If I told you that snorting botox was a new medical treatment on the market you’d probably think I was insane. Anti-wrinkle toxin? Up your nose? What possible benefit could that have? Well If you’re a hay fever sufferer, you’re going to want to get to Angel Aesthetics to try Haytox—the new treatment providing relief from your itchy, sneezy symptoms.
Seasonal changes can wreak havoc on your allergies, so this time of year can be difficult, and there comes a point where antihistamines just aren’t enough anymore. But thanks to advances in medicine, we have a new approved treatment to help significantly (and I mean REALLY significantly) reduce the signs and symptoms of hay fever.
How does Haytox work?
Called neuromodulators, the anti-wrinkle toxins are typically used to relax muscles in the face, neck, and other areas of the body to reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and muscle spasms. Recently, Australian researchers at Monash University proved that the treatment can also block neural transmission at the special nerve endings in the nose responsible for allergies.
They discovered that by putting botox essentially, well, right up your nose, it can react by blocking the nasal receptors from reactivating to the environmental allergens. In simple language, no more allergy symptoms because your receptors ignore the nasties. So bye bye itchy, runny blocked nose; itchy, watery eyes; sneezing; and all the other annoying hay fever symptoms. It’s said to last between three to six months. But does it work?
My Haytox experience
When I first heard there was a treatment with even the smallest possibility of alleviating my hay fever symptoms, I was clamoring to try it. Because I get sneezy. A LOT. Like, chronically. Pollen, grass, dust… you name it. Snotty, teary, achoo mess.
Haytox is a new signature treatment of Angel Aesthetics. The renowned Brisbane and Gold Coast clinics are thrilled to be able to bring this revolutionary treatment to the people of the River City. I booked an appointment almost immediately.
I turn up to the chic New Farm clinic, not really knowing what to expect. The staff couldn’t have been more warm and informative. My nerves turn to excitement when the clinician tells me she’s also had the treatment and it’s worked wonders.
As with all Angel Aesthetics appointments, we start with a consultation to make sure the treatment is right for me. I then get connected to a doctor via telehealth to run through my symptoms and medical history, who agrees the treatment is suitable for me and sends through a prescription.
I am instructed to blow my nose a few times to ensure there’s no obstructions to stop the toxin from absorbing. While I am doing this, the clinician is drawing up the treatment into a syringe (which freaks me out for a half second) before squirting it back into a super harmless nasal spray bottle.
My clinician talks me through the method: block the back of my throat with my tongue, and breathe in through the nose normally (so not exactly snorting). I am also given a choice of if I want to administer it myself or if I want them to. As a control freak, I appreciate having the bottle in my own hand.
I pop it up my nose and breathe in at the same time as depressing the spray. It’s as easy as sniffing a normal decongestant and has no odour or taste. A little of it runs down my throat every now and then so I spit it out into a tissue—even though I am told it won’t do anything (just in case, you know?). A minute or later, and a dozen or so sniffs and we’re done!
I think I can already feel a difference to be honest, but that could technically just be because I blew my nose well beforehand. I am told the treatment takes two weeks to reach full potency and because I have chronic hay fever I will likely need a second treatment to get me to a 95- to 98-per-cent reduction in symptoms.
The verdict
There is a MARKED improvement in my symptoms and frequency almost immediately. By the end of the two weeks, I am almost symptom-free. I go from taking antihistamines every single day, to maybe once or twice a week if I am unlucky. Then, after the second treatment a month later, I am down to needing medication around once a fortnight at most.
I am pretty amazed, and it feels pretty liberating—life-changing, really—to be able to smell properly, to not be sniffing constantly, to have clear and itch-free eyes.
I never imagined that snorting (OK FINE, sniffing) Botox could be a solution to my seasonal allergies but it’s done a pretty darn good job at keeping them at bay so far.
Angel Aesthetics, 669 Brunswick Street New Farm, 07 3062 2360
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
