Today I want to talk to you guys about Botox…a hot topic that is starting to come up very regularly in conversations as more and more women are getting it.

Over the last few months I have had many cosmetic clinics and injectors reach out to me to get promotion in return for free Botox/fillers. I have also noticed an influx of young influencers promoting it like it is a facial that I feel the need to talk about my stance on these procedures…mainly for education purposes.

I would like to start by saying that I have no issues with anyone getting Botox or fillers, everyone has a choice of what to do with their bodies. However I feel that this procedure has been over glamorized without the talk about real potential dangers and scary side effects.

First let’s start with what Botox actually is. As taken from medlineplus.gov “Botox is a drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum. It’s the same toxin that causes a life-threatening type of food poisoning called botulism.”

So to start off, when you are injecting Botox you are injecting poison into your body, which let’s face is NEVER a good thing. Many are now trying to stay away from toxins likes parabens, however injecting poison into their bodies on a regular basis. Now if that is your choice, no judgement whatsoever, just wishing you luck.

However with the Botox being so glamorized and all the celebrities doing it, regular people like us start thinking that we should do it too and that it is safe. You have no idea how many women are not even aware of the side effects or that there is a black box warning on the Botox.  For those of you unaware of what a black box warning is, it is the strictest type of warning by the FDA that appears on prescription drugs or drug products where there is a reasonable evidence of an association of a serious hazard with a drug.

This is one of the warnings on Botox (you can download the full black box warning for Botox here)

“Postmarketing reports indicate  that  the effects  of  BOTOX  and  all  botulinum  toxin  products  may  spread  from  the area  of injection  to produce  symptoms consistent  with botulinum toxin effects. These  may include  asthenia,  generalized muscle weakness,  diplopia, ptosis,  dysphagia, dysphonia, dysarthria,  urinary  incontinence and  breathing difficulties.  These symptoms have been reported  hours  to weeks after injection.  Swallowing  and breathing  difficulties can be life threatening and there have been reports  of death. The  risk of symptoms is probably  greatest  in children treated for spasticity  but symptoms can also  occur in  adults treated  for spasticity  and  other  conditions, particularly  in  those  patients  who  have  an underlying  condition  that would  predispose them  to  these symptoms.  In  unapproved  uses, including spasticity in  children, and  in  approved indications,  cases  of spread  of  effect  have been reported  at  doses comparable  to those  used to  treat cervical dystonia  and at lower doses.  [See  Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] “

I myself was not aware of all the dangers because no one ever talks about it. So I started thinking about it and researching it ( because I am never the kind of person to do anything without doing my own homework on the topic). And let me tell you there are so many people who have been adversly effected by the toxin than anyone would like to admit. The problem is that lots of issues surface much later which many don’t end up relating to Botox.

So to answer your questions, no I have never done Botox and fillers nor will I ever willingly and knowingly inject poison into my body. And let’s face it, you can always tell who does injections and it really doesn’t make anyone look younger. Wrinkle free yes, but that won’t change the age. If someone looks 50 Botox is not going to make them look 30, they will still look 50 just with a frozen forehead that cannot move.

Then again this is just my perspective and if you do end up choosing injectables make sure you familiarize yourself with the dangers before getting it done.  Yes we all want to stay looking young but is it worth the risk to your health?  Also, I have a feeling that in 10 years they will start warning people about this the same way that we are now finding out that breast implants are not safe and the breast implant illness is real.

As for me…I’m pushing 40 and right now I am focused on prevention and doing what I can to hold off the wrinkles as long as possible and once they come I will have to learn to embrace them. Not that it will be easy but it is a part of life. And with body positivity movements on the rise, why not also love your face the way it is…maybe I’ll start a #gracefullyaged movement to try to change this ridiculously unattainable beauty standards that is only focused on looking young. Who’s with me?

Would love to hear your thoughts and stance on this subject so please comment below.