(Image: Amanda Wolaver/SWNS)
A Georgia mother is speaking out after cosmetic injections left her partially paralyzed and fearing for her life. Amanda Wolaver, 33, says she “learned the cost of beauty the hard way” after a routine anti-wrinkle treatment led to months of debilitating symptoms, ultimately being diagnosed with iatrogenic botulism.
Amanda, a sales director from Goodhope, had been receiving anti-wrinkle treatments for ten years without incident. But in August 2023, she tried Dysport an alternative to Botox for the first time, receiving 104 units for $700 injected into her forehead, crow’s feet, and frown lines, according to The Sun.
Soon after, Amanda developed a “horrible migraine.” Thinking rest would help, she went to sleep but woke up the next day “unable to move.”
She rushed to the hospital, but initial CT scans showed no abnormalities. Over the following 16 months, Amanda’s health declined dramatically. She was homebound for four months, unable to shower or even apply makeup. Eventually, an MRI revealed she had suffered several transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), or mini-strokes.
Despite spending $30,000 on medical tests including MRIs, CT scans, a heart monitor implant, and a spinal tap Amanda struggled to find answers. “They thought I had MS at one point and an autoimmune disorder,” she said. “I felt like a lab rat.”
Four months post-injection, she received the devastating diagnosis of iatrogenic botulism, a rare but serious condition caused by exposure to botulinum neurotoxins the same ingredient found in Botox and Dysport. There is no cure; the only treatment is allowing the body to flush the toxin over time.
“It’s almost been two years and I still don’t feel normal,” Amanda said. “It was the worst decision I’ve ever made. I couldn’t be the mother I wanted for my three children.”
She praised her husband Josh, 39, for his unwavering support during her illness and said her experience has dramatically changed her outlook. “I don’t care about my wrinkles at all now,” she shared. “I want my experience to educate others about botulinum toxins.”
Amanda continues to recover, focusing on a toxin-free lifestyle. She’s cut out soda, caffeine, and even had her breast implants removed in April to help detoxify her body. “Hopefully, I can help prevent this from happening to others,” she said.
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