How a 29-Year-Old Hairstylist Learned to Embrace Pride and BOTOX® Cosmetic

Directed by Kelly Teacher for Out.

When it comes to looking gorgeous, William J. French is an expert.

The hairstylist, based in New York City and Los Angeles, transforms his clients' tresses with balayage, haircutting, and highlighting expertise.

"When I have a good haircut, I feel comfortable in my own skin. And when I feel like I give that to clients, I can see their confidence immediately [soar]," French tells Out as part of its "Spilling the Tea on Me" series.

"When you're your most authentic self, you attract the people that are supposed to be in your life," he attests. He adds that Pride, which he celebrates annually by attending parades with friends, provides "comfort in being able to be ourselves and not have to worry about the world around us not accepting us."

French is just as discerning when it comes to aesthetic medicine. For about seven years, the 29-year-old beautician has been undergoing treatments of BOTOX(r) Cosmetic in order to temporarily reduce the appearance of moderate to severe lines.

Below, French discusses his journey with BOTOX(r) Cosmetic and shares his results. "I look like myself, just with fewer lines," he says.

What prompted your decision to seek a BOTOX(r) Cosmetic consultation?
What originally prompted me to get a BOTOX(r) Cosmetic consultation was the desire to temporarily improve the appearance of my moderate to severe forehead, crow's feet, and frown lines. I spoke with my licensed provider and we decided a BOTOX(r) Cosmetic treatment was the appropriate route for me in order to achieve my aesthetic goals.

What were you most surprised by after you were treated with BOTOX(r) Cosmetic?
After my BOTOX(r) Cosmetic treatment, I was most surprised by how many other people had also received aesthetic treatments. I'm very open about aesthetic treatments. For the longest time, I was under the assumption that BOTOX(r) Cosmetic was something that was only received by a handful of people, but the more I talked to my clients and friends about it, the more I realized it's not as uncommon as I had believed. Also, getting a BOTOX(r) Cosmetic treatment doesn't take long, and I know everyone's pain tolerance is different, but to me, it felt like a pinch. It's been two weeks since my treatment, and I am starting to notice the results. My provider let me know that I will see full results in 30 days.

What do you like about BOTOX(r) Cosmetic?
I've been getting treated with Botox Cosmetic for the last seven years, and I love that my results are subtle and I look like myself, just with fewer lines.

Learn more about BOTOX(r) Cosmetic at BotoxCosmetic.com.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION & APPROVED USES

BOTOX(r) 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(r) 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(r) 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(r) Cosmetic has been used at the recommended dose to treat frown lines, crow's feet lines, and/or forehead lines.

BOTOX(r) Cosmetic may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, vision problems, or dizziness within hours to weeks of taking BOTOX(r) 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(r) Cosmetic if you : are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX(r) Cosmetic (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc(r) (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Dysport(r) (abobotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin(r) (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(r) 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(r) Cosmetic can harm your unborn baby); are breast-feeding or plan to (it is not known if BOTOX(r) 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(r) 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(r) 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(r), Dysport(r), or Xeomin(r) 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(r) 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(r) 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(r) Cosmetic full Product Information including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide.

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