6 Reasons Why Therapy is Better Than Botox.

A report from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) reveals that Americans spent more than $16.5 billion on cosmetic plastic surgery and minimally invasive procedures in 2018. That is a lot of moolah that is spent on interventions that are not covered by insurance as cosmetic procedures are deemed a “luxury”. 

So why do people, mostly already paying for health insurance, choose to dig deep into their pockets or accumulate debt to get botox, injections, facelifts, and other cosmetic procedures done?  

Let’s examine the perceived positives of cosmetic procedures:

1. Quick visible results that are easily noticed by others.
2. Positive feedback from others about “looking good”.
3. Maybe the clothes are feeling a little looser or you are down a size.
4. More confidence.
5. Feeling younger or more vibrant.

Notice the keyword “perceived”, yes maybe the clothes are a smaller sizer now but what about everything else.  Is it life altering?  Not really. Yes, results are visible quickly and noticed by others, but this is temporary.  The Botox needs to be reinjected in several months,  the fillers in under a couple of years, the skin will sag again, and maybe that weight will return in time if proper diet and exercise are not incorporated. 

Let’s examine the reality of positives of psychotherapy:

1.  The results are visible to you and you are the one that matters most.  Right?
2. The positive feedback you get from others: “You seem to be coping better” “You seem more confident” “Wow, you are clear on your life goals” “It’s nice to see you smiling again” “It must be great you are sleeping again at night”.  I can provide many more. Does it really matter what feedback you get if you, yourself, are feeling these ways on the inside?
3. Psychotherapy may help you fine tune and heal those areas in your life or personality that are keeping you from finding your soul mate, or landing that job, or creating a better social network. This will provide real life transformation.
4. The work you do on yourself in therapy is permanent. 
5. Psychotherapy can change your perceptions about age, aging, beauty, and vitality.  It can help you identify personal goals and give you skills to achieve them so that life is fulfilling and abundant regardless of what age, weight, or height you are. 
6. Confidence comes from the inside.  That is something that is developed and self-defeating thoughts are challenged during therapy. 

There is some magical thinking with cosmetic procedures.  Now that I look younger, more handsome, or prettier I will magically have a happy life, find a new partner, get a promotion, and live happily ever after.  Now I am not saying that cosmetic procedures are not acceptable.  They are and if that quick boost is what you need in this moment, then that is what you need.  But if you are looking for them to solve long standing problems or transform your life, they will not. 

Psychotherapy will help with moving forward in life, healing, and making permanent and transformative changes in one own’s life for the better.  Psychotherapy is an investment in you, in the truest of senses. Are you ready for transformative change?

Barbara Duchnowski, ACHt, MSW, LCSW  Barbara Duchnowski is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker  with a Masters Degree in Social Work from Rutgers University. Over the past 30 years of experience in the mental health field, Barbara has worked in various clinical, educational, community, and private practice settings as a therapist, counselor, coach, group facilitator, professional development trainer, in addition to, holding leadership roles. 

Through her work, Barbara recognized a pattern of trauma history in relationship to mental health and behavioral challenges encountered by those suffering “heartbreak” due to loss of a relationship.   Barbara is driven by her passion to help those suffering from “heartbreak”  recognize they “deserve good” in their lives and provide them with the foundations to work towards healing and living a fulfilling abundant life.  In addition to her Masters in Social Work, Barbara holds a Bachelors in Psychology and is certified as an Advanced Clinical Hypnotherapist.