happier – defiant even – about my deep frown lines and collapsed cheeks.
		I chose them.
		ft.com, 2011