Life Coach Carlos Brandt on Breaking Machismo and BOTOX® Cosmetic

Please see Approved Uses and Important Safety Information about BOTOX® Cosmetic, including Boxed Warning below.

For Carlos Brandt, a gay immigrant from Venezuela who spent many of his years living abroad in Spain before moving to the United States, being a good life coach required him to battle gender norms and expectations to find his true self. "I grew up in a very religious family where you needed to be masculine, [where] you cannot allow yourself to tap into your femininity and be yourself," Carlos Brandt tells Out as part of its "Spilling the Tea on Me" series.

But when Carlos moved to Los Angeles he saw how LGBTQ+ people were embracing themselves and it helped him connect with who he was. "I try to practice not judging myself, like when I'm in the club dancing or put on my favorite song when I'm driving. I can connect with who I am, to be special, to be me, to be unique," Carlos says. He admits, "Being in a relationship and finding ways to become my better self was my way of loving myself, to see those dark spots and do something with it."

That choice to become his best self helped Carlos come out and accept himself for who he is, and he isn't going back. "Coming out for me was a way of rebellion. I'm proud to be gay. I'm proud to be a part of my LGBTQ community and family," Carlos shares. That pride Carlos has encouraged him to seek out things he's always wanted to try, like BOTOX® Cosmetic.

See below for BTS photos and read more on Carlos’ journey with BOTOX® Cosmetic and his results. "I look like myself, just with fewer lines," he says.

What prompted your decision to seek a BOTOX® Cosmetic consultation?

I decided to seek a BOTOX® Cosmetic consultation for a few reasons. As a wellness life coach I’m always on the go, and BOTOX® Cosmetic is my opportunity to do something for myself! I also wanted to show my clients that BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments are not only for women.

Where did you get treated?

I got treated in my moderate to severe forehead lines, frown lines, and crow's feet lines. I choose BOTOX® Cosmetic because it is the only prescription neurotoxin FDA approved to temporarily treat three areas.

Would you ask for BOTOX® Cosmetic again?

I would ask for BOTOX® Cosmetic again because I like that my results are natural looking*.

What were you most surprised by after you were treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic?

I thought getting treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic would hurt, but it just felt like a pinch.

How does BOTOX® Cosmetic fit into your lifestyle/routine?

Being an active guy who is constantly moving either in the gym or through nature, I love how easily the BOTOX® Cosmetic appointment fits into my schedule. Treatment only takes 10-15 minutes and the minimal downtime is a plus.

Real BOTOX® Cosmetic patient. Results may vary.

*Full results in 30 days. In two clinical trials, a majority of patients reported they were “Mostly or Very Satisfied” with their overall treatment results at Day 60. In addition, these patients reported the same responses for the natural-looking result of treatment for their frown and forehead lines. In a 2022 survey, a majority of respondents treated for their crow’s feet lines said they “Completely or Somewhat Agree” that BOTOX® Cosmetic provides natural-looking results.

Talk to your doctor about BOTOX® Cosmetic and whether it's right for you. There are risks with this product. The effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic may spread hours to weeks after injection causing serious symptoms.

Please see additional Important Safety Information Below.

BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause serious side effects that can be life threatening. Get medical help right away if you have any of these problems any time (hours to weeks) after injection of BOTOX® Cosmetic:

Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre-existing before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months.

Spread of toxin effects. The effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms including: loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice, trouble saying words clearly, loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, and trouble swallowing.

BOTOX® Cosmetic dosing units are not the same as, or comparable to, any other botulinum toxin product.

There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect when BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used at the recommended dose to treat frown lines, crow's feet lines, and/or forehead lines.

BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, vision problems, or dizziness within hours to weeks of taking BOTOX® Cosmetic. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.

Serious and/or immediate allergic reactions have been reported. They include: itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint. Get medical help right away if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you become dizzy or faint.

Do not receive BOTOX® Cosmetic if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX® Cosmetic (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc® (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Dysport® (abobotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin® (incobotulinumtoxinA); have a skin infection at the planned injection site.

Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions, such as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects including difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing from typical doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including: plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; have trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if BOTOX® Cosmetic can harm your unborn baby); are breast-feeding or plan to (it is not known if BOTOX® Cosmetic passes into breast milk).

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using BOTOX® Cosmetic with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines until you have told your doctor that you have received BOTOX® Cosmetic in the past.

Tell your doctor if you have received any other botulinum toxin product in the last 4 months; have received injections of botulinum toxin such as Myobloc® , Dysport® , or Xeomin® in the past (tell your doctor exactly which product you received); have recently received an antibiotic by injection; take muscle relaxants; take an allergy or cold medicine; take a sleep medicine; take aspirin-like products or blood thinners.

Other side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic include: dry mouth; discomfort or pain at the injection site; tiredness; headache; neck pain; and eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids and eyebrows, swelling of your eyelids and dry eyes.

APPROVED USES

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to temporarily improve the look of moderate to severe forehead lines, crow's feet lines, and frown lines between the eyebrows in adults.

For more information refer to the Medication Guide or talk with your doctor.

To report a side effect, please call Allergan at 1-800-678-1605.

Please see BOTOX® Cosmetic full Product Information, including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide.

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