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 Clean Simple Eats: Visit CleanSimpleEats.com and use code POPAPOLOGISTS10 at checkout for 10% off your order EarlyBird CBD: Visit EarlyBirdCBD.com and use code POPAPOLOGISTS for 20% off Clean Safe Products: Go to Cleansafeproducts.com/POP for $15 off the world’s easiest soft surface cleaning solution. Functional Health: Visit www.functionhealth.com/POPAPOLOGISTS or use gift code POPAPOLOGISTS100 at sign-up to own your health. Progressive: Visit Progressive.com to see if you could save on car insurance. Quince: Go to Quince.com/APOLOGIST for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Please note this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
