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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What age did you start Botox?

430 replies

NameChangeChic · 12/02/2025 19:20

And what was your results like? Did it last long? I’m getting it done soon for the first time and I can’t wait lol

OP posts:
ArtTheClown · 17/02/2025 20:38

Is it weird not to mind a few lines? I've got quite good skin but when I smile, some lines do appear round my eyes now. At 50 though I feel that's okay?

nam3c4ang3 · 17/02/2025 20:33

39 - i get my gummy smile done.

OctoberandApril · 17/02/2025 20:31

Dideon · 17/02/2025 18:12

i just love this reply !!!

Yes, me too.

letsgotothebeach · 17/02/2025 18:19

I’m 55 and enjoy spending money on my looks…make up/clothes/skincare/exercise to keep myself looking and feeling my best. I won’t succumb to Botox though. I do think it’s a slippery slope. Especially with those that start in their 30s/ early 40s (even 20s). When those people hit menopause and see how much that can change the face, Botox won’t cut it and they have to start with fillers and other invasive treatments. Even spending thousands of pounds with the best doctors in the world there comes a point when the face starts looking strange, unnatural and unattractive. I do actually believe thought that there will be a huge backlash to this and wrinkles and natural aging will become very fashionable in the not too distant future.

Dideon · 17/02/2025 18:12

abracadabra1980 · 12/02/2025 20:20

37-at that age when lines when my lines were first starting to show, it was good. I kept it up until I had it done by a 'therapist' who put too much in, and my medium size forehead, started to look twice the size. By my 40's, lips had become a 'thing' and I was in there at the beginning (of the consultant surgeons wife who unbeknown to be had just started 'dabbling'). It resulted in my thin lips being pumped up to the point of ridiculousness, and dropping the bottom line of the top lip on the right and left of my mouth, (note: nobody seems to escape this problem; its the first thing I look at. Teeth that used to be exposed to a little of life/vitamin D/flashing an odd pearly white, hiding behind the new voluminous pressure of the filler.
Roll on to your late 40's/early 50's, and nothing looks authencially youthful as by now you are a walking advertisitmet for cosmetic procedures, with your plastic large forehead and your missing incisors, possibly enhanced with a look of puffy weight gain, from badly injected fillers.
Personally, I can enthuse about this topic,
a) because I'm old and have tried a few of them/watched how the generations play with them. Nobody bothered with their neck or hands - looks most odd to be smooth in parts at 50, but with a neck like a turkey
b) I was lucky enough to have some bad jobs in my experimental years and have learned from it (looking at you, botox consultant who injected too much botox which yes, smoothed out my forehead wrinkles, but also pinched my once pleasant looking eyes, into piss holes in the snow - another 'look' that's common
c) I get why people want to try it, I really do, we all want to look our best
In summary, you can maybe stave off aging in your 30's & 40's, until menopause. Then the shit hits the fan, unless you have a facelift, neck lift and hand lift, you are kidding nobody, and potentially looking really odd. Also, there is something extremely liberating in not giving a shit about wrinkles and ageing any more. I wish I could bottle it.

i just love this reply !!!

Delatron · 17/02/2025 17:50

Some people just don’t need Botox. My Mum has very few lines on her forehead at 75. I started perpetually frowning in my 20s! So needed to stop that permanent action. They are just softened now.

When I have the half dose round my eyes it lifts eyebrows very slightly and makes me feel more awake and fresher. It’s nice. I think I can see a bit better as hooded eyelids improve.

5128gap · 17/02/2025 17:43

SecondMrsTanqueray · 17/02/2025 17:00

It just freshens you up. It doesn’t turn back time 😂

Deep glabella lines made me look permanently cross and I’m FAR too vain for that. I’m glad there are little tweaks available. I really don’t understand why some people that don’t want Botox get all indignant about those of us that do.

I think the well meaning posters are concerned because typically they think its far more than it is. Knowledge of botox for someone who would never consider it will usually be restricted to that gleaned from shock headlines, and from seeing someone with poor or overdone work. They have no experience, just don't like what they do know about it from the worst case examples.
Other posters don't like women not being natural because they think it makes us responsible for perpetuating sexist and ageist attitudes. Which is about as fair as blaming women in revealing clothes for women's sexual objectification.
Others still just don't like the idea of women trying to enhance their appearance. They're the same types who years ago would have called older women who dyed their hair 'no better than she should be'. You can spot them on the threads because they're the ones gleefully telling you how awful and old you must look like all the other botoxed women they know, who NEVER look good.

Pamspeople · 17/02/2025 17:28

I don't judge people who do the stuff, but I absolutely do judge the system that makes money out of people feeling not good enough, not young enough, not sexy enough or whatever. And I feel relieved that it doesn't get to me much, not because that makes me think I'm superior in any way but because it all looks like a million extra things to stress about, spend time on and spend money on.

I'm not sure why people feel judged, tbh. To me it's just people disagreeing 🤔

DappledThings · 17/02/2025 17:24

Newbie8918 · 17/02/2025 17:22

Only the anti beauty treatment brigade seem to be judgemental and pious. I don't see anyone who is pro, judging those who choose not to!

The pro ones seem to be so judgemental of themselves though. That's what's rather sad about it. Talking about all these types of lines with their own names and worrying that they are making them look like they need freshening up, whatever that means.

Newbie8918 · 17/02/2025 17:22

SantasLargerHelper · 17/02/2025 17:14

People are so judgemental. I'm on 2 threads here about anti aging things people do the other one being dying their hair. I like dying my hair and have done so since the age of 14. I've never had to defend myself so vigorously about it until now 🙃

Only the anti beauty treatment brigade seem to be judgemental and pious. I don't see anyone who is pro, judging those who choose not to!

SantasLargerHelper · 17/02/2025 17:14

People are so judgemental. I'm on 2 threads here about anti aging things people do the other one being dying their hair. I like dying my hair and have done so since the age of 14. I've never had to defend myself so vigorously about it until now 🙃

SecondMrsTanqueray · 17/02/2025 17:00

Pamspeople · 17/02/2025 16:50

You're trying to look like a version of you who doesn't exist any more, trying to stop time. Doesn't that take more emotional effort than learning to accept who you are and what you look like? It sounds exhausting, running from your face.

Edited

It just freshens you up. It doesn’t turn back time 😂

Deep glabella lines made me look permanently cross and I’m FAR too vain for that. I’m glad there are little tweaks available. I really don’t understand why some people that don’t want Botox get all indignant about those of us that do.

SantasLargerHelper · 17/02/2025 16:53

No, I love it. I like what I see when I look in the mirror now and I didn't before. Not exhausting at all. Exhilarating tbh. Am I not allowed that? People dye their grey away as well.

Pamspeople · 17/02/2025 16:50

SantasLargerHelper · 17/02/2025 16:21

I get botox at 55 to stop myself from looking not like myself. I don't recognise the older version of me, and I don't like it tbh. I want to keep looking like myself for as long as I can.

You're trying to look like a version of you who doesn't exist any more, trying to stop time. Doesn't that take more emotional effort than learning to accept who you are and what you look like? It sounds exhausting, running from your face.

SantasLargerHelper · 17/02/2025 16:21

I get botox at 55 to stop myself from looking not like myself. I don't recognise the older version of me, and I don't like it tbh. I want to keep looking like myself for as long as I can.

Parker231 · 17/02/2025 16:13

Disintegration1985 · 17/02/2025 15:31

Goodness me, I hope all the 'aging gracefully' brigade have been and collected their medals for being better than everyone else.😉

I'm 34 and had it done for the first time last year, and topped up again last month. I get 3 areas around my eyes/forehead - my eyebrows sat very low and heavy and made me look like I was constantly scowling 😂

My Botox lady (a qualified nurse) places it in a way that slightly lifts them and opens my eyes up and I love it.

I don’t think it’s aging gracefully but not changing what you are - not trying to be something different from what you are

Disintegration1985 · 17/02/2025 15:31

Goodness me, I hope all the 'aging gracefully' brigade have been and collected their medals for being better than everyone else.😉

I'm 34 and had it done for the first time last year, and topped up again last month. I get 3 areas around my eyes/forehead - my eyebrows sat very low and heavy and made me look like I was constantly scowling 😂

My Botox lady (a qualified nurse) places it in a way that slightly lifts them and opens my eyes up and I love it.

SantasLargerHelper · 17/02/2025 14:55

XxSideshowAuntSallyx · 17/02/2025 14:28

I found that post depressing too, at 43 I was very much looking my best and able to attract men (and younger ones too). My 20s and 30s were spent with a man who abused me and made sure I didn't have confidence or ever felt attractive. But by God at 43/44 I looked good and had the confidence and wisdom that I didn't have in my younger years. I knew not to take shit. I wasn't invisible. At 47 I would like that woman back but I need to get off my fat menopausal arse.

Edited

Yup, I'm 55 and never felt better. I'm completely sexually desirable and long may it continue tbh.

OctoberandApril · 17/02/2025 14:47

Youcanttakeanelephantonthebus · 16/02/2025 09:16

I think the thing is is that post 40 you're not sexually desirable compared to a 20 something and pretending you can keep up is a waste of time and money. If you accept that you've moved from sexually desirable to knowledgeable wise and powerful then you don't need it so much. I look at people like Maggie smith, how awesome was she!?

If you have a DH, DW or Partner do they not make you feel sexually desirable still?

XxSideshowAuntSallyx · 17/02/2025 14:28

namechangeGOT · 17/02/2025 12:03

Hahaha!! I'm 41 and far sexier, more attractive and sexually active than I ever was in my 20s and 30s. I feel sorry for you if you've hit 40 and you don't consider yourself to be sexually appealing. I'm also knowledgable, wise and powerful - look at me eh?!

I found that post depressing too, at 43 I was very much looking my best and able to attract men (and younger ones too). My 20s and 30s were spent with a man who abused me and made sure I didn't have confidence or ever felt attractive. But by God at 43/44 I looked good and had the confidence and wisdom that I didn't have in my younger years. I knew not to take shit. I wasn't invisible. At 47 I would like that woman back but I need to get off my fat menopausal arse.

JHound · 17/02/2025 12:05

44 and don’t have it.

Not sure I see the need for it - at least not yet.

What are 11s?

namechangeGOT · 17/02/2025 12:03

Youcanttakeanelephantonthebus · 16/02/2025 09:16

I think the thing is is that post 40 you're not sexually desirable compared to a 20 something and pretending you can keep up is a waste of time and money. If you accept that you've moved from sexually desirable to knowledgeable wise and powerful then you don't need it so much. I look at people like Maggie smith, how awesome was she!?

Hahaha!! I'm 41 and far sexier, more attractive and sexually active than I ever was in my 20s and 30s. I feel sorry for you if you've hit 40 and you don't consider yourself to be sexually appealing. I'm also knowledgable, wise and powerful - look at me eh?!

Thirteenblackcat · 16/02/2025 19:39

Youcanttakeanelephantonthebus · 16/02/2025 09:16

I think the thing is is that post 40 you're not sexually desirable compared to a 20 something and pretending you can keep up is a waste of time and money. If you accept that you've moved from sexually desirable to knowledgeable wise and powerful then you don't need it so much. I look at people like Maggie smith, how awesome was she!?

Yeah but no. I couldn’t give a shit if anyone thinks I’m sexually desirable, I do like that my make up doesn’t get stuck in my lines though

JustFeedMeCake · 16/02/2025 19:17

Youcanttakeanelephantonthebus · 16/02/2025 09:16

I think the thing is is that post 40 you're not sexually desirable compared to a 20 something and pretending you can keep up is a waste of time and money. If you accept that you've moved from sexually desirable to knowledgeable wise and powerful then you don't need it so much. I look at people like Maggie smith, how awesome was she!?

Hilarious 🤣 oh you little joker you

autumn1610 · 16/02/2025 10:26

I get it because I have a single deep frown line between my eyebrows and it makes me look angry, as it’s there when I’m not even frowning . I’m not arsed about any other wrinkles but the frown line knocks my confidence so much, I have last had it in July and only recently worn off where it is back permanently. When I tell people I’ve had it they are surprised as I still have movement in my forehead and eyebrows as I just have the one spot. Like I said it’s not about ageing it’s about an issue I’ve had for years and can now afford to resolve. Started at 35 and now 37 I think I’ve had it 4 times so far

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