Preventive Botox: When to Start and What to Actually Expect

botox neuromodulator injection for crows feet

We see patients from all ages and walks of life at the medspa. Yes, there’s the stereotypical “medspa” customer, but the range of patients we take care of are much more diverse. I take it as a sign that aesthetic medicine is gaining wider acceptance, and that’s an encouraging trend. Among our patients are many…

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Is Botox a Neurotoxin? Yes — and Here’s Why That’s Fine

Is botox a neurotoxin

A friend confides in me after learning that we have a medspa, “I want to try Botox, but I’m just so scared!” A little probing reveals that she’s horrified by the “toxin” in the name of the products we inject into multiple patients everyday. “It’s literally a neurotoxin. Shouldn’t I be worried?” Yes, botulinum toxin…

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What Does Laser Tattoo Removal Actually Feel Like?

laser tattoo removal at Ecocene Medical Spa

“Does it hurt?” is not the first question almost every tattoo removal patient asks, but it’s being asked frequently enough. Honestly, it deserves a straight answer. What laser tattoo removal actually feels like The most common description we hear: a rubber band snapping against the skin, fast and sharp. The American Society for Laser Medicine…

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Age Spots and Picosecond Lasers: What to Know Before Your First Session

solar lentigo age spots on hands

You’ve been wearing sunscreen for years (or not, if you’re a California beach girl like my friend Terry, or if you’re a golf enthusiast like my co-worker Larry). None of us use sunscreen perfectly — a missed day at the pool, a few sunburns in college. And now, somewhere in your 40s or 50s, flat…

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Lip Filler in 2026: Why Less Is the New More

lip filler in 2026

The overfilled lip had its moment. You have probably scrolled past enough frozen pouts and fleshy results to know that era is closing. In 2026, the conversation in our consultation room has shifted completely: patients are not asking for bigger lips. They are asking for better lips — more defined, more hydrated, more balanced with the rest…

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