So is Botox just no big deal now? Like getting a spray tan?

[Rosacharmosa]

I'm 32 and have been stressing over fine lines and aging recently. I know it's complete 1st world problems and aging is a privilege etc, but I suppose social media and other things have gotten into my head.

I see people on here, and Instagram and even a couple of people at work talk about botox and how amazing it is, so I booked a consultation at a beauty clinic type place that a colleague recommended.

The consultation was yesterday evening and I was surprised at how casual it all seemed. I said I was a bit anxious about it going wrong and looking weird, side effects and things and the woman just seemed baffled that I'd even be thinking about these things. In the end I decided not to book in and said I was feeling apprehensive and would mull it over and she basically seemed to regard me as though I was panicking over a manicure or a spray tan?

So now I'm wondering if I'm just being OTT, it's no big deal and I should just go for it and get rid of an insecurity, or if actually it is a big deal and the world is just going a bit mad?!

Would love to hear thoughts.

You cannot be a feminist and get botox. Its not possible to want to break the patriarchy while simultaneously spending thousands on injections into your face to make you look more fuckable, and no amount of bleating about "let's not judge" or "my body my choice" or "feminism is about giving women choice" will change that.

Have a good weekend all

Total buttocks.

It is a big deal I can remember a botulism outbreak in the 1970s .
It is commonplace now though but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think very carefully about it - have a consultation with a doctor not a beautician or nurse who does it as a side line .

@Rosacharmosa I think it is a big deal

I think you are very wise to have concerns

I find it amazing how casual people are about things like this

I had it once because I grind my teeth and I was really worried about it

I've now broken another tooth from grinding and I suppose I have to think about having it again, but that's to avoid dental surgery.

In theory, I would like to get semipermanent eyeliner done
In practice having a needle near my eye -doesn't seem like a great idea!

Plenty of people use it. I always amazed they didn't need to take either the Bolutism or the Toxin bits out of the brand name for it to take off.

If's definitely one of those that if it turns out that injecting bolulinium toxic into your face causes long the problems in the future, no one can really be surprised, they literally included that it was toxic in the brand name.

“no one can really be surprised”. They won’t look it either.

Brilliant! 😂

No feminist would ever write this.

42 and never worry about wrinkles. Two beautiful children, DH who would do anything for us, our home, friends, jobs and lucky enough to live in a beautiful area where we are outdoors whenever we can be.

Perhaps where you live makes a difference as only one in my circle has had botox and she doesn’t talk about it openly. Everyone in my group enjoys life too much to worry about wrinkles. I know you did state this in your initial post (that you knew it was a first world problem), but the only way we can get rid of the ‘plastic face trend’ is to not conform to it.

If we change our mindset to think of wrinkles with pride - we’ve raised kids, worked hard, juggled everything, enjoyed life to the max, had lots of holidays in the sun etc (with plenty of suncream these days!)😅

The biggest thing for me is this…will you care about botox on your deathbed? Im hoping the whole trend on social media of people offering it from their living rooms etc (and tbh, to be seen as quite ‘chavvy’ these days) will possibly bring it full circle back to us embracing us ageing normally!

I'd rather have lines than an injection of botulinum toxin into my skin, but each to their own.

I think it depends on the circles you move in. In mine, it's very much a big deal - none of my friends have it, we're all staring 60 in the face and our faces are normal/natural for that age. I know of women who have had it done though, and from what I can see the botox/cheek fillers/lips look is very much a thing in their worlds. New regulations are coming in up here, so hopefully there will be fewer startled hamster faces wandering around.

It is a big deal imo.

It can go wrong
Its expensive
People can too far

I think it’s interesting that as it has become more accessible & popular the “new look” is a face that moves but still looks taut, the look achieved by an expensive facelift.

Ageing is hard but after a certain age botox doesn’t make you look younger just someone who has botox.

I don’t have Botox and don’t have an opinion on it other than whatever floats your boat.
I have skin boosters which has caused some bizarre remarks when I tell people (in reply to you are looking really healthy). People get quite mad and seem to take it personally, maybe I should just lie and say it’s yoga. It’s my body and I am able to decide what I want to do with it.

@Rosacharmosa I like that you’ve paused to think about it, it’s ok to have doubts. It’s a bit concerning though that the aesthetician was bemused by it though. Ideally they would be able to discuss and answer any questions and offer reassurance.

Oh shurrrupp.

You can’t be a feminist then if you, for example, wear clothes that make you look nice, or heels, or red lipstick.

You assume we do it to look fuckable, that’s a tragic attitude to have and that’s on you mate. I do what I want for me.

Ask them about that on the liver ward in hospital.

Do you have to be ugly and wrinkly?

I dont think you really believe that

You also have to end posts with a passive aggressive sentence that reads like the classic MN tinkly little laugh.

Don’t be stupid. If I didn’t think it I wouldn’t say it.

So you associate ageing with ugliness?

Oh no you can be young and ugly.

And wrinkly

I never said it was untested. I just don't want something toxic injected in me for the sake of vanity.