Worried about botox

[joannajoanne]

I want to get botox to smooth out my frown lines a bit before I get married in this summer. The rest of my face is totally smooth but my forehead looks furrowed and worried!

However, whilst doing some online research I stumbled across a botox support forum with literally hundreds of botox users complaining of long term, life changing debilitating illness afterwards, with symptoms indicating central nervous system damage.

So now I don't know what to do. I can't work out whether this is a big, hidden issue with botox or whether these are a tiny minority of very unfortunate women. The forum is on realself.com. I've never seen it before.

Has anyone here been badly affected by botox? Is it too risky? Are there better alternatives out there?

I've been having botox for about a year, every 3 months I get a top up.
The person I go to was a fully qualified dentist nurse, is now qualified to prescribe botox and with her lip fillers able to do full dental blocks. She has many recommendations to me, I even stopped a random woman in the pub and asked where she had her lips done (they were obviously 'done' but still looked good if that's possible!) same person. Her waiting list is always 6 weeks in advance.

I have had zero problems, I absolutely love it - I always look angry without it and like i'm frowning.
My SIL went to someone else once, said she hated the feeling and never again but had no adverse affects.

I think you only really hear the horror stories, or read the threads about how people look fake and awful with botox, fillers etc its rare for people to come together and genuinely talk about the positives its had for them.

Do your research, don't be afraid to ask people for recommendations, check their social media and websites for examples. Try it well before the wedding, 6 months prior - if you don't like it, it will have worn off, if you do you can have it topped up.
Also, go light to begin, most horror stories are due to people having too much injected - its easier to add more, it cant be taken out!

Oh I should say, I was having regular facials for a year before the botox, I got my skin in the best condition, it did away with the finer wrinkles and creases and reduced my pores. Once we'd hit the best my skin was going to get to, I then had the botox and maintained the facials

Blimey, I wouldn't let a dental nurse inject anything into my face. If you're going to do it, at least get a medical professional, preferably a plastic surgeon on the Specialist Register.

Geoffrey a dentist,[not a dental nurse] is one of the best people to inject anything,they already know the nerves and arteries of the face,i go to a dentist and she's the best i know or have been to

I personally wouldn’t go to a nurse either. Don’t cheap out on these sorts of treatments.

Go to the best doctor you can find and start with a minimal amount if you’re worried. You can then get more at a later date if it’s too subtle.

No side effects for me, although I get it for medical reasons as I grind my teeth.

Also I don’t think any product can give you the same results as Botox unfortunately. The only better alternative would probably be surgery.

I've been having it for about 14 years now, with absolutely no side effects. I'm currently using a nurse, who I really like. I've had doctors before who haven't done such a good job and the worse injections I ever got were from one of the UK's most rated doctors. She put so much in that I felt trapped in my own skin for about 3 months.

Dental nurses shouldn't be doing botox and fillers. Very frowned upon by the GDC and also extremely hard to get properly insured.

I love Botox but agree with the previous comments, do your research. Make sure it's performed by someone who is medically trained.

Mine is actually performed at a private aesthetics practice by an NHS Plastic Surgeon. - if you're based in Yorkshire (by any chance) I can recommend.

Unlike fillers, Botox is a prescription drug so actually can't be performed by anyone else other than a clinician as needs to be prescribed.

Also remember if you're having it for a wedding, it takes up to two weeks to take full effect and will then need topping up every 3-6 months. I would probably advise not to go for the fully frozen look your first time, you can always top up 😊 a good aesthetic practitioner will advise you of how to achieve your desired look and not let you get too carried away. Hope this helps!

Geoffrey a dentist,[not a dental nurse] is one of the best people to inject anything,they already know the nerves and arteries of the face

I think a consultant plastic surgeon is vaguely familiar with the nerves and arteries of the face You do know how long it takes to get on the Specialist Register I assume?

I have posted here before about this but I am fairly sure (although obviously can’t prove it) that Botox left me with an autoimmune disease for which I will take daily medication for the rest of my life. Since I suspected this, around 5 years ago, a possible link between Botox and autoimmune disease has been identified and now they ask in the pre-injection questionnaire whether you have an existing autoimmune issue.

I’ve been having it 3/4 times a year for over 3 years. I’m delighted with the way it makes me look (obv or I wouldn’t keep going back) and have had no adverse side effects. I go to a private clinic but all the Botox practitioners are doctors who also work in the NHS.

Nobody really knows do they OP, the research is limited and there will be anecdotal evidence supporting both sides of a story. If it is something you are very anxious about I would just avoid it, if you are then going to worry afterwards or attribute a change in health to it as a result of feeling anxious- really not worth it.

I haven't had botox cosmetically but did (as a last resort) for TMJ- found it very painful, it didnt help and if anything made it worse. I hated the feeling of it sitting in my face and was very aware of it and found it discomforting.

I would be inclined to up my skincare routine and ask the photographer to edit the frowns out of your photos.

Honestly, on the day no-one will notice your frown lines.

As mentioned the problem with Botox and fillers is that they aren't properly regulated. I would only use a plastic surgeon on the specialist register to do anything to my face. Yes it's a bit more expensive (although not much-350 for 3 areas in London) but it's not worth the risk to go to a beautician/dental nurse 😱

Geoffrey i meant rather than a dental nurse, or a beautician, of course a consultant plastic surgeon is best, but dentists do have training in facial nerves etc
Anyway apart from a surgeon i would choose a dentist, mine is amazing