A mother of three, Amanda Wolaver, found herself paralyzed after a routine Botox treatment and ended up spending £22,000 just to get a diagnosis.
The 33-year-old from Goodhope, Georgia, felt like she was “slowly dying” when severe headaches left her unable to move and homebound for several months.
Initially, she sought the anti-wrinkle injection to treat crow’s feet and forehead lines but developed a migraine afterward and went to bed early. The following morning, she had to visit the hospital, feeling utterly incapable of functioning or even forming sentences.
A CT scan done in 2023 indicated that her symptoms were unrelated to the injections, although she would discover this wasn’t entirely correct.
As she underwent spinal tap surgeries and had a heart monitor fitted to explore the cause, doctors suspected she might have MS or an autoimmune disorder.
Amanda was completely reliant on her husband, Josh, as she couldn’t cook for their kids or leave home due to dizziness triggered by strong smells or loud noises. “It was the worst decision I’ve ever made,” she lamented, expressing regret over not being the mother she wanted to be for her three children.
Now, she struggles with basic mobility and spent over £22,000 in March 2025 to confirm that she had suffered TIA strokes and was enduring iatrogenic botulism—a rare condition resulting from botulinum neurotoxins, the active component in Botox and Dysport.
That news hit her hard. Being told she had experienced multiple small strokes terrified her, making her fear for her life.
Two years later, she’s still not fully recovered, waiting for her body to detox as no specific treatment exists. In an effort to alleviate her symptoms, she altered her diet completely, cutting out caffeine and soda, and even removed her breast implants to support the detox process.
Amanda hopes sharing her experience will raise awareness about the risks involved, so others don’t endure the same fate.
Interestingly, her research in a Botox forum eventually led her to discover the issue of botulinum neurotoxins, prompting her to request the necessary tests.
“I learned the cost of beauty the hard way,” she reflected, acknowledging that she has now accepted her wrinkles.
In a somewhat related story, Georgia Goldstein recently shared her experiences about dissolving lip fillers. Although she expressed that it was the best decision she made, the process wasn’t without pain, resulting in swollen lips.
On TikTok, she documented her journey, showing the dramatic changes to her lips during the process, which included significant bruising. Despite trying to cover them with makeup, the bruising made her feel self-conscious.
However, after a week, the swelling subsided, and ultimately, she found the outcome worthwhile, receiving positive feedback from viewers.
In essence, Amanda Wolaver’s story serves as a cautionary tale about beauty treatments gone wrong, while Georgia Goldstein’s experience illustrates the ups and downs of cosmetic procedures.
Botulism, a serious, rare condition caused by a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves, can result in life-threatening symptoms, including facial weakness, drooping eyelids, and paralysis. It’s vital to be aware of these potential risks associated with cosmetic procedures.
