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.

I had botox from age 32 to age 50 (stopped only because I went vegan) at intervals of every 6 months to two years. Takes less than 5 mins to do 3 tiny pin pricks. No pain, no issues. So to me, I guess it would be less of a thing than getting a spray tan (what if I went Trump, and it took ages to wear off?) However I do understand there's a lot of hyperbole about it.

It isn’t a big deal
if it’s not for you and you feel anxious- don’t get it

you’ll know if you want it an go for it then and there

According to many posters on this thread, your face must have immediately melted down into your boots when you stopped.

Agree about the hyperbole!

I agree. Injecting stuff into your face is a big deal.
I'm a lot older than you OP, mid 50s and while if I could press a button and deage by 10 years i would, I know that it's impossible. I look older, so what. I am older. I still think I look good though 😁
You have 2 choices OP. You can either look older or look a bit odd. Think about all the very rich a listers who have had work. Presumably they can afford the best but they all look a bit weird and that's not a look I can understand anyone wanting to emulate.

Also at 32 worrying about looking old is ridiculous unless you've had a really, really tough paper round.

So you’ve associated being ugly with wrinkly?

I consider myself to be look great (to me) and have plenty of wrinkles. Body confidence comes from within, not from injecting chemicals into your skin.

Wrinkle free skin does not make you more attractive on the inside or outside.

Kate Winslet vs Kelly Osborne is the perfect example for me if I ever start to obsess over my appearance….

I know. And I'm almost scared to say this because of how unpopular it will make me. But, I can't lie. Its had a powerful preventative effect, as 20 years of being unable to frown means I'm pretty much line free. I'll get my coat...

You’ve missed out the third option, which is that you can get minor amounts of work done and just look like you but a bit fresher.

Its not a binary choice between aging naturally and looking like Jocelyn Wildenstein now is it?

I get that. It also really helped prevent headaches for me, when I had a very long commute and drove a lot in the dark. I think I was frowning and squinting against oncoming lights and it prevented me from being able to do that.

People who have Botox don't think it's a big deal. Like people who do cocaine don't think it's a big deal. It's been normalised for them. Is it a good thing to do? That's a different question.

Legally prescribed treatment = coke

🤣 ok

Jesus 😂 "My face can no longer make normal human expressions, but on the plus side, my forehead will be shiny well into old age"

@HamJam1you’re being a little rude and personal, what’s the issue? You don’t like Botox, don’t get it. You really don’t need to be insulting individuals on line.

I was always able to make human expressions. Just not able to pull my forehead down into a deep frown creating two furrows between my eyes, and in repose i didnt look like i was scowling. Which was great.
As I said, I no longer have botox, so I'm not sure why you think my ability to form facial expressions is restricted now? It isn't. I can frown with the worst of them. However because I've not been frowning much for the last two decades, I haven't developed deep frown lines. Which is also great.
I'm not at all shiny. Why would I be..?

Anti Botox types always wheel out the same old boring tropes. ‘You’ll be frozen and expressionless/it’s dangerous/it’s vain and shallow/it reinforces beauty standards…’

Such tiresome bollocks. You don’t want it? Don’t have it. I am vain. I bloody love it and if done well (as mine is), it looks fabulous.

Here’s how many a conversation goes with me. ‘Your skin is amazing, what do you use on it?’ Me ‘Dermalogica and Botox’. Then they ask for my Botox doctor’s details. ☺️

That's how I feel about my lines/wrinkles! I have a lot of red in my skin and without make up people often ask if I'm feeling alright...Just look under the weather!

I haven't got deep frown lines either - and I've never had Botox. What makes you think that you would have? If you've looked after your skin, eaten a good diet, never smoked, limited your alcohol and had good sleep habits then the chances are you'll not have deep lines - just lines that are in keeping with your age and the rest of your body.

I’ve been reading the replies with interest

OP, I personally think in your 30’s is a little young, you will look back in 10/15 years time and wonder why you thought any wrinkles were even noticeable.
But, if it’s something that bothers you then find someone who will talk to you about concerns. There is no rush to make a decision.

I’m mid 50’s and it took me about 3 years to decide to try it. I did Forehead, 11’s and wrinkles around my eyes. It took a while to settle, and I can’t say it made a huge difference, until i looked at photo’s from day 1. I still had eye wrinkles, just not as deep, my 11’s were there but barely visible. I could raise my eyebrows, but couldn't frown quite so deep (some like say that’s a good thing 🤣)

It’s pretty much worn off now and don’t think I’ll have it again as I didn’t think it made enough difference to the areas I didn’t like. But now I know.

I did a lot of research, asked 1029374 questions and finally got it done.
I didn’t want to look waxy or shiny, I didn’t want to look 20 years old, I wanted to look fresh. It was very subtle, maybe too subtle but I didn’t want a WTF reaction from family and friends.

You do whatever feels right for you, once you’ve done the research and found a good practitioner. There’s no rush, as I say 30’s feels a little young, but the choice is absolutely yours.

Minor amounts of botox still stop you being able to make normal human expressions hence you look a big weird.
Obviously this is just my experience of seeing prople I know having minor 'tweaks'. They all look not quite right. A bit smooth and expressionless.

Because at 32 i already had pronounced 11s which looked incongruous in an otherwise relatively unlined face.

You’re still young to consider botox. First fix your diet, get plenty of water, do moderate exercise and get regular proper sleep. If you smoke or vape, give up. Use sunscreen. Wear sunglasses if the sun makes you frown. Be happy with who you are.

Some people just get lines, I developed smokers lines in my 40’s, so did my DM and my DAunt. None of us smoked or had an unhealthy diet, it was just one of those things. A tiny bit of filler there plus a bit in my jowls as I’d started looking a bit miserable and I was really pleased with the result.

I haven't got deep frown lines either - and I've never had Botox. What makes you think that you would have? If you've looked after your skin, eaten a good diet, never smoked, limited your alcohol and had good sleep habits then the chances are you'll not have deep lines - just lines that are in keeping with your age and the rest of your body.

I work in a school, some teens have forehead lines etc, it’s not all about lifestyle.

Yes, some people have lines - and many don't. Putting botox in your face from a young age 'just in case' when there's every chance you won't get deep lines before you would naturally anyway seems ridiculous.

Leaving the Botox debate aside, I’ve found matrixyl plus red light mask great for my 11s. I use the Boots no7 serum - the one that comes in a tube like an injector pen (!) between my eyes and saw a very obvious difference when I didn’t use it for a month once.

That's not what I did. I had botox in my 11s at 32 to treat existing lines. The preventative effect would never have occurred. I suppose back then it wasn't as well known, as there weren't people who'd had it for decades to demonstrate it.
I know it doesn't suit people who think botox is the devil's work to be contradicted in their claims that you look worse/older/whatever in the long run, or if you stop, but its simply not true.