Category Archives: ANTI-AGING + PROCEDURES + MEDICAL AESTHETICS

Dr. Sheila Farhang: LA’s Go To Dermfluencer

August 15, 2022

Meet Dr. Sheila Farhang, Millennial skincare expert,
Board-certified Dermatologist entrepreneur influencer. 

Dr. Shelia Farhang

I love meeting new experts in the dermatology and aesthetics field. When I think back on the evolution of it all, it’s truly incredible how far things have come. I get a major thrill meeting the new, young practitioners who are currently gaining momentum. It’s always interesting to learn what makes them special and why – in a field that has become so popular. What is their point of view? How is their eye? Are they jumping onto trends defined by social media and filters or are they finding their own vision? You get the idea!

Board-certified dermatologist and double-fellowship trained cosmetic surgeon Farhang recently expanded her practice from Tucson to Beverly Hills and is now seeing patients at her new part-time clinic within Sunder Plastic Surgery on Rodeo Drive.

First off, is this doctor not the most divine creature you’ve ever seen? Especially in THIS SPACE, where so many injectors look like the really played-out, over-used, tacky AF, living embodiment Instagram filters!

No overly plumped lips, over-filled ANYTHING – she waltzed in looking so naturally beautiful, I knew right away, Dr. Sheila had an eye, and a tasteful one at that. That is very important to me when I meet a new provider in this world : What is their taste level? How do they see themselves? Etc…She was a class act head to toe. Elegant, understated and natural. Hence her natural approach has been hailed in all her press.

Featured in the NY Times for her “barely there” approach to botox and her subtle “lip flip” plumping technique, many of Dr. Sheila’s patients are new to botox injections and trust her natural approach.

Named by Women’s Health and Forbes as a top derm influencer, Sheila Farhang is a board-certified dermatologist and double fellowship-trained in cosmetic surgery as well as cutaneous oncology & reconstructive surgery. Dr. Sheila is an entrepreneur–both founder of her dermatology practice Avant Dermatology & Aesthetics and co-founder of her start-up health tech company, Vispera. Dr. Sheila is also known for her integrative approach as she is faculty for an Integrative Dermatology program and lived in Bali while obtaining her Yoga instructor certification. She has been a featured expert on ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, THE DOCTORS, THE REAL, KTLA and more.

So I went in for a tiny basic touch-up – a little around the eyes, between brows, the light touch to soften my extremely emotive and expressive face.

Then we got down to business. How can Xeomin support me, beyond the obvious aesthetics?

First off, I suffer ( YES SUFFER!) from major Bruxism. That means, night teeth grinding, chomping my teeth until they are loose – I know, a real horror show – major gum recession, and more. On one side of my face, my masseter muscle pops out and it looks like I literally am sucking on a jawbreaker. So yes, there is a minor visual component, though it doesn’t really bother me because it only is apparent when I am talking or chewing or swallowing – none of which I do in the mirror. But there is a very real medical aspect – and that is, I have lost 4mm of my bite from clenching. I have headaches – it is a real issue – let’s not forget my teeth popping out and needing gum surgery.

So, we attended to that side. It has only been a few days – but will take some more to settle in. I cannot wait. We did a small amount so as to not over-treat, which can cause laxity. We don’t want that. So, Dr. Sheila said let’s under treat, see how this goes, and asses from there.

Next – my platysma muscles are, shall we say, EPIC. Truly so AGRO that I look like The Hulk. It’s actually disarming when I catch it on a zoom (I train clients on Zoom and can see them from several feet away) – It is like my neck is hosting an underground tree root party in the Redwoods. (Did that analogy work?)

We hit them up with some Xeomin to soften the bulges. They remind me of the trauma I experienced witnessing my mother’s varicose veins at the beach for the first time. “There are snakes under your skin! Truly just…ICKY. (And gross).

I loved my time with Dr. Sheila. The office is spectacular. I love that she is doing a lot of TV promo, sharing her expertise (you can catch her on a host of shows and news channels) and she’s young and hungry to be the best. Clearly, she’s already arrived.

Find her at:

Sarmela Sunder, MD | Sunder Plastic Surgery
421 N Rodeo Dr g8, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

Celebrate Your #1 Mom with the #1 Selling Product of Its Kind!

May 5, 2021

Looking for a gift to honor, celebrate, and cherish the mother figure(s) in your life? Look no further than this offer from Allē to reciprocate the care they have shown you through the years!

This Mother’s Day, Allē—the loyalty program by the makers of BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA), the JUVÉDERM® Collection of Fillers, SkinMedica®, and more—is offering $50 off a $150 gift card between 5/4 – 5/5, just in time for Mother’s Day.

The gift card can be redeemed on eligible Allē brands at an Allē provider. Additionally, when the recipient uses the card, they will also earn points in their Allē Wallet. These points can be redeemed for savings on a variety of eligible Allē products and treatments in the future. Supplies are limited, and you must be an Allē Member to purchase and redeem. See below for full gift card terms and conditions.  

  • BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) (available by prescription only)** – BOTOX® Cosmetic is the one and only product of its kind that’s FDA approved to temporarily improve the appearance of moderate to severe crow’s feet, forehead lines, and frown lines in adults.
  • CoolSculpting®* – If they’re looking to reduce pesky fat bulges that may be resistant to diet and exercise alone, CoolSculpting® is FDA cleared to treat visible fat bulges in 9 areas of the body including the thighs, abdomen, upper arms, and under the chin/jawline area.
  • DiamondGlow™ – a pro-grade, ultra-customizable treatment. In addition to feeling like a moment of zen, this one delivers results. The skin resurfacing treatment entails customized exfoliation, with simultaneous extraction of debris and infusion of SkinMedica® Pro-Infusion Serums onto the skin.
  • JUVÉDERM® Collection of Fillers* – You can’t gift them a time machine—but with the Allē gift card, you may be able to gift a temporarily volume-restoring treatment.
  • LATISSE® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% (available by prescription only)* – The first FDA approved lash treatment to grow lashes longer, fuller, and darker in people who have inadequate or not enough lashes.
  • SkinMedica® – Use it on beauty award winners like TNS® Advanced+ Serum or on new favorites like the Neck Correct Cream.

*Consultation required. Allē provider will determine whether the gift card holder is a candidate for treatment.

Allē Gift Card Terms and Conditions 

  • This is a limited-time offer, while supplies last.
  • Each gift card can be redeemed for $150 off any Redemption Eligible Product purchase at participating Allē provider offices only.
  • Must be an Allē member to purchase and/or redeem gift card.
  • Limit one gift card purchase per member.
  • A healthcare provider will determine if a member is an appropriate candidate for the applicable treatment.
    • If a member is an appropriate candidate, the gift card can be applied toward the cost of the member’s treatment at a participating provider’s office.
    • If a member is not an appropriate candidate, please contact Allē Customer Support.
  • Standard Allē Loyalty Program Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Member will earn Allē Points on all qualifying Earnings Eligible Product purchases.
  • No refunds or cancellations. Please allow up to 24 hours for payment processing. Please allow up to 3 business days to receive your gift card by email to the email address used at purchase.
  • Gift card must be purchased online and cannot be purchased by calling Customer Support.
  • Gift card does not expire.
  • Gift card cannot be applied to past transactions.
  • Gift card cannot be redeemed or exchanged for cash.
  • Gift card can be combined with other applicable Allē or Allē brand specific gift cards, Allē points or other Allē brand specific offers.
  • Member should use the complete value of each gift card in a single transaction. If there is a balance on your gift card, please contact Allē Customer Support.
  • If you have questions, please contact Allē Customer Support at 1-888-912-1572 Monday – Friday, 8 am – 6 pm CT.
  • Allergan Aesthetics, an AbbVie company, reserves the right to alter or cancel this offer at any time.

 

SkinSpirit Beverly Hills

May 1, 2021

We popped over to the new SkinSpirit location in Beverly Hills to see what all the buzz about and saw with our own eyes (and faces!) what this pioneer in advanced aesthetic treatments, medical-grade facials, and world class body services, is all about. Turns out – a lot! We will be heading back this May, to report on their signature facial and also a few more micro-tweaks with the incredible NP, Lynn Bartels. More about Lynn later, but she did the most amazing subtle refreshers with Botox and filler. Tiny micro-updates to balance, harmonize and refresh and the work was nothing short of amazing.

SkinSpirit is known for its expertise and exceptional service, with 17 luxurious locations throughout California, Texas, Washington and Utah – it’s the number one provider for Botox and dermal fillers in the U.S.

Their team of practitioners is considered best-in-class practitioners, they use up-to-date scientifically-proven methods, and offer a comprehensive suite of personalized, tailored services

The only way to ever report on anything involving aesthetics and injections is to experience it ourselves. Groomed LA has never and will never, write about anything that goes on or in your face and body, without firsthand trying for ourselves.

Lynn Bartels graduated from the Harbor-UCLA nurse practitioner program, with a dual degree in adult medicine and women’s health, and began her career as a nurse practitioner (NP) in cardio-thoracic surgery. She made the switch to aesthetics 17 years ago and was the first NP brought on board at SkinSpirit.

Today, Lynn treats patients from SkinSpirit’s Beverly Hills, Palo Alto and San Francisco clinics and stays on the cutting edge of new technology and techniques by working hands-on with thousands of patients a year. Recognized as an expert in the field of facial rejuvenation, Lynn specializes in creating custom non-surgical programs that use combination therapy to produce stunning results.

As a clinical expert, she is known for “training the trainers” and serves a national trainer for Allergan’s Medical Institute teaching her skills to residents, physicians and nurses around the country. Additionally, Lynn sits on several prominent medical advisory boards including SkinSpirit’s Medical Advisory Board and Allergan’s Aesthetics Advisory Board. She is a regular featured expert at the top national medical aesthetics conferences annually.

For more information on SkinSpirit, please visit: https://www.skinspirit.com.

153 S Lasky Dr, Suite 8
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Phone: (310) 552-8010

Located on the second floor.

HOURS

Tuesday – Friday: 8:30am – 5pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 4pm

BOOK NOW

The Mother’s Day Gift No One Will Refuse

April 16, 2021

BotoxThis Mother’s Day, BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA) wants to recognize and celebrate all that you do, mama!

Show your love for all your mama friends (or yourself) by entering the BOTOX® Cosmetic sweepstakes! BOTOX® Cosmetic is giving those who enter and the mom in their life a chance to each win $25,000:*

After entering, be sure to post a photo, video or story of the mom in your life on Instagram now through May 9 explaining how they are more than a mom in the caption. Tag @botoxcosmetic and use the hashtag, #MoreThanAMom

BOTOX® Cosmetic is the FIRST and ONLY treatment of its kind FDA approved for the temporary improvement in the appearance of 3 treatment areas—moderate to severe crow’s feet, glabellar lines, and forehead lines in adults.1  There’s no better way to celebrate the #1 mom in your life than by encouraging them to do something for themselves for being #MoreThanAMom, and if deemed an appropriate candidate by a specialist, their aesthetic routine with the #1 selling product of its kind!2‡

*NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. You must be an Allē℠ Loyalty Program Member to enter or win. If you are not a member, you can sign up at alle.com. It is free to become an Allē Loyalty Program Member. People enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid or other federal or state healthcare programs are not eligible to enter the Sweepstakes. Further eligibility restrictions apply, see full OFFICIAL RULES for details. Void outside the 50 U.S./D.C. and where prohibited. Sweepstakes starts at 12:00:01 AM ET on 4/21/21; ends at 11:59:59 PM ET on 5/9/21. Odds of winning depend on the number of entries received. For full Official Rules, visit www.allerganaestheticspromotion.com/mothers-day. Sponsor: Allergan, Inc., 2525 Dupont Drive, Irvine, CA 92612. 

‡A licensed healthcare provider will need to perform an assessment to ensure the patient is an appropriate candidate for BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment.

BOTOX® COSMETIC IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION & APPROVED USES 

BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause serious side effects that can be life threatening. Get medical help right away if you have any of these problems any time (hours to weeks) after injection of BOTOX® Cosmetic:

  • Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing, due to weakening of associated muscles, can be severe and result in loss of life. You are at the highest risk if these problems are pre-existing before injection. Swallowing problems may last for several months.
  • Spread of toxin effects. The effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas away from the injection site and cause serious symptoms including: loss of strength and all-over muscle weakness, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice, trouble saying words clearly, loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, and trouble swallowing.

BOTOX® Cosmetic dosing units are not the same as, or comparable to, any other botulinum toxin product.

There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect when BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used at the recommended dose to treat frown lines, crow’s feet lines, and/or forehead lines.

BOTOX® Cosmetic may cause loss of strength or general muscle weakness, vision problems, or dizziness within hours to weeks of taking BOTOX® Cosmetic. If this happens, do not drive a car, operate machinery, or do other dangerous activities.

Serious and/or immediate allergic reactions have been reported. They include: itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint. Get medical help right away if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you become dizzy or faint.

Do not receive BOTOX® Cosmetic if you: are allergic to any of the ingredients in BOTOX® Cosmetic (see Medication Guide for ingredients); had an allergic reaction to any other botulinum toxin product such as Myobloc® (rimabotulinumtoxinB), Dysport® (abobotulinumtoxinA), or Xeomin® (incobotulinumtoxinA); have a skin infection at the planned injection site.

Tell your doctor about all your muscle or nerve conditions, such as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, as you may be at increased risk of serious side effects including difficulty swallowing and difficulty breathing from typical doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including: plans to have surgery; had surgery on your face; have trouble raising your eyebrows; drooping eyelids; any other abnormal facial change; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant (it is not known if BOTOX® Cosmetic can harm your unborn baby); are breast-feeding or plan to (it is not known if BOTOX® Cosmetic passes into breast milk).

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Using BOTOX® Cosmetic with certain other medicines may cause serious side effects. Do not start any new medicines until you have told your doctor that you have received BOTOX® Cosmetic in the past.

Tell your doctor if you have received any other botulinum toxin product in the last 4 months; have received injections of botulinum toxin such as Myobloc®, Dysport®, or Xeomin® in the past (tell your doctor exactly which product you received); have recently received an antibiotic by injection; take muscle relaxants; take an allergy or cold medicine; take a sleep medicine; take aspirin-like products or blood thinners.

Other side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic include: dry mouth; discomfort or pain at the injection site; tiredness; headache; neck pain; and eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids and eyebrows, swelling of your eyelids and dry eyes.

APPROVED USES 

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to temporarily improve the look of moderate to severe forehead lines, crow’s feet lines, and frown lines between the eyebrows in adults.

For more information refer to the Medication Guide or talk with your doctor.

To report a side effect, please call Allergan at 1-800-678-1605.

Please see BOTOX® Cosmetic full Product Information including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide.  

Don’t Even Think About Self Extractions (But If You Do, Candace Marino Walks You Through It)

May 4, 2020

Spoiler Alert -celebrity esthetician- Candace Marino, aka the LA Facialist is not an advocate of self extractions. According to Candace” It’s the equivalent of giving free condoms to teens – not encouraging it, but if they’re going to do it, let’s make it safe!”

Seeing too many horror stories as clients were sucked into the rabbit hole of the 10X magnifying mirror, Candace believes in saving it for the experts.
That being said, trapped at home with a next facial [potentially] months away, it’s peak pick time so she is breaking down the safest way to self-extract and care for your poor pores!

Here is a basic breakdown of her at home “Pore Protocol”

Cleanse
  • Gentle Cleanser with light acids for mild exfoliation
  • Product Recco: SkinBetter Oxygen Infusion wash/oxygenating acid complex to help prevent/treat breakouts
Heat / DIY Steam [Note: NOT recommended for anyone with melasma or hyperpigmentation.]
  • Favorite/most cost effective way to steam is by boiling hot water
  • Throw some tea in there to give off spa vibes
  • Hover over the pot with a towel over your head to trap in steam for 5 minutes to allow your skin to soften
  • No longer or it can cause TEWL [transepidermal water loss and dehydration]
Direction for Extract but first – PUT down the knife – use clean fingers only – leave digging devices to the professionals to avoid potential permanent scarring or pigmentation issues and injury.
  • Wrap finger in tissue or cotton, gently pinch the skin together and press upward
  • Press only the direction you want the congestion to go. If you’re pressing down into the skin you’re making things worse, and potentially spreading bacteria under the skin.
  • Be gentle and give pores a break in between & minimize nails
  • Leave aggravated or super stubborn acne alone – hard angry or underground is no go
Cleanse — repeat same as above
Ice Roller Product Recco: Stacked — ideal for immediate for inflammation reduction and pain
Tone Product Recco: Biologique Recherche Lotion P50W with AHA/BHA to micro-exfoliate and balance skin
Mask Biologique Recherche Vivant or Masque VIP02

“Pores are not doors – they don’t open or close – but we can improve their appearance” – Candace Marino

TOP TEN PORE IMPROVING TIPS
  1. Extract with caution and care
  2. Keep face free from cellular build up and environmental sludge — triple cleanse
  3. Clean pores will always appear smaller so exfoliate daily [Salicylic Acid is your friend – use it!]
  4. Strengthen collagen and elastin with peptides
  5. Support balance using humectants and moisture binders like hyaluronic acid
  6. Don’t overly dry – limit Benzoyl Peroxide it can create a rebound effect of more production of sebum
  7. Incorporate BHA in skincare daily – add it!
  8. Use hydrating, calming and soothing serum after extractions iS Clinical HydraCool Serum
  9. Retinol for turnover without trauma Better Skin AlphaRet overnight combo of AHA and Retinol
  10. Go for the big guns weekly with a peel AlphaRet Peel Pads with the starring role of Retinoic Acid
FINAL NOTE: little dots on your nose most likely aren’t blackheads, they’re sebaceous filaments.
Blackheads will be raised, textured, truly black, thick and waxy. The skin oils solidify, forming plugs that can dilate the pore further leading to enlarged pores. Sebaceous filaments are the normal function of the follicle. Narrow, lighter in color under the skin — they do not fully obstruct the pore and are not meant for extractions.
top LA facialist Candace Moreno