Botox...A cautionary tale.

[IslaValargeone]

Thought I'd bite the bullet and confess my botox experience. I know many of you have had it and swear by it, but I thought I'd share my story.
Had it 3 weeks ago for my '11' lines and went back 2 weeks later for my horizontal forehead lines which are to be honest quite fine really, so only needed a sprinkle, had a bit of a top up in my 11's as they are deep and make me look like Mr.Angry.
Anyhoo, 3 days afterwards I started getting flu like symptoms, Sunday I had diarhoea, nausea and the most god awful heaviness in my brow, coupled with a terrible feeling of anxiousness. My eyelid had dropped and the pressure on my head was terrible. Today I am feeling considerably better, although my eyelid is still droopy and my brow has dropped slightly.
Apparantly a small % of people, don't react well to botox, and I appear to be one of them, to add insult to injury, I don't even have a smooth forehead and my 11's are already making a return. I think my body has gone into overdrive fighting the botox toxin. I look like shit, but at least I'm feeling better. I will be coming to terms with a future of learning to embrace my lines, but if you do have any wonder creams, please let me know.

I still love my botox but do worry about the numbers of people having it done viaa groupon/in beauty salons etc and wonder how much people are told about the do's and don'ts. I mean I always have mine done first thing in the morning as was told not to lay down for several hours afterwards etc etc - not to take make up off that night and not have a facial etc.

Isla - how long did it take for your side-effects to go?

i love botox and have had no side effects, but its definitely good to hear both sides of the coin, and that nothing is risk free

A few months all in all Mrs CB.
It was not a pleasant experience. I think I was quite lucky compared to some. I have read some real horror stories.
I'm glad it works for those on here who have it, I just feel a responsibility to put the other side every now and again.

Isla, it's good that you have done that.

I am semi tempted by botox but not to the stage where I've had it done. People tend to think I am younger than I am but not because of my skin, just facial structure and - ahem!! - childishness. Or vibrancy would sound better. I have bad skin though, and elevens. It bothers me sometimes but not often.

Isle, go back to your doctor, there are things they can do to reverse the droop. Have you called them?

Isla even!

Thanks for your concern speedos,much appreciated but this is an old thread.
I am recovered and wrinkled again :o

You see every now and then the S&B mob almost convince me about Botox, because I do have terrible 11s, and then I hear a story like this. It's not so much the side effects themselves; it's the face DH would make at me, and the inevitability of him saying "exactly what part of 'botulism toxin' did you not understand?" I really am actually more scared of him being sarcastic than I am of terrible side effects.

That's why I feel the need to bump it every now and again Dilys.
There are lots of fans of it on here as you say, but Christ, when it does go wrong..
The droop started after a couple of days and I thought I couldn't look any worse, but it got worse day by day.
www.the-reelgillman.com/munsters/images/herman_crying.jpg
I looked like this.

Is there no way they can do a test on you before the full procedure? Like an allergy test?

Not that I'm aware of.
You would be asked general health questions beforehand so they can find out what other allergies you may have.
I would have thought that if you are prone to allergic reacations, eggs, hay fever, nuts etc then it's not wise to expose yourself to botulism.

Dilys I haven't told my H and even if he disapproved I wouldn't care

OP really sorry to hear your story.

Did you ask for Botox or did you ask for your lines to be removed?

Reason I ask is Botox is just one of the ways to make you look younger.

You could perhaps have been offered Restylane to fill in the lines.

Dr Tracy Mountford is superb- google her at the Cosmetic Skin Clinic- and I know that they suggest various treatments, not just Botox.

I don't know who you had do yours but is it possible they were heavy hamded, used too much etc etc? less is best at the start often to see if there is a reaction. Did they not explain to you that there are possible side effects? If not they were not doing their job correctly or ehtically IMO.

My dp knows and just rolls his eyes but then he has seen me with masking tape on my forehead and wrapped in cling film so nothing phases him now

Lolol nodders

My H just about to spend £1800 on a brace (dental, not orthopaedic) so I figure a few jabs here and there won't hurt anyone

Bugger I have bloody loads of sodding alleriges so too scared to try fillers or botox...I'll end up like Leslie Ash

The money does make me feel guilty .......for a second!

MissBoPeep, I asked for my lines to be removed and did enquire about juvederm, but was informed that botox was the recommended treatment for glabellar lines. Haven't read anything to the contrary either, although I know that sometimes botox and filler are used together.
I was also told of the possible side effects, although I was told, as I expect most people are "I've never seen anybody have any ill effects"
I didn't go to anybody shonky either, I was just unfortunate to be one of those in the group it goes wrong for.
The FDA upgraded the guidelines for botox, it now carries a black box warning, I don't know how many people realise that.
That being said, I don't know that it will make a difference to those to are happy to use it.
However, I will continue to add my tuppence worth every now and then, if it stops someone from experiencing what I did.

Sorry didn't read the date of OP. Sorry you had a bad experience, my friend had the droop too and they corrected it somehow. My only bad experience is when it has been put under my eyes, had awful bags for about 4 weeks. Didn't put me off though! Wish it had, save me a fortune .

OMG your post is over a year old- I didn't realise that.
what is a black box warning?