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Tim Shadbolt says his first experience with Botox was also his last.
The Invercargill Mayor - a former Aucklander - received two Botox injections near his eyes after volunteering for an extreme makeover competition organised by a beauty clinic in his adopted town.
"It was excruciatingly painful and luckily they gave me a rubber ball to squeeze while getting it."
The 61-year-old said he had never used the cosmetic treatment as "I prefer to grow old gracefully".
"I am not one of those metrosexuals. I don't use creams or anything like that."
Smiling and laughing had caused his face to wrinkle over the years, but the lines added character, he said.
"It would take nitroglycerine to get rid of all my wrinkles."
Mr Shadbolt said the beauty consultants did not go near his famous grin, focusing instead on softening the wrinkles around the eyes.
As well as the Botox injections, Mr Shadbolt was given a laser treatment on his skin, a new haircut and hair colour, and a casual new look.
"I am not sure about the casual clothes - a collar and tie, that is the uniform of a mayor," he said.
"Some of these smart casual clothes are more expensive than suits."
Beauty and Beyond owner Nicole Carter, who organised the competition, said Mr Shadbolt was a reluctant participant, but his treatment had made him look years younger.
Mr Shadbolt's new look was revealed in front of an audience of 300 at the Extreme Makeover Big Reveal Party yesterday.
He joined four women who received beauty treatments over several months.
Money raised from the event go towards the charity Look Good Feel Better, which helps women with cancer to offset appearance-related changes from treatment.
Mr Shadbolt said even though he underwent the Botox treatment more than a month ago, no one had commented on his face's new appearance.
"But I have had quite a few comments about my trendy new haircut."
Asked if he would have more Botox injections, the mayor was brief but emphatic: "No."
- OTAGO DAILY TIMES
