Horrible Botox Experience

[amykat]

I just came back from what must be the most painful experience I have had in my life! I'm sure everyone will think I am being a big baby, or am overly dramatic. I have had botox at least 10-15 times over an 8 year period, by at least 6 different doctors ...in the normal areas, forehead, crows feet, and that area between your eyes. Some places hurt a bit more than others. I've had it with some kind of numbing cream, and without, and with ice, and without, etc. Usually I would say I can barely feel it, or slightly uncomfortable for a matter of seconds.

Today I went to one of the major hospitals in CM, and the last doctor I used there has moved on to another job, so this time it was a plastic surgeon who did it. It seems he has 25 years of experience, and is a well-known doctor here.

I'm not sure what he was doing, I can only think that he was injecting deeper in the muscles, and probably the amount of liquid he was shooting in there was more, and maybe too quickly ...the pain sort of would build up. But anyway, from the very first injection, well I don't know how to explain the level of pain. My eyes started pouring out water, like I was hysterically crying ...I broke out in a huge rash all over my body I think from the anxiety the pain caused. I wanted to stop after the first one, but he did start with the more painful areas first, so I hoped it would get better. Then he moved over to the crows feet area, and after one eye, I was ready to leave. I couldn't even keep myself still on the table, was sqeezling the hell out my hands, then the nurse, and she was trying to hold down my legs ..during one injection I think I physically removed his arm. But then I couldn't leave with just one eye done, so had to do the other one, then I quit and left.

I kept telling the doctor that this was drasctically different from any other botox experience, and what was he doing? He actually suggested that next time he could put me under general anesthesia! He seemed unwilling to try to do it any different way and kept saying he was diong it a "better" way and I would really like the results. The results in the past have been fine. Had this been my first experience, I would have quit also and never gone near botox again.

Just to let everyone know what pains I have had in the past to compare with ...all of these things I have had, I would prefer to do again, rather than have one needle stick by this guy. First I am a chronic migraine sufferer, the serious ones, where you can't get off the floor, are vomiting constantly, lose the ability to talk, arms get numb, I think these are something like TIAs or sometimes called complicated migraine ...they last about 24 hours. I would rather have one of those. I have had horse and car accidents that broke my ribs, that popped out 4 discs in my neck ...that was better. I have had my thumb almost ripped off in an accident and a hole punched through my hand the size of a baht coin or so ...that didn't hurt as much. None of those things made me cry, gave me any anxiety attacks, no rash, I could walk, talk and think straight. I left today a shaking mess and I was lucky to have a driver today, because I don't think I could have managed that. Oh, and I am not at all nervous about needles and due to some chronic health problems, I have given myself injections for decades. I also used to work in an emergency room and am no wimp, never lost control, never vomited, never fainted, never cried, nothing.

For about an hour after I left, I felt like breaking out in tears, more in an emotional breakdown sort of way ...just because it was so traumatic and shocking! I just can't believe this.

Well I would like to warn people away from this doctor but I know we can't name people and places here. And I wonder if anyone has had something like this happen or does anyone know what the hell did happen, what was he doing that made this so different? I'm scared I am going to wake up in a few days and find my whole face paralyzed. (For example, when he did one injection in the crows feet area, I could feel the pain go down to my jaw. And in the in between eye area, I felt it go all down my nose!)

Also, this was sort of strange, he had me sign a consent form ...didn't give me any time to read it, all the areas for filling in were blank, and they just told me to sign it. I have never had to sign one of those for botox, or actually anything in Thailand.

[lannarebirth]

Im shocked! How could having yourself injected with a neurotoxin made from a botuulinum toxin possibly turn out bad?

http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2010/05/allergan_botox_15_million_negl.php

Edited March 3, 2011 by lannarebirth

[Sheryl]

I've never encountered anything like this nor heard of it. It sounds very odd.

To me, it always feels like a brief bee sting, nothing more. I've never had paid radiating nor heard of that.

Are you certain it was botox and not a filler? As fillers do indeed hurt like a b*tch.....

Let us know how the results turn out.

[amykat]

Hi Sheryl,

Yes, I am sure it wasn't a filler. I saw the box, and always ask to see it, because some people here like to use bottles they opened two weeks ago. And yes, I would agree that a bee sting sounds like a good comparision for what I experienced in the past.

I think I sort of noticed that he seemed to be using a large gage needle, and because I give myself injections at times, I know that some medications hurt more, and if I inject them slowly, it isn't as bad.

Even the first injection in the area between your eyes, I got a muscle spasm ...as in it was twitching like crazy for several minutes. And my eyes ...I didn't know they could put out that much water ...they were toweling off my face.

I don't understand why he couldn't TRY to inject it more slowly, or change needles if he needed a smaller gage to be able to do that? And to seriously suggest I go under general anesthesia next time, is just totally insane! I made a joke when leaving, that maybe he was really trying to promote face lift sugeries, by making botox a nightmare experience.

If I knew I had to put up with that to get botox, I could never do it ... even if my face got burned off in a fire, and they said they could fix it with 20 of those injections ...well maybe if I did 5 a day or something, with some breaks ...MAYBE I could do it then. I would have to think hard about it!

I think he did 9 or 10 today ...and even now, I can easily see the needle marks, like tiny scabs, and smaller needles don't do that. It is really weird. I feel like I should complain to the hospital because I must not be the only person ...but pretty sure nothing will come of that.

[redfish44]

A rash after being injuected with something?

-> allergic reaction!

get yourself back to the hospital!

I am allergic to local anestethic and the reaction lasts for a few days and gets worst for 24-48 hours after injection, and can apparently lead to cardiac arrest. It always starts with a rash and then progresses from there.

The last time I had it was at a big name hospital in Bangkok that begins with Bum.... that is supposedly the best, but I had told them 10 minutes before my minor surgery that I was allergic to xyz and they still used it anyway.

Don't assume that because you are at a reputable place they do what you think they will. Doctors make mistakes everywhere all over the world.

Don't take chances, go to a hospital.

[sbk]

My sister had an allergic reaction to filler - made her puff up like a balloon and get a rash. My first thought was allergic reaction too

[lannarebirth]

My God ladies! How many time have you read those pathetic threads about men taking testosterone injections or monkey hormones trying to recapture their youth? We thought you were all better than that. Surely you can't build self esteem by poisoning yourselves. We all age, it's only natural.

[Sheryl]

Alas, some of us just can't accept it. Me included.

Botox not only helps me look younger, it makes me feel younger. Whenever it wears off, and I look in the mirror and see those lines, I find myself moving about more slowly. As soon as I get those wrinkles off, I'm bopping about normally again. They say you're as young as you feel...well I feel as young as I look, and Mr. Botox works wonders in that regard!

Amykat,

It is usually given with a tiny 25 gauge needle using a tuberculin syringe. Can't imagine why he would have used a large gauge, I've never heard of or encountered that. It surely was a factor in the unusual pain. Hopefully the only one.

obviously, don't go to him again.

[mongo1936]

As a man that will never understand the vanities of women I will agree with the other male poster.

Ladies - forget about the wrinkles. All of us age, some faster than others. I am 74, and have never had any treatments of any kind to make me look younger, stronger, more virile yet all the ladies i meet in Thailand say i am hansum man. PS - I never look in the mirror. Makes it easier to believe.

Edited March 6, 2011 by mongo1936

[sbk]

Thats very nice for you, I am sure. And of course you are entitled to your opinion, just as we are to ours, cheers.

[Patsycat]

As I approach the big five oh (in two years) I am seriously thinking about a bit of botox. I have laughed all my life, got the laugh lines and also am a smoker..

I even laughed at a friend a few years ago when she had had botox!! Now it's my turn.

Sorry you had a bad experience and hope it works out ok for you.

[amykat]

Hi Everyone,

Well nothing horrible happened to me afterwards when the botox started kicking in ...so that is good. However my face was really sore for 5 days, and felt totally bruised, even to move my eyebrows around, or touch my forehead, and he didn't even inject my forehead. But I had some time to think and also do some research and I think that doctor is either totally unaware of what he is doing, or really is some kind of sadist, or hates his job, is pissed off he has to give botox rather than do surgeries, or hates farangs ...something along those lines.

Because he didn't use or offer any ice. He didn't offer any numbing cream but I insisted I wanted it. Why not, it helps? Instead of applying it all over as I had in the past, he drew little dots on me, where he was going to inject me, and then he applied the cream just on the same tiny dots, like the size of a pin head. And he kept saying that this wasn't going to help and that the needle doesn't hurt.

Okay, then he was not at all surprised by my strong reaction. He didn't stop, didn't slow down, didn't re-evaluate ... so if I was an unusal freaky case, don't you think he wouldn't have acted concerned, thought about ice, thought about a smaller needle, or something? And then I looked at videos of botox ... and yes, everyone was using those tiny and short needles.

He was using a needle that was about 1 and 1/4 inch I would guess, it is a grey top and I know that is a pretty large gauge. So I think it was all about the needle and that guy is really a psycho! Also I read that you can mix up botox with different amounts of saline, so maybe it had something to do with a scam ...as in he uses more saline, makes it look like you are getting more botox, but that wouldn't explain why he wanted to use such a big needle, unless he is also too lazy and wants to save himself a few seconds here and there?

Anyway, for those of you in CM, he works at the main hospital that most farangs consider to be the better hospital here. But he also works at some other one, so to avoid him, you could try to get a female doctor, or just check the needle before, and say NO, if it seems wrong. Or I guess people can PM me, and I can tell you his name?

[submaniac]

Eep. Along the lines of "women have to endure pain that men don't have to" (like childbirth). Botox would scare the beejeezubs out of me. People have and do die from it. From allergic reactions, to bad botox, to doctors not knowing what they are doing. Botox not in my plans...my plans are to die young before Botox is necessary.

[sbk]

live fast, die young and drive a big bike?

[submaniac]

live fast, die young and drive a big bike?

Yes.... You do understand me soooo well. Of course you are a 'biker chick"....

[Jaybee2]

Amykat,

Sorry to hear about you bad experience. Been Botoxed several times in the states, and a couple of times in Thailand in Phuket. From a lady doctor, a general practitioner, in a little clinic that treats Thais . Never saw aonther farang in there. Lady was marvelous, would rate her a little higher than the gals who botoxed me in the US.

Has anyone on this board tried fillers, and do they have Juvederm in Thailand, I've heard it is much better than Restylane? I haven't tried it, but from what I hear it is great, if done by a practitioner who really knows what he or she is doing.

Obviously, as your story illustrates, there are some really questionable characters out there in the Thai medical profession.

Therefore, I would need a really good recommendation to try it. Can anyone give a high recommendation for a doctor in Thailand for this sort of filler procedure?

[MisterMan]

My friend just had botox and was thrilled with the results. She used a doctor in PHuket who was highly recommended by about 3 friends. .

They said he did not push you to get to much as had happened to one friend who ended up with a bill of 16k from a doctor at major clinic here in Phuket, part of a nation wide chain and not the with a female doctor as the main owner.

She said her forehead was so tight. It was awful and she should have just stuck to her regular doctor.

The good doctor is Dr.

Here is the link http://www.phuketaestheticsurgery.com/

Pongsakorn Eamtanaporn

he also does a free top up a week later. He is opposite Tesco in town.

[Konini]

Amykat,

Sorry to hear about you bad experience. Been Botoxed several times in the states, and a couple of times in Thailand in Phuket. From a lady doctor, a general practitioner, in a little clinic that treats Thais . Never saw aonther farang in there. Lady was marvelous, would rate her a little higher than the gals who botoxed me in the US.

Has anyone on this board tried fillers, and do they have Juvederm in Thailand, I've heard it is much better than Restylane? I haven't tried it, but from what I hear it is great, if done by a practitioner who really knows what he or she is doing.

Obviously, as your story illustrates, there are some really questionable characters out there in the Thai medical profession.

Therefore, I would need a really good recommendation to try it. Can anyone give a high recommendation for a doctor in Thailand for this sort of filler procedure?

Reopening an old thread, but it may be of interest. I have a couple of very common problems to alleviate, the main one being I have a natural down-turned mouth, so I always look unhappy and miserable. I've done serious investigation, trust me. I've read a lot of bad things about Juvederm. Restylane hurts like hell (my doc injected some kind of anaesthetic first which hurt more than a papercut, and we all know that papercuts hurt more than having your head chopped off with a rusty knife), but by God is it worth it. I've been a heavy smoker for 30 odd years and have that horrible upper lip that only a long term smoker knows about. I was told it would last anywhere between 6 and 12 months. 11 months on, and it hasn't worn off yet - I'm told that the second injection *can* last for 18 months before fading away, perhaps subsequent injections will last longer. No more botox for me. Tried it once and it lasted maybe 4 months. I don't like wasting money, and as previous, the anaesthetic injections hurt more than papercuts. And as for the vanity thing, I'm 47, but I still feel like I'm 16 - possibly because we chose not to have children and enjoy life and retire as early as we could. Sometimes I look in the mirror and wonder who that grumpy old woman is looking back at me. My husband of 26 years thinks I'm crazy for spending money on such nonsense. I don't do it for him, I don't do it make myself attractive and flirty to other men. It makes ME feel better about myself, so why not? And I am, as of last week, on the electronic cigarettes. The perfect excuse to get my teeth fixed. For me.