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Original poster

Not a suitable candidate for Botox?!

66 replies

SinkingFeelingSoph · 17/08/2024 13:11

So I’m 47 and have Botox and am generally happy with it (although one eye usually looks a bit smaller, it’s worth it)

My lower face is drooping and hollow so I sent some photos to a top London injector (on tv, really natural work). I actually joked that she’s say straight to facelift - and that’s what she did say! She said I was a bad candidate for Botox and wouldn’t touch me due to eye laxity (it’s never bothered me or I’ve never noticed apart from post-Botox droop) and that I’d be better off with an eye lift and also a facelift, as cheek filler could exacerbate some bags under my eyes (that I’d never noticed either). Its made me feel like absolute shit to be honest!

Surely filler is a step before surgery? Does anyone know what her issue was? I look fairly reasonable for my age - is so I thought! She mentioned it was skin laxity rather than muscle but isn’t that usual?

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BigBundleOfFluff · 17/08/2024 21:05

I'd listen to her. The nurse that does my Botox said pretty much the same thing to me about fillers and eye bags. She was happy to use filler on my sister though (and she looks great with it!)
Mine wasn't a case of a hard sell - she knew it wouldn't give me the effect I wanted.

Original poster
SinkingFeelingSoph · 17/08/2024 21:46

Thank you for the constructive posts. It’s just that I’m 47 FFS and generally considered attractive and surely things aren’t that bad to warrant the suggestion of a facelift, which is extreme?! She was really rude with what she said actually and how it was delivered, we are talking about people who are probably insecure and vulnerable and to tell me how she did was quite shocking.

Am really quite pleased with my Botox even with a slightly hooded eye. Doesn’t look freakish (thanks pp) just makes the natural assymetry most of us have a bit more obvious.

I will get a second opinion. I’d chatted to this woman about having worked in the industry myself and she was originally keen I write something for her, and I’d said I wasn’t really up for that - so just feel weird about the whole thing!

Surely lasers or radio frequency needling are worth trying?

Would love to be happy as is but I have had a very stressful 6-7 years and everything has shown in my face. My parents also aged early… I’m also single and trying to date so would like to feel good about myself.

I have a five year old DC and now feel people just think I’m the gran 😭

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Original poster
SinkingFeelingSoph · 17/08/2024 21:57

Think I’ll post a lower face pic for reference?

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blueshoes · 17/08/2024 22:05

Yes, pls post a picture. We love a picture.😆

I will get a second opinion. I’d chatted to this woman about having worked in the industry myself and she was originally keen I write something for her, and I’d said I wasn’t really up for that - so just feel weird about the whole thing!

What do you mean by this. What woman and what industry? Write what?

HornyHornersPinkyWinky · 17/08/2024 22:31

From what you have said she may have been rude in her delivery of the information - and if you don't feel comfortable with her then definitely get another opinion.

However, she's right that botox is not really used for lower face laxity. Cheek filler can only do so much to 'lift' the jawline (not really) which is why you get the overfilled chimpmunk face in celebrities sometimes who take it too far to try and get a lift. It looks ridiculous. Or sometimes filler is used to fill out the jawline to hide laxity - the problem with this is it changes the shape of the face and can look severe and a bit odd.

The most natural result comes from surgery, which is basically putting things back where they used to be (if done well). If you don't want to get surgery that's totally fine, you just need to be realistic that nothing else can give the same sort of results - even if the RF/ threads/ lasers etc. only ever give subtle or temporary results - no matter what they promise.

In some cases you could spend a few thousand on ultherapy etc. and not really get any long term results, when that money could have been put towards a lower face lift.

Ozanj · 17/08/2024 22:36

At 47 botox is only going to help women of colour who naturally retain collagen. Not white / light women. She’s absolutely right in suggesting a facift now. With the right one you can then refresh with botox when you’re older.

Blink282 · 17/08/2024 22:37

I think she sounds really ethical and professional- she’s advised you not to do the things she would make money out of you from!

blueshoes · 17/08/2024 22:43

I very much agree with @HornyHornersPinkyWinky post.

blueshoes · 17/08/2024 22:57

I appreciate she sounded rude to you. Sometimes, I prefer rude or blunt, because it shows they are not completely unctuous sales persons who will butter you up all sides to sell you something.

At 47, I would not feel that being told to go for a face lift is rude, if that is in fact the god honest best solution. I hate to say it but 47 is not young however well you age. If gravity has taken its toll enough for you to see it from the front, best not to check your side view.

I feel that all the other tweakments are Emporer's New Clothes and not cheap either, especially if you have to keep topping up regularly but worth a go, I guess.

Original poster
SinkingFeelingSoph · 18/08/2024 04:42

Here’s the area in question

OP posts:
Original poster
SinkingFeelingSoph · 18/08/2024 04:44

Oh hope this works

Not a suitable candidate for Botox?!
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twojumps · 18/08/2024 04:45

Holluschickie · 17/08/2024 13:30

I dont know why you would be surprised at someone who wants to sell you stuff trading on your insecurity to sell you stuff.

But she didn't. She said she wouldn't use her services as they wouldn't work and instead said go elsewhere and get a facelift

Holluschickie · 18/08/2024 05:01

I know this will be an unpopular view, but I cannot see anything wrong with your face that needs a face lift or indeed anything else. You look great.

Upselling indeed.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 18/08/2024 05:09

blueshoes · 17/08/2024 22:05

Yes, pls post a picture. We love a picture.😆

I will get a second opinion. I’d chatted to this woman about having worked in the industry myself and she was originally keen I write something for her, and I’d said I wasn’t really up for that - so just feel weird about the whole thing!

What do you mean by this. What woman and what industry? Write what?

This chap's a bit despondent too about the botox decision.☹️

Not a suitable candidate for Botox?!
onwardsup4 · 18/08/2024 05:20

Yea I think she was right about fillers not being suitable but I can see why you're upset about her facelift suggestion. Looking at your photo that would be way extreme! Sounds like she was rude about it as well.
My mum (64) has had good results with HIFU. I'm considering it for lower face too

Tourmalines · 18/08/2024 06:01

blueshoes · 17/08/2024 19:27

I believe cosmetic surgeons, should you go for a face lift, prefer to operate on a face that has not had tons of fillers and threads etc. The best results are for a face that is clean of those things.

Personally, if it is skin laxity, turkey neck, baggy under chin, jowls and hooded eyes due to aging, I would save up for a deep plane facelift and eye lift at a later age, which IMO is more natural looking and lasts the longest.

Spot on .

Tourmalines · 18/08/2024 06:08

Don’t waste your money on a thread lift . They don’t last long . Also plastic surgeons warn about the effects of fillers in the underlying tissue when they do surgeries. Fillers leave scar tissue and they also can hang around for years . Botox is great for forehead . I think your surgeon was correct . Go for a facelift if you want to freshen up . It’s the Ivy League of them all . And at 47 you are not too young for it . There are tons of professional surgeons on utube . Have a listen to some .

KimFan · 18/08/2024 06:08

SinkingFeelingSoph · 17/08/2024 13:32

Because she wasn’t selling me anything - she doesn’t offer those procedures (but did try referring me to people who do)

Show quote history

Well then you will have to accept that this is her professional opinion. As hard as it is to swallow, you asked the question and got the answer. Remember though, this is just HER opinion. You don’t have to let it get you down. If you think you look ‘reasonable’ for your age, then you do! Your thoughts are all that really matter here.

RipleyGreen · 18/08/2024 06:20

Make sure you do a lot of research into HIFU/lasers. It’s possible that they will exacerbate your problem (they can cause fat loss). You have posted a photo showing skin laxity and the clinician is right, fillers will not help. I know it’s difficult to hear, but it is only a facelift that will solve that issue. I have the same concern as you, but do not want to spend c. 50k on a deep plane (I am scared of general anaesthetic!) Nor do I have 6 weeks for the initial downtime. The alternative is local anaesthetic (but not a deep plane) and that is c. 30k. I have been told the result would not be as natural looking. It’s disappointing, but the clinicians are (correctly!) managing my expectation. There are two types of aging: loss of volume and skin laxity. We are the unlucky recipients of laxity! I hope you make peace with it, I am starting to!

Holluschickie · 18/08/2024 06:22

Feel like I have much lower standards for skin than everyone else.

Guavafish1 · 18/08/2024 06:30

I don’t think you should offended by her comments. I think she was taking business and kudos to her for not selling you something that would not work. At least she was honest.

I agree with other to probably get a second opinion and see a plastic surgeon as she suggested. Agree with others… fillers will probably make it worse.

I think life to short for all this stuff… age naturally and maintain your fitness

AllBlackEverything · 18/08/2024 07:23

From your photo, I would imagine it's the nasolabial folds that you want filling? I'm surprised that she thought you weren't a good candidate. I'd get a second opinion.

As your jawline looks good, I wouldn't go down the face-lift route any time soon.

Original poster
SinkingFeelingSoph · 18/08/2024 07:38

@AllBlackEverything yes exactly. I have high cheekbones so the structure is ok. It’s just this saggy bit around jowls and mouth and looks exactly like what filler treats. So miffed that it was a no to that AND that my (beloved) Botox was a no too AND straight to a facelift I felt was very OTT

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Original poster
SinkingFeelingSoph · 18/08/2024 07:42

Yes also agree life is too short for all of this! I have just met someone new who says he’s very attracted to me, I feel okish about my face and my child loves me. I’ve just got over some awful times so am grateful for all of that! Just wanted my face to match and it does bother me so thought if a few tweaks could help, great. So to be then set on the facelift thinking…. it’s not something I want right now, would consider, could ever likely afford (50k?!) or get the time to do. And I don’t want to look 15 years younger, just more firm and fresh!

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