Botched Botox: Actress’ Smile Was Crooked for 7 Months

What was supposed to be a simple procedure turned into an upsetting ordeal for an actress and content creator. She shared her Botox experience — and all the ways it went wrong — with Wellnesspulse.

Jillian Gottlieb had gotten Botox many times from her trusted New York dermatologist without issue when she decided to see a new injector during a months-long stay in Los Angeles in January of 2023.

Three days after the procedure, the actress and content creator noticed something was wrong with her smile.

“I felt sick to my stomach,” she told Wellnesspulse. “I felt like, ‘This is what you get for cheating on your injector.’”

Gottlieb’s smile appeared severely crooked, so she immediately contacted the injector and her regular dermatologist to try to get answers.

“The injector I saw told me that this ‘happens to everyone’ and is totally normal and takes a week to resolve,” Gottlieb said. “I felt gaslit by her.”

Her New York dermatologist, however, told her exactly what caused it: the injector hit her depressor labii inferioris (DLI) muscles, which move the lower lip downward while smiling, instead of depressor anguli oris (DAO) muscles, which help the mouth make a frown.

Her dermatologist also told her that it would likely take several months to return to normal.

Botched Botox cases are on the rise

As Botox and other non-invasive cosmetic procedures have risen in popularity, so too has the frequency of botched incidents. In more extreme cases, patients have fallen ill from fake and contaminated products as well as poor hygiene practices.

One of the best ways to avoid unwanted outcomes, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, is to do your research and ensure your injector is experienced and qualified.

But it’s important to be aware that there is always a risk of something going wrong, even with an experienced provider.

In Gottlieb’s case, the injector was a Registered Nurse working in a dermatologist’s office, who had been highly recommended by a friend.

When things went wrong, however, the provider refused to take responsibility.

“If she had said ‘I think I hit your DLI’ and apologized, or had taken some accountability, I don’t think I would have been nearly as upset,” Gottlieb conceded. “But every time I reached out to her, even months later, she said it was normal.”

Gottlieb’s crooked smile persisted for more than seven months, preventing her from attending auditions and seeking out new work during this period.

And while she knows it was her choice to undergo this procedure and that something can always go wrong, she says she regrets straying from her usual injector and not doing her due diligence.

Due diligence is key

“A friend said she was good, and I took her at her word,” she said. “I should have researched, set up a consultation with her — I should have done everything that I recommend everyone else to do. I didn’t take my own advice in this instance.”

Gottlieb now uses her platform on social media to raise awareness about the risks of cosmetic injections and to emphasize the importance of doing your research before undergoing any kind of procedure.

When deciding where to get a cosmetic injection, make sure to:

1. Check credentials and make sure they are licensed professionals.
2. Don't fall for low prices, as this could indicate a counterfeit product.
3. Ask the clinic questions about the injector's knowledge.
4. Research the clinic and read reviews.
5. Avoid at-home treatments.
6. Have a transparent conversation with your injector about your questions, expectations, and the potential risks.

“I want people to know that injectables come with risks,” Gottlieb said. “It’s so important to find a provider you love and trust so that if something like this does occur, you’re in safe hands and you have someone you trust to guide you through it, and not gaslight you. And once you find the provider you love — don’t stray from them.”