Health anxiety and botox

[Abitlost2]

I can’t believe I’m posting this on an online forum but I have no one in RL I can talk to about this. I have horrendous forehead lines, it’s actually gotten to the point were they are making me very down. I know it sounds pathetic but I’m posting a picture to show how bd they are.
I have spoken to a reputable dentist who does Botox and they have assured me that it would make a significant difference and big improvement to get it done. I have booked an appointment.
I am just so, so afraid. I have done way too much research and have looked into the worst case scenario and have convinced myself that I could get really ill or something awful will happen and I’ll ruin my life by getting it done. I think it’s the fact that it’s an unnecessary procedure.
At the same time the lines are so, so bad , I can’t live with them. Just to point out, I’m in my early thirties and in the photo I’m not scrunching my face, this is my forehead at complete rest.

I know once I get it done I will be ok I’m just in such an anxious state about it. I really feel like I can’t leave them like this. I notice they are getting longer also going further up my forehead .

I drink loads of water, I am big into exercise but these have gotten so much worse over the last year.
Can someone please reassure me.

Bump

I'm sure your lines don't look that bad in real life. No one has a nice forehead that close up.

Tomtom, thanks but tbh they look a bit worse. Do you really think these look normal, they seem so extreme to me? The muscles causing these lines are even causing one of my eyebrows to droop. I know botox can do that but I have a natural one!

I have Botox regularly and mine aren't as obvious as yours. It will make a big difference to those, and stop them getting worse too. Honestly if it'll give you more confidence then do it, assuming you've found someone with experience and a good reputation you will be fine. He should do an initial appointment then offer a top up in 2 weeks so he's more likely to not put enough in rather than too much which can droop your eye.
You hardly feel it either. Really doesn't hurt at all

I was really nervous. For context I have a blood disorder which makes me immunocompromised hence being worried about Botox! I asked my consultant at haematology and chose somewhere to go
The difference is amazing, I've had it three times now, feel free to ask any questions

Botox is brilliant! Go to a reputable practitioner and be aware that your forehead will feel weird and ‘heavy’ for a few days - totally normal. Then the lines vanish

I have Botox every six months and have done so for 8 years. I go to a GP that came recommended. I would never go back to not having Botox. Makes me feel so much more confident. You can have a small amount in first and increase at the 2 week top up. Honestly I just class it as maintenance now. I don't think twice about it.

Thank you for your replies. Yesqueen what did your consultant say re Botox? I guess I am just so nervous if it causing breathing problems etc or it traveling anywhere.
The other thing is this is a dentist who has a lot of experience but I live in a small place and absolutely no one talks about it or admits to having it done so I can’t get recommendations at all. I have no idea whether they are good or not. I had a consultation which went fine and they seemed very knowledgeable etc.

I think it would massively improve my quality of life. I know that sounds dramatic but I avoid social things as I am so self conscious about my forehead.

Def post after and keep us updated - lots of support here! Dentists are highly trained professionals so u’d Trust one with Botox

@Abitlost2 he did face and said "aren't you like 12, or am I getting old? Fine, go have your face frozen"
He did advise me no fillers but he's happy with me having Botox

Thanks for replies. Definitely reassuring! I wish I could just shut off the part of my brain that constantly seeks out the scary stories. If anyone knows anxiety google can be such a nightmare as there are always horror stories.
The logical part of my brain knows that there’s no way it could be that dangerous knowing how many people get it done everyday ( obviously dangerous in the wrong hands etc) .
I went through a lot of threads on mm about it and some people always bring up the “I would never put in a toxin like this into my face “ and fair enough but genuinely feel these people really don’t have experience or know of someone relatively young with severe forehead lines and frown lines where they are almost like folds in a face. I really think this goes beyond normal aging. Maybe my forehead lines are too strong. I honestly think most people and let’s be honest women would find it hard to have confidence with these.

I get Botox.
A) Your forehead lines are REALLY not very noticeable, and
B) Botox has been used to help facial palsy and other stuff for years and years with no dramas, and
C) If there is a problem with it down the line, it'll get Nicole Kidman before it gets us, and then millions of dollars will be devoted to working out the solution to the problem because otherwise loads of very wealthy celebrities will be in trouble. So I think we are ok.

There is a bit of a Yoda 'do, or do not' here too. Make your choice to either get it done, or to not get it done, and then make peace with that choice, and don't keep unpicking it.

If it helps, my horizontal forehead lines were much more pronounced than yours in my early 30s when I started getting Botox. A lifetime of raising my eyebrows to express interest / concern. (I learnt to do this in other ways.)*
It took them away. I'm 42 now and they are still very faint as I just stopped scrunching my forehead up because you get bored of 'fighting' the paralysed muscles. Best thing I ever did to my face, after getting fixed braces aged 29. *

Weirdly I don’t mind the horizontal ones, they really don’t bother me at all. All I want rid of are the 11’s and their friends there.. They make me look so angry and as though I am squinting all.the.time.

Your glabellar lines are really not that pronounced! The way you talk about them it's like you're a shar-pei! 😄
You'll probably like the result Botox gives you on your '11' lines though. It gives you so much more of a relaxed expression. (I get mine done every now and again too) I know when it's wearing off on me because people start mirroring my expression of anxiousness when I talk to them - I can't help doing that with my brows - they just go like it.
If you use a decent practitioner, you'll retain expressiveness and never look frozen or too 'done'. It sounds like you've researched it thoroughly - have you seen before and after pics done by the dentist you've approached?

I have health anxiety too and my main worry is having side effects like an allergic reaction. So much so that I avoid medications. I then decided to take more care of myself and got Botox 1 week ago. It was stingy but bearable. I had slight headaches most days and my forehead felt tight and stiff which made me anxious but I got through it. Definite improvement in my forehead, going back for a review in one week. Not sure about getting it again as I did freak out a bit but will wait and see how I look over the next month or so. I can’t believe I did it!

I don’t have health anxiety or anxiety of any sort but there’s no way in hell I’d get poison injected into my face, so close to my eyes. I find the whole concept completely bonkers. I’m sure you look lovely as you are.