chloerose

Thanks for the info on Carolyn's facial fitness program. I just ordered the basic DVD set myself. I'm pretty lazy so hope I can stick with it but if I start seeing results relatively soon, that will be the motivation I need. I really can't stand my frown lines and my chin definitely needs firming too -- I will not however go under the knife -- I have a cosmetic curse and whatever can go wrong will go wrong so too scary for me. Your cheeks will eventually come back and when they do, your hollows will dramatically lessen. My cheeks are almost back to normal at 10 months but really most of the improvement has been seen in the last month or so. Hard as it is, try to keep a positive attitude. Be patient and do not do anything rash -- you will get better.

Happywithme -- Agreed, I think it is almost certain that over-dilution was the cause of our un-expected and hideous botox results. Probably not that surprising though, it is always about the money. I actually had a another botox disaster with the same Dr about a year before this last one. I had had my frown lines treated and afterward my crows feet looked way worse, so I went back and had them treated too -- I ended up with really bad cheek ptosis so vowed no more botox for the crows feet. (I SHOULD have vowed no more botox at all). But I mention this because I later learned when you treat the frown lines, bunny line, forehead area only, you can get the sunburst effect. That is your crows feet are markedly exacerbated because of recruitment -- other facial muscles trying to take over for paralyzed ones. You just can't win it seems with botox. I was smiling at my face in the mirror this morning to more closely examine my "return to normalcy" and I have to admit that when I said my eyes were slightly more wrinkly when I smiled, it was probably not accurate. They are still noticeably more wrinkly and I believe my cheek ptsosis -- though mostly gone is not completely resolved either -- still some weakness there too. I have seen Carolyn's facial exercises mentioned on this site by many of my sister victims but I don't know anything about it. Can you fill me in -- I would like to give them a try. I am really hating these elevens and would also like to see if I can speed up the banishment of the under-eye wrinkles. Anyway Happywithme, please remember there is an end to this horror and try not to feel too devastated.

TBF -- Add me to the legions of victims who are eternally grateful for your knowledge, wisdom,and support, and most of all for your unending quest to reveal the ugly truth about botox. You have been an inspiration to all of us. I am sending good thoughts your way. Keep the faith. 'Jabba'

Dear HappyWithMe -- first of all I am very sorry for the late response. I have not been on the site for a while. Well I am pleased to report that after 10 long months my eyes are nearly back to normal. Still slightly more wrinkly underneath when I smile but the puffiness, festoons, and hideous tear troughs have gone away. My cheek ptosis, which was originally masked by the enormous bags and puffiness is now gone too and my smile is back to normal. So I can pretty much assure you the damage is not permanent although it takes a very very long time to resolve. Really I think a year to return to complete normalcy. Unfortunately though my frown lines, which are quite prominent, have returned and that's now what I am focusing on every time I looke in the mirror. But OK -- not a coincidence I think that we both had very painful injections and ended up with the bizarre bad results from botox in in glabella and above eyebrown arches only. I think you are dead-on right about the over-dilution of the botox. I seem to notice before my doctor injected me that the syringe looked VERY full. Oh and did I mention that he was running a special -- $100 off for a botox injection, when I got my bad result. So it is very possible that he did over-dilute the botox. Looks like we both got more than we bargained for and no bargain at all!!! Anyway Happywithme, I hope you continue to see improvement. You will be back to normal eventually but it is a long and painful wait. Let us know how you are progressing.

Indeed you should write a book and no doubt could!! Your fellow victims could include photos of their disastrous results. I acutally do have a photo taken on my birthday, November 5th of this year. That was about 3 months post botox disaster. The photo was taken in the evening. My puffiness was much worse in teh AM so much of the bags and puffiness does not show. What does show however are very dark tear troughs, sunken eyes and most notably cheek ptosis. It is just so very obvious. In the beginning, the bags, festoons and puffiness were so bad, that was what I focued on AND they masked the cheek ptosis that I also suffered. When the puffiness subsided the cheek ptosis became evident in all its ugly glory. It is only now when I look at that smiling photo of me on my birthday that I see how bad it really was. Anyway, glad we are both finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel.