I took ages to pluck up the courage to go for botox back in 2016 and while I did like looking fresher and generally less grumpy (damn you, number 11s!) I will never have anything like that done again.
I started a thread about it at the time - following in the footsteps of 'botox, a cautionary tale' started by IslaValargeone. Here's my OP from that thread:
I had Botox for the first (and last) time last Thursday having dithered about it for years and it wasn't a good experience. When I got home I read IslaValargeone's cautionary tale thread (perhaps I should've done that before I had it) and felt that I should share my experience too.
Before I start, I realise that some people swear by Botox and have used it for many years without problems, but I will NEVER have it again.
My appt was 7pm (had I known I wasn't meant to lie down for 4 hours afterwards I might have asked for an earlier appointment) and the jabs were painless. I was meant to be meeting friends to go for a walk 30 mins later, but while I was waiting for them I started to feel peculiar - dry mouth, racing heart and feeling a bit dizzy and faint. I went back to the clinic where the Dr said that she thought that I was having a Vasovagal event as if it had been an allergic reaction to the Botox it would have been immediate. I sat for another 30 mins then went home, having been told to go to A and E if I struggled to swallow or breathe. I spent the evening having mini panic attacks, and hardly slept that night because of the panic, dry mouth and concern about breathing / swallowing. So much for looking less grumpy and tired!
The following morning I had pins and needles in my hands, my nose was tingling, I had no appetite and still had the dry mouth (which lasted for another 24 hours)
Saturday morning I noticed that the lower half of my face was feeling numb and my hands felt very odd. I started with diarrhoea and the pins and needles spread from my elbows to my fingers and from my knees to my toes.
Sunday, woke up with pins and needles, but they had gone by the evening, still had diarrhoea.
Monday, right eyelid started to droop a bit, still had diarrhoea, forehead looking smoother.
Tuesday, still droopy eyelid, still diarrhoea, wrists started to hurt in the evening.
Wednesday, forehead felt tight. Diarrhoea finally gone, feeling a bit better.
Today - feel much better in myself apart from the odd racing heart episode. I really hope that I am not one of the people who have side effects occurring weeks after the jabs, which I hadn't even realised was a possibility.
It has worked to smooth the lines between my eyes and I certainly look less grumpy, but I will not be having it again.
Googling shows that some people react badly to Botox and I appear to be one of those people. I suppose there is no way of knowing if you are too unless you take the risk, but I now regret going for it and wanted to share why.
Reading that now, it's worse than I remember!! Oddly enough, I became really self conscious about my smooth forehead at the time and started noticing how lines on other people gave their faces character!
I had azulure rather than botox, which I suppose could have been the reason I had problems (smaller molecular weight and more likely to migrate IIRC from what I read at the time). I'd recommend you get a data sheet for whichever product your clinic uses before having the stuff injected into your face.
And once again - I know most people have no issues with Botox and I was one of the unlucky ones, but please be aware of what can happen.