c/cosmetic-procedures

My Botox appointment went sideways and I looked like a confused owl for a week

Honestly, I went in for a quick touch-up on my forehead last Tuesday at this place in Austin called Glow Up Med Spa. The injector was new, and she went a little heavy on the area between my brows. By the next morning, I couldn't raise my eyebrows at all, like my face was stuck in a permanent 'huh?' expression. My coworker asked if I was shocked by something and I had to explain it was defective Botox, not bad news. I spent the whole week with this frozen, questioning look while trying to order coffee and nod during meetings. It finally wore off after 8 days, but man, those first 72 hours were a trip. Has anyone else had a bad reaction to a new injector or am I just unlucky?

Lip filler migration made me look like I had a mustache for 3 weeks

Went to a new place in Austin called Bella Aesthetics for a half syringe top lip touch-up. The nurse injected too close to my vermillion border and the filler started creeping up above my lip line by day 3. I had to go back to have them dissolve it with hyaluronidase, which cost me another $250 and left me with zero volume. Has anyone else dealt with a bad injector who doesn't know where to stop?

Was dead set against lip filler for 2 years until I saw my sister's results after her 3rd session

Swore it always looked overdone until her injector used less than 0.5ml each time and it actually looked natural, has anyone else changed their mind on something similar?

Why does nobody talk about how painful buccal fat removal recovery is

I read a comment from some influencer saying it was a quick easy recovery, but my cousin got it done in Miami 3 weeks ago and she said the swelling was brutal for 10 days straight. Has anyone else dealt with that kind of recovery time?

My dermatologist told me to stop chasing trends and I got annoyed at first

I went in for a consult about lip filler last week. The doctor, she's been practicing like 20 years, took one look at my face and said "you don't need that." She explained how my lip shape would actually look weird with the overfilled Russian technique everyone wants right now. I was kind of pissed honestly. Thought she was just trying to upsell me on something else. But then she pulled out before and after photos from her own patients who asked for the same thing. Half of them looked like ducks in those after shots. She offered a subtle alternative, just a tiny bit of volume on the sides, not the whole lip. I think I'm gonna go with her plan instead of what Instagram tells me. Has anyone else had a pro talk them out of a popular procedure?

That "ice rolling before filler" hack actually saved me $300

I got lip filler last month and the bruising was insane, like purple pillows for a week. My injector told me to ice roll for 10 minutes before the appointment next time, said it constricts capillaries. Tried it yesterday with a cheap $12 ice roller from Target and I barely got any bruising at all. Swelling went down in like 2 days instead of 5. Has anyone else tried this or got some other weird trick from their injector that actually worked?

My $600 chin filler dissolved unevenly after 8 weeks

I went back to the clinic in Phoenix and the nurse admitted she used a different brand than what I paid for, has anyone else dealt with a clinic swapping products without telling you?

My mom said 'you're already pretty, why risk it?' right before my lip filler consult

So I was telling my mom about my appointment for lip filler last week, thinking she'd be neutral about it. She looked me dead in the eye and said 'you're already pretty, why risk it?' and it honestly hit different because she never compliments me like that. It made me pause and think about whether I want the procedure for me or because I scroll too much on Instagram. Has anyone else had a family member drop an unexpected comment that made you second guess your plans?

Debate: My derm said microneedling at home is fine but my esthetician freaked out when I told her

I did 3 sessions with a $40 roller from Amazon and saw good results on my acne scars, but now my esthetician says I probably damaged my skin barrier and should only do in-clinic treatments, so who do you believe when the advice completely contradicts each other?

The receptionist at my dermatologist's office made my day yesterday

Pro tip: I used to ask for "natural looking" lips and got terrible results

I kept telling my injector I wanted something subtle but always walked out looking like I had a duck face. After 3 bad sessions at a chain place in Phoenix, I switched to a nurse who actually showed me photos of what she meant by "filler mapping" and now I just say "give me the same volume as her photo #4" and my lips actually look like mine.

Hot take: I used to think fillers were only for old people, but at 29 I caved and tried them

My $25 lip flip gave me a lisp for 3 days

I tried a lip flip with just 4 units of Botox at a medspa in Portland and couldn't say the letter P properly when I ordered coffee the next morning, so has anyone else had their speech get weird temporarily with these tiny muscle relaxer shots?

PSA: My injector in Austin totally changed how I feel about fillers

Went to a new spot in Austin last month and the nurse talked me into a 'less is more' approach with my lip filler. She only did 0.5 ml instead of the full 1 ml I always got before. The result was way more natural and I didn't look like a duck for two weeks. So I'm curious, do you guys think less product is better or do you prefer that fuller look?

That lip flip I tried last month was honestly a waste of $250

I went to a med spa in Austin after seeing all these TikTok videos about how a lip flip gives you that perfect pout without filler. The nurse used Botox above my lip and it only took like 5 minutes. For the first week I couldn't even drink out of a straw right, my top lip was that stiff. By week three the effect was so subtle that nobody noticed, not even my mom who I see every Sunday. I feel like the whole thing is hyped up way more than it delivers. Has anyone else had a lip flip that actually made a difference?

Third day after my chin lipo and I look like a frog

I know swelling is normal but I woke up this morning and my double chin is somehow worse than before I paid $1,400 for the procedure. Has anyone else had this puffy stage last a full week or am I overreacting?

I dropped $800 on lip filler and it completely ruined my profile

Went to a popular clinic in Portland six months ago for a subtle touch up and now I have a duck lip shelf that makes me look like I'm pouting in every photo, has anyone else had a permanent change they regret?

My injector guy told me to stop using cheap filler and I didn't listen for 6 months

I went to a new med spa in Phoenix last year for lip filler and the nurse straight up said 'you're using way too much product for how fast it dissolves, it's the filler you're buying online.' I switched to Restylane instead of whatever budget stuff I was getting and it actually lasted 8 months instead of 3. Has anyone else had a big change from swapping brands after someone called them out?

My laser hair removal went wrong and now I have stripes

I went to this place in Austin last month for laser hair removal on my legs. The technician was young and seemed new, but I figured it was fine. She used the machine on settings that were way too high for my skin tone. Now I have these dark lines running down my legs like I got zebra print by accident. It's been 3 weeks and the marks aren't fading much. The clinic offered me a free touch-up session but I'm not sure I trust them again. Has anyone else had permanent marks from a bad laser job and did they ever go away?

My dermatologist told me to stop using retinol every night. Turns out she was right.

For about 6 months I was applying 0.05% retinol every single night because I thought more was better. My skin got red, flaky, and even broke out more. At my last checkup in March, my dermatologist in Denver said to cut back to 3 times a week and use a heavier moisturizer on off nights. I thought she was being too cautious. After 6 weeks of following her advice, my skin looks way better. No more peeling and the fine lines are actually fading. Has anyone else had success with cutting back on actives?

TIL 50% of lip filler dissolves in the first 3 months, not 6 or 12 like I thought

I was reading a study from a derm clinic in Austin that tracked 30 patients over a year, and it blew my mind that most people lose half their filler volume within 90 days. The rest hangs around for up to 18 months, but the immediate drop-off is crazy fast. I always assumed it was a slow fade, but nope, your body basically eats the hyaluronic acid way quicker than brands advertise. Now I totally get why some folks touch up after 8 weeks instead of waiting 6 months. Has anyone else noticed their lips looking different by month 2 compared to right after injection?

Why does nobody talk about how fillers mess with your smile?

I got lip filler 6 months ago at a place in Austin and it looked fine at first, but now my upper lip barely moves when I grin. Has anyone else noticed their smile looking weird or stiff after getting injections?

Wasted $800 on lip fillers that looked terrible for 6 months

I finally saved up and went to this trendy place in Portland for lip fillers because all my friends were doing it. The nurse convinced me to go with 1.5 syringes instead of 1 saying it would look "more natural" lmao. Two days later my lips were so swollen I couldn't even drink from a straw and when it went down they looked completely uneven. The left side was noticeably bigger and it cost me $800 plus $150 for the dissolve appointment that barely worked. Has anyone else dropped serious cash on a procedure that they instantly regretted?

My lip filler looked off for 2 years until a new nurse asked me one question

I went to the same injector for 5 years and always had this weird bump above my lip on the left side. A new nurse at the clinic asked if they used cannula or needle on me - I had no idea there was a difference. She switched me to cannula and now I'm wondering how many other people are getting bad technique without knowing it?

Appreciation post: the day my lip filler dissolved and I looked like a deflated balloon for 48 hours

Went in for a touch up at a new place in Austin and the nurse accidentally hit a blood vessel, so she had to put in hyaluronidase to undo everything. My lips went from plump to wrinkly prune status within an hour and my husband wouldn't stop laughing. Has anyone else had a dissolve day that made them look like a dried up raisin?