Dan's Papers - October 3, 2008

I'm sitting in my car outside the office of Dr. Alexander Covey in Center Moriches. I have split my time between Manhattan and Sag Harbor now since 2002, and I have never been to a doctor outside of Manhattan unless it's been an emergency. I pull down the sun visor and look in the mirror; I raise my eyebrows and see deep horizontal ridges across my forehead. I lower my eyebrows. The ridges remain. This is an emergency.

Once inside the office, I begin to relax. I've done my research. Dr. Covey is board certified in cosmetic laser surgery. He also has offices in Southampton and in New York City, which eases my snobbery for Manhattan-based physicians. His office manager, Donna, greets me and ushers me into the waiting room. I settle in and begin reading a copy of Dr. Covey's book, Forget the Knife. The book discusses all sorts of procedures without surgery. I read about the history of Botox.

I have never been a Botox devotee, but have been known to indulge in the potion for special occasions, which I usually have time to plan for, like my college reunion. But it's a month after Labor Day in the Hamptons and I thought all my social activities had come to an end along with the crowds. But I get an unexpected invite for a huge fundraiser for the Democratic Party. There will be colleagues and acquaintances that I had not seen since the last election.

My Sag Harbor home is a place of rest, reprieve and little makeup, even when socializing, but this party feels different, I want to look more like I did in 2004.

Donna returns and walks me into the treatment room. When Dr. Covey enters, I notice how young he looks, forty-ish, but he probably uses the potions. Hmm, good advertising, and if you're going to make cosmetic procedures part of your life, why not start with someone who is young so that you can grow old together without looking so old. Dr. Covey explains that he sees patients one or two weeks after the initial treatment, and does not inject too much. "Because," he says, "I can add more, but I can't take it back." I explain my event is 10 days away; he assures me since I've had Botox before, I'll see results quickly, but maximum results can take two weeks.

He injects me in only three or four places, and I make an appointment to see him in a week, which is complimentary and routine with all patients who get Botox with him for the first time.

Next morning my ridges are visibly lessened. Later that day I get a call from Dr. Covey. I'm so unaccustomed to this behavior from physicians it takes me a few minutes to realize who is calling. He wants to make sure I have no bruising or unusual symptoms. "I'm fine," I say. "In fact, I'm less ridgey." He tells me he's not surprised, but the results will still get better. The next week I meet Dr. Covey again. I still have expression, but without ridges.

It's now October 1. The event was encouraging, exciting and fun to reconnect with friends. I'm not sure if anyone noticed I had fewer ridges, but I felt great. I'm reading the latest issue of Dan's. I see Dr. Covey's ad. I'm reminded of another invite I have just gotten, from Dr. Covey: a free seminar on new cosmetic procedures on Wednesday, October 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Inn at East Wind in Wading River. I log onto eastendlasercare.com, since space is limited. I want to find out what else I can do without a nip or a tuck - maybe I'll see you there.

Janet Flora writes lifestyle and beauty features, and is a former contributor to Make-up Artist and Health magazines. A creative writing teacher and fiction writer, she spends her time in New York and Sag Harbor.