Treatment Provider

Anil R. Shah, MD
Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Call Doctor
Call Doctor
Reviews you can trust, from real people like you.      
How it works
  • Our highly-trained Review Moderation team evaluates all reviews before they're published to ensure they're written by people like you and not a member of a doctor's office.
  • This multi-step process takes up to 24 hours from review submission to publication.
  • Doctors can't pay to have reviews removed or hidden.
  • Reviews are only removed at the reviewer's request or if they violate our Terms of Service.

If you have questions or believe we should re-evaluate a published review, let us know.

Sort by:
*Treatment results may vary

Botched Botox, Permanent Effects, Overinjected Without Permission

I chose to get Botox from Dr. Shah because, like you, I was impressed by his awards and credentials. This was my second time getting Botox in my forehead. I liked my results from my previous provider, but I hoped to get even better results from an "expert" injector like Dr. Shah. Getting Botox from Dr. Shah was one of the worst decisions I have ever made in my entire life. I would give anything to be able to go back in time and undo the physical damage and mental anguish he caused me. This is going to be a long review. If you are wondering why a negative review has cropped up amid so many glowing reviews, know this: I sent multiple complaints to Dr. Shah's office in the weeks following my injections. The office manager at the time offered to give me a full refund for the botched service. At the time, believing that the effects would eventually wear off and that my face would go back to normal (it has not--much worse than before), I was ready to accept the refund. But then the office manager changed the terms of the deal. She told me that in order to get my refund, even though I had already signed the liability release in exchange for my refund, I would have to sign another form: a non-disclosure agreement, which would require me to refrain from telling ANYONE about my experience with Dr. Shah. The penalty? $50,0000. No wonder there are so many favorable reviews, if dissatisfied clients get refunds only in exchange for sworn secrecy!

Now I will discuss what happened. I explained very clearly to Dr. Shah what I wanted: freeze the downward-pulling muscles between my brows, and give me a slight, natural brow lift without making my eyes too round. No problem, he said. I know what you need. He and his assistant both asked me how many units of Botox I had received from my previous provider. I told him 20 in the forehead, and 5 in the chin, but it was too much. Dr. Shah ended up injecting over 20 units of Botox all over my forehead. Then he did something really shocking--something I can't believe any licensed medical professional would DREAM of doing. After he couldn't fit any more Botox in my forehead, I suddenly felt Dr. Shah injecting under my eyes. I had never given him any express or implied permission to inject under my eyes. It was over before I could say anything. When he was finished, I asked him why he injected under my eyes. He said something like "oh I just saw a line, so I went for it." Well, guess what? Now my ability to smile was messed up too. Of course, Dr. Shah charged me for these unauthorized injections.

As the effects set in, I realized that Dr. Shah froze exactly the wrong muscle group--instead of stopping my eyebrows from furrowing, they were constantly furrowed, and I couldn't lift them up. I looked like a cartoon villain for months. I have never worn a hat indoors in my life, and I was wearing hats everywhere. It was humiliating, demoralizing, and PAINFUL. I had horrible headaches for weeks.

Now, 7 months later, my forehead is messed up. I am 25 years old. Think about that. I never had a single line on my forehead. You couldn't see any of my muscles when I raised my eyebrows. It was perfect--smooth and flat. The only problem area was right between the brows--that area shows up angry when I furrow my brows. But now, the topography of my forehead has changed. When I raise my eyebrows, you see all the muscles and loose skin. Dr. Shah's botched Botox added at least 5 years to my face.

I have had several disappointing communications with Dr. Shah's office after these events. Because I refused to sign their ridiculous NDA, I never got my refund. Please, for your own sake, heed this warning and do not believe the hype. Go somewhere else for your injections. Anywhere else!

Provider Review

Board Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
200 W Superior St., Chicago, Illinois
Call Doctor
Call Doctor
Overall rating