To hate the pressure for facial injections

[TrickNotTreats]

Virtually all of my friends and family members (youngest are my nieces in mid twenties!) have Botox/fillers etc .

Everyone is asking me (or trying to give me friendly advice/recommendations) why I don’t. Being nice about it telling me I’d look better and that they just want to help me .

Am I really that odd to not be getting this done? I’m 43 and yes I have a few little lines (and apparently loss of volume round eyes thanks SIL for pointing that out !) but they aren’t that bad and also if relevant I’m autistic and I really hate change I think if I made even slight tweaks to my face I’d hate it and feel panicky! I also have sensory issues and if it feels weird I’d hate it!

Still it’s constant they keep saying to get it done. At family gatherings it’s now the number one topic of conversation who has had what done, the latest things they are into. They all look amazing but I feel a bit ‘odd one out’ and struggle to join in conversations!

Each to their own I know but it’s become like a cult and they want to recruit me. Sometimes it knocks my confidence a little but not enough for me to do it.

Dreading over Xmas the conversations and comparisons and inevitable ‘you should get Botox/tear trough filler/lip filler etc’

I feel for you @TrickNotTreats . I can't imagine friends and family making comments like that. I only know one person at work and one cousin who've had stuff done to their faces. Unless everyone else is just doing it really subtly and I haven't realised!
Each to their own but it just seems so rude to encourage you to do it. Just like it would be rude to give unsolicited advice about losing weight or dying your hair. It suggests they don't think you look just fine the way you are. Could you tell them they're being rude and you don't appreciate unsolicited advice about your appearance?

I agree with you, and thankfully my friends and family are not like this.

Where do they get the idea that they'll look 'better' though? That's what's so strange to me. It's universally accepted that these things make you look worse, if not immediately, then certainly in the long run, is it not? Maybe just in my circles.

This has NEVER happened to me, and I'd like to think I have a fairly large and diverse friendship group.
Your friends all sound intensely shallow.

Yeh I feel this pressure too. But not that people say I should get things done or ask why I don’t but in a way that I look a lot older and wrinklier than my friends that are the same age. Because they are constantly getting things done.

I once had Botox. It looked awful - one of my eyes drooped a bit and I thought my face just looked dead and expressionless. (Got it done by a highly recommended doctor)

On top of that - I don’t have/want to allocate hundreds of pounds a month to beauty expenses. I’d rather have a holiday!

Just shows how different families and friendship groups are then, because I can honestly say I have never had a conversation like this with any of my friends or family, where people talk about what they've had done and feel entitled to comment on others appearance and tell them they need such and such. How odd. Explains why you do see women walking around with what I think look like duck lips though, if their friends and family egg each other on.

I'd add that it's insulting. Because it is.

I know a few people who I think have had work, and a couple where it is obvious. But the only person who talks about it is someone who works in the industry (and her work is obvious). But people as a rule don't mention it.
I haven't, the only thing I would have done is my 11s to stop me look permanently grumpy, but only if it was risk free and it's not.
I'm sorry your family is like this, if it was friends I'd say find some new ones, but you are a bit stuck with family.

Intrigued as to your area of work. Can you give a hint? Fashion? Or the beauty industry itself? I can't think of anything else where it would be considered a crime to age?

"I feel like I’ve become a project to them "

I'd quite like that tbh :)

I wonder if they think because of your autism you don't understand the 'need' for this that they all feel and they honestly think they are helping you fit in by encouraging you to get it? Otherwise what they are saying is really rude.

I think some social groups are very concerned about appearances and botox and fillers are 'essential' whereas others it really doesn't matter. I can only think if one schoolmum who got it done when mine were at primary. She was the kind of person who always had a full face of makeup and a blow dry every time I saw her. It did not improve her appearance. My work colleagues and friends are all aging without having work done, and they would all have the money to do it.

When they start talking about it just say 'That's interesting.' Then immediately changed the topic to something you've done recently. Just don't engage in the conversation they want to have. If they persist say 'so sorry, but I have to go and do something else (be specific)' and walk away.

I do this for a living and anyone who is injecting someone in their 20’s with anti wrinkle shouldn’t be allowed near any injectables! People in their 20’s don’t need it fgs! Also i would never tell someone unsolicited that they could do with either anti wrinkle or fillers, apart from being unprofessional its incredibly rude.

They sound extremely annoying. I'd be so tempted to say, 'Thank you, but I've no desire to look like an estate agent on Selling Sunset.'