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Original poster

Anyone else undecided about whether to Botox?

101 replies

Marmitepot · 01/01/2023 09:54

I’m 46 and although my skin is good and I don’t have too many wrinkles I know over once the Menopause kicks in they will get worse.

Thinking about a bit of Botox on my frown lines but don’t want to go down a rabbit hole of wanting more and more! And I definitely don’t want filler.
I also have quite heavy eyelids so would be nervous about having it on my forehead and crows feet as don’t want to look v different or have even more droopy eyelids.

also worried that once you have it you can never give it up!

Does anyone just have one area and have managed to just stick with that?

anyone else undecided?

OP posts:
AlwaysGinPlease · 01/01/2023 13:33

JamSandle · 01/01/2023 12:46

Just curious, how do people afford it regularly? It seems very expensive for even one area.

The same way some people have more expensive cars/houses etc than others. It's different income and expenditure.

krill · 01/01/2023 15:12

I have light touch botox, in one area, around once or twice a year at most now.

No wrinkles yet, late 30s

Go for a consultation somewhere reputable, not a beauty salon, and tell them what you want. Have a look at examples of their work. You should have a top up appointment where any adjustments can be made. Be careful of the surprised look with raised eyebrows, though it can be fixed. You'll find you need it less often the more you have it.

krill · 01/01/2023 15:13

JamSandle · 01/01/2023 12:46

Just curious, how do people afford it regularly? It seems very expensive for even one area.

Going by past threads some go to beauty salons where it can be as cheap as £150 upwards.

Delatron · 01/01/2023 15:20

I think twice a year is a good strategy (or even less). The times when I thought it had worn off after 3/4 months and went back for more are when I ended up looking a bit ‘overdone’. It probably hadn’t fully worn off.

I love it around the 3 months mark - I never like it for the first month as I feel I look a bit ‘sneery’. Have been to lots of different doctors so I think it’s just me.

MintyPrincess · 01/01/2023 15:28

Do it you'll never look back.Im 42 and get it on my forehead and between brows.Make sure you go to a good clinic and you won't look fake just fresher

Fathercrossmas · 01/01/2023 15:37

I'm nearly 40. I'm going with a fringe for now.

simplefree · 01/01/2023 15:40

coconotgrove · 01/01/2023 10:23

I think it's a slippery slope and once one is on it, it's difficult to not only increase the areas and number of treatments, but the types of injectables too. Also, once one starts on this journey, it's hard to stop.

I'm 47 and post-menopause. I take HRT which is hugely beneficial for my skin. Given the amount of stress I have been under, I have somehow escaped frown line and the dreaded 11s. I have lines, yes, but not particularly noticeable ones and they don't bother me enough to do anything about. No crow's feet, thankfully, which I think is more to do with staying out of the sun/daily sunscreen and giant sunglasses all year round. I also think it's a matter of genetics and bone structure too, not to mention weight - some with a fuller face have less noticeable wrinkles.

But, never say never.

Many clinics offer a free-consultation. Have you thought about having one? I did which is how I decided I just wasn't bothered enough to have anything injected. I actually went to see two people at two different clinics, both of whom gave very very different advice.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

What HTR you take? I will be 46 soon.

simplefree · 01/01/2023 15:41

Marmitepot · 01/01/2023 10:36

Thanks for your reply @coconotgrove

I agree that once you start it must be very difficult to stop,hence my reluctance! I’m not a very vain person either. Very casual in my clothes and don’t wear loads of makeup.

I daren’t go for a consultation 😂

I saw Kate Winslet on Graham Norton a few weeks ago,she is quite wrinkly and a year older than me. I thought she looked great and it was so refreshing to see someone with lines for a change!

consultation will be more like sales pitch in my experience with the skin care industry

purplerainlondon · 01/01/2023 15:43

I've had it for four years and have my forehead, eyes and 11's done! My eyes were quite hooded, however they can lift the brow slightly to stop that hooded look!

Sweetchops22 · 01/01/2023 15:53

would really love my dreadful crows feet done. But scared incase it makes me look worse 🙈

Shitfather · 01/01/2023 18:31

simplefree · 01/01/2023 15:41

consultation will be more like sales pitch in my experience with the skin care industry

Show quote history

Mine couldn’t be arsed with a sales pitch as they are so busy. Very quick and efficient with excellent results (but v expensive at 450 for 3 areas). I told them what I was after and they did it after checking my muscle strength and lines.

Branleuse · 01/01/2023 18:36

simplefree · 01/01/2023 15:41

consultation will be more like sales pitch in my experience with the skin care industry

Show quote history

Not in my experience.

Laneyly · 01/01/2023 19:07

maybe start using a retinol daily for a few months. It can work wonders and you may never need Botox if you're lucky

Original poster
Marmitepot · 01/01/2023 19:30

@Laneyly I’m already using tretinoin which is great but would like something more heavy duty possibly!

OP posts:
NCSQ · 01/01/2023 20:49

I'm 42 and curious about Botox but cautious for all the same reasons as OP. Would anyone here be willing to post before and after pictures? I would love to see the payoff people are talking about. I know there are pictures online but am never sure whether to trust them and they are always accompanied by additional makeup etc. in the 'after' pics.

Sweetchops22 · 01/01/2023 21:14

what is the best retinol to buy? Do I just add this into my cleaner/toner/moisturiser routine?

dontknowwhatisbest · 01/01/2023 21:31

I just have it on my 11s as I don’t particularly mind wrinkles but don’t want to look cross all the time.

This is me. I'm not too bothered about ageing - I mean, obviously it would be fantastic to have the skin I had a 20, but I'm perfectly content to look exactly like the 46 years I am. But without botox for my 11s I look permanatly fucking miserable.

I've had treatments at varying intervals for around 25 years (I was an early adopter!) and there is absolutely no reason why anyone with a healthy attitude towards ageing would become 'addicted" to it. Ideally I think I would have it three times a year, but I'm quite disorganised and probably average twice a year. When I was pregnant and my children were babies I probably went a year or two between treatments, it was never a problem (other than the RBF).

Claudia84 · 01/01/2023 21:36

Okay here goes. Tried to keep it anonymous but show the difference. Both relaxed forehead. One seven years ago and one more recently. See in one the vertical wrinkling - I would constantly have a slight frown that from far away created this noticeable shadow. Now that's gone. It's subtle to me and I can still frown but when I want to (not just every time I go outside).

Anyone else undecided about whether to Botox?
Anyone else undecided about whether to Botox?
Original poster
Marmitepot · 02/01/2023 00:39

@dontknowwhatisbest i think I frown a lot too. I don’t mind my forehead wrinkles and crows feet but the 11’s 🙄

OP posts:
Original poster
Marmitepot · 02/01/2023 00:40

@Claudia84 thanks for posting. Nice and subtle but can see how it makes a difference to you.

OP posts:
Zengarden001 · 02/01/2023 12:26

I'm 40, most good skin apart from "11"s on forehead, considering baby Botox for these. I'm not at all bothered about crows feet, laughter lines - but I am sick of always looking cross and bad tempered in photos. If I like the result, I can see myself getting it once or twice a year for this area. I'm not even bothered about erasing my frown lines all together - I just don't want them to be as deep or to get any more prominent.

Original poster
Marmitepot · 02/01/2023 17:44

@Zengarden001 I feel the same as you!

OP posts:
Hibernatalie · 02/01/2023 18:17

I'm 39 and really tempted. It's only the money that's putting me off.

CLLock · 02/01/2023 18:32

I'm so pleased I stumbled upon this thread.
I have my first app tomorrow with a qualified nurse who runs a side business doing Botox at a local beauticians.
I have ummed and ahhed for a few years. I am 34, have 2 children and teach. I use a lot of expression during my everyday life as well as during my teaching, which has lead to wrinkles that are very pronounced between my eyebrows (which I've just discovered are referred to as 11s)

I am surrounded by so many people who have it regularly. I haven't had it yet because I am worried about the amount of people who just seem to be offering it that have only done a short course, which is why I've researched and found a nurse and haven't committed to anything yet.

I am also worried about this facial paralysis if you inject the wrong area and not being able to move much as like I've said, I am full of expression 😂

The only other thing that people keep telling me is, once you get rid of one area of wrinkles, it highlights other areas. Is this true?

Season0fTheWitch · 02/01/2023 18:36

I've been doing preventative filler since I was 23. I have had my lips filled slightly but don't feel a slippery slope. You can get what you want done and then give yourself a set time until you top up/do anything else. E.g. give it a year and if you really want to do more then you'll have had time to think about it a lot