To be considering botox?

[Falcon1]

It's my 38th birthday today and instead of basking in the attention I'm getting from my lovely DH and kids, I can't stop thinking about how old I look. Pathetic, I know.

I keep getting a shock every time i look in the mirror. I'm so haggard! I have a very deep frown line in between my eyes and smile lines. My skin looks like it's trying to leave my face. My hair fell out 5 years ago when I came off the pill so I'm already wearing a hair system. Plus my boobs disappeared after stopping breastfeeding and my stomach will never be flat again. I can cope with all that (just) but the state of my face is really starting to depress me! I'm sick of looking tired and grumpy ALL THE TIME.

I went to see someone at Sk:n a while ago who said I'd need fillers and botox to make a difference, and the cost was staggering (about £600). Can I really justify it, given it's temporary? It's money that could be used to buy stuff for the kids, or the house. Would I be a terrible, selfish person to spend it on my face?!

Can anyone relate? Were you in the same position and just went for it? Was it worth it?

I wish I could just embrace getting older, but I'm struggling.

I'm 33, hated my 11's and massive lines on my forehead so got up the courage to do it in June, best thing I've ever done. I will now be going literally the sat the lines come back. I pay £145 - 2 areas in Derbyshire.

I am a receptionist in a Botox clinic. I’ve been getting Botox since I turned 30. I can honestly say less is more. Go for 1 area first to see if u like the result. Choose somebody reputable and don’t be talked into getting all kinds done on their say so. You want to soften the look of your forhead not completely freeze it!! X

I think celebs put people off with the ‘frozen’ look. I’ve seen threads on here before with people who have never had it done saying it looks terrible. But when it’s done properly you can’t tell. It’s looks natural and takes years off you. It’s absolutely brilliant and worth it. Agree with PP about less is more, gentle regular tweaks as opposed to loads and a frozen face. I say go for it!

I started having botox a year ago, aged 35, and it's bloody brilliant

I have no desire to look younger than my age, but a few very stressful and traumatic years really took their toll, and I resented looking older than my age. Friends have commented on how well I'm looking (although I also saw the dermatologist about my acne so that's also made a difference). I look like me, but just fresher. A friend remarked on how well I was looking, and I confessed to her that botox was magic, and she said she felt really betrayed as she had absolutely no idea! She was staggered because she, like many, had perceived botox = frozen face, because of the many many people in the public eye who've gone way OTT and thus it's v obvious they've had it done. Of course there's lots and lots more who've had it done who don't look obviously 'done', so you only notice the bad botox

I think it's a lot easier to fly under the radar with botox than with fillers, because it's a lot harder to get filler that looks really natural.

Would strongly advise against getting botox done by a beauty therapist or any other non medical professional. And actually even then I would say only a dermatologist or plastic surgeon who has specialist knowledge of facial anatomy - a GP who's done the botox course isn't going to have the same understanding of facial muscles and facial nerves, which is so so important

If a nurse is offering botox, check if she's a plastics nurse or not

I may not be correct so happy to be put straight by those more knowledgeable than I am, but it's my understanding that by law botox has to be prescribed by a Dr who's seen the patient face to face for a consultation. Lots and lots of places don't do this. If you can walk into a salon and get botox from a therapist without seeing a Dr at any point - or at the very least, speaking to one to provide a history - that's not somewhere I'd want to be letting loose on my face. It's a prescription medication, it's not just something on a salon price list between facials and brow threading.

does anyone know what would be best for lines at corner of eye? its a permanent line, not something that only appears when i smile. so i assume fillers instead of botox?

i only have one line but i hate it

www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/184e6102-5cc9-4148-9528-a349804e3e1b

Cheap botox is likely to be cutting corners

The cost should include a consultation with a Dr - whose time needs to be paid for.

A Dr's time costs money. Bargain botox is realistically only able to be offered at that price because they're cutting corners.

Correction - the botox needs to be prescribed by a licensed prescriber - which includes nurses who have the legal right to prescribe. The treatment itself doesn't have to be performed by a medical professional, but only medical professionals can qualify as prescribers

So by law a beauty therapist can only perform Botox injections if they work alongside a prescribing clinician. The prescriber cannot dispense the toxin remotely; they must be present at a patient consultation.

Come and see me in Toronto. I shall do your Botox for a great price!!

Hi OP! How are you going? Have you made a decision? I just wanted to let you know that I have just been back for more Botox, and my doctor was just about to finish work before flying overseas with her family and I don't think her mind was on the job. She's gone a bit overboard, I think. While I definitely loved the previous work, this time I think I look more "frozen". It's easily done. I prefer the subtle look and now I have six months of suspecting that everyone knows exactly what I've done. (Not even my husband had guessed before, but thought I looked fabulous - healthier and fresher. Now, my forehead is immovable and slightly shiny.)

Can anyone recommend good Botox clinic in Berkshire?

I’m mid 40s and had Botox now for 6 years. I love it. I live abroad so it more affordable for me luckily.
I rationalise it by not spending a huge amount of money on face creams (just use basic moisturiser with high spf) however I do believe the retinol ones can make a difference...
I don’t like the ‘frozen’ look, so don’t get a huge amount but usually go for 11, forehead and crows feet. I am pretty open about it IRL, it’s been around for years and I have never had a bad experience, touch wood, yet!
I have been told (&believe that it’s true) that there are many many people who have Botox but you just don’t know... it’s much more common that you think!
Go for it and don’t worry about what others think. 😀