Being human living in 2025 means dealing with stress. And stress often leads to worry. And worry leads to … wrinkles. Or maybe you’re blessed to have a life full of smiles and laughter, which can also lead to wrinkles.
If you love the lines you’ve earned on your face, we salute you. But if you don’t, and you’ve been thinking about using Botox or fillers, you’re probably wondering how to start your injectables journey and how to get the best results.
These are questions that we – Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, the co-hosts The “Am I Doing It Wrong?” of HuffPost? podcast — asked Dr. Sherwin Parikh, dermatologist, professor and founder Tribeca Skin Centerwhen he recently left our studio.
Press play to listen to the entire episode:
It helps to think of injectables as an art form and the person injecting them as an artist. And since everyone has a different idea of what they want to look like, it’s important that your artist gets your vision — lest you end up like Picasso (though that’s also a vibe).
“I think you want to like your practitioner first for their potential — for their training, for their communication with you,” Dr. Parikh told us. “Fix it first. Meet someone, decide what you like.”
While you want to make sure that anyone you choose to work with knows what they’re doing and fully adheres to safety protocols, there is a wide variety of people who may be qualified to administer your injections.
“It’s perfectly fine if you go to a nurse and they’re not an MD or a DO — or if they’re not board certified in dermatology. If you’ve decided they’re really good at what they do and it fits your vibe, that’s great — it can work,” he said.
Your comfort level and values are crucial in this situation, along with your desire to achieve a certain look. And since you can’t trust everything and everyone you see circulating on the Internet, Dr. Parikh suggested taking it to the streets to gather your injection drug crowd.
“Ask your friends. People are talking about it,” said Dr. Parikh, referring to the happy fading of the stigma surrounding cosmetic work. “At the end of a night or after dinner or drinks, people start to relax a bit. You can say, “Hey, listen, I love your face. Are you doing anything?’ People who are your friends will tell you. Ask them who they trust. Your friends will point you in the right direction.”
If you already have a dermatologist—especially one you’ve developed a relationship with for many years or more—start a conversation about what you want to accomplish. Because the goal of Botox and fillers is often to achieve a more vibrant – though not necessarily youthful – appearance, your skin may reflect how your skin may have changed over time, and perhaps how to treat any particular something you feel confident about. said Dr. Parikh.
An orange flag? Budget Botox or fillers.
“I think you are triggering [to be suspicious about a clinic or practitioner]when you sell out on coupons or Groupons,” he told us. If someone offers a deal that seems too good to be true, it probably is, and that’s not a chance you want to take with your health or looks.
Ultimately, Dr. Parikh emphasized that having healthy skin is the goal, no matter how you get it.
“You see so many beautiful actresses who are of a certain age, who have lots of little wrinkles, and you go, ‘Oh my God, she’s gorgeous,’ because the skin is a milky or creamy tone, and that skin tone is what draws someone’s eye as well another”, he noted. “Having beautiful skin, wrinkles or not… that’s not the point, it is [about] having beautiful skin. So you can achieve that with good skin care… and you don’t have to touch injectables.”
But if you do, a little research and some community outreach is probably the best way to find the perfect professional for your needs.
We also discussed who might not be a good candidate for injectables, why some treatments are much more expensive than others, and more, why listen to the full episode above or wherever you take your podcasts.
After checking out this conversation, join the Am I Doing It Wrong? so you don’t miss an episode, including our investigations into the ins and outs of tipping, how to get the best deals on airline tickets, how to say sorry or beat your credit card debt, how to find love online or beat stress, online shopping, tips for taking care of your teeth, pooping like a pro, secrets to booking and staying at a hotel, how to deal with an angry person, shocking laundry secrets and more.
Need help with something you did wrong? Email us at AmIDoingItWrong@HuffPost.comand we may explore the topic in an upcoming episode.
