We sit down with NYC dermatology PA and friend of the pod, Alison Lester, for a deep, practical walk-through of modern aesthetics. We cover when to start Botox (and how often), why provider credentials and restraint matter, what’s actually behind the “no-tox” scare posts, and the truth about filler—migration, overfilling, dissolving, and why “villain era” is mostly bad work, not bad products. We also map a sane skincare routine (the three essentials!), tackle melasma without wrecking your skin barrier, compare lasers (IPL/BBL vs. Clear + Brilliant/Moxi vs. CO₂), and get real about masseter Botox, jowls, Sculptra, Morpheus8, and surgical timing. High-yield, no gatekeeping.

04:45 — 🧠 How to choose a qualified injector (credentials, ethics, taste)

07:10 — 💉 Botox 101: When to start, 12–16 week cadence, “collagen paperclip” analogy

12:00 — 🧪 Botox brands explained (why Alison prefers on-label Botox for predictability)

19:20 — 🚫 “No-tox” & safety: botulism fears, real risks vs. viral anecdotes

22:00 — 🧵 Filler truth: migration, overfilling, ethics, and why good work is invisible

28:15 — 😊 Smile lines & “smoker lines”: skin boosters, lasers, Botox microlines strategy

31:10 — 👀 Under-eyes & dark circles: pinch test, lasers vs. bleph, why under-eye filler is rare

37:30 — 🧴 Skincare that works: the 3 essentials (antioxidant/Vit C, sunscreen, retinoid)

43:00 — 🌫️ Melasma game plan: low-and-slow, microneedling, Pico/Clear + Brilliant, TXA/Botox microdosing

46:30 — 🛠️ Devices decoded: IPL/BBL, Clear + Brilliant/Moxi, CO₂; when each shines

48:00 — 📉 Morpheus8: where it helps… and where it’s overhyped (fat loss risk)

49:30 — 🧯 Sculptra: what it is, where to place, surgery considerations

54:00 — 😬 Masseter Botox & jowls: who’s at risk and how to counteract it

56:30 — 🔪 Early jowl fixes vs. facelift timing; neck bands & prejowl filler

1:02:00 — 🧼 Dissolving filler: myths, ultrasound, and maintenance mindset

1:06:00 — 🪞 Aesthetic dysmorphia & “filler blindness”: evolving standards of beauty

1:09:00 — 🧠 How injector perspective changes over time

1:12:00 — 🗣️ Seeing natural aging vs. intervention signs

1:21:00 — 🌕 Best lasers for pores + “moon crater” fix talk

1:24:00 — 🔥 Fraxel vs. Clear + Brilliant / Moxi / Ultra for melasma

1:27:00 — ⚠️ Laser heat depth and flare risk

1:30:00 — 💡 LED vs. laser masks

1:33:00 — 🧴 Skincare layering & barrier repair

1:36:00 — 💊 Retinoids, exfoliants, and realistic routines

1:39:00 — 🧍‍♀️ Long-term maintenance mindset

1:45:00 — 🚩 Provider red flags & aesthetic ethics

1:48:00 — 🔮 Future of injectables and devices

1:54:00 — 🧭 Virtual consults, office info, and booking process

1:57:00 — 🗽 Alison’s NYC location + pricing overview

2:00:00 — 💕 Wrap-up + goodbye

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