Believe it or not, the demand for injectables is at an all time high, and having a conversation about the topic has become less and less taboo. From celebrities and dermatologists to your friends and family, we feel as if everyone is constantly bringing up how a quick, non-invasive treatment is the real secret to giving your skin the boost it needs.
Curious to see what all the hype was really about, I did extensive research on the topic and learned that nonsurgical procedures like chemical peels, laser resurfacing, and of course injectables such as Botox and filler are not made for you to look like your favorite celebrity or virtual face filter that you use on social media. One quick treatment can actually help your skin keep its youthful glow and elasticity while enhancing your natural features to keep your look unique to you.
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In a world saturated with unrealistic beauty standards, one can easily become pressured to change their appearance to feel “accepted” and “beautiful.” While many injectors will just do what you say to make a sale, LA based Liana Sahakyan RN, MSN is changing the game when it comes to aesthetics with her revolutionary approach.
The 7-year skincare vet and co-founder of Lauréate Aesthetics in Sherman Oaks takes pride in enhancing a client’s features that are natural, achievable, and maintainable, making her one of the city’s most trusted injectors thanks to her trailblazing approach. So when the opportunity for me to stop by and meet with Liana came up earlier this fall, I instantly cleared my calendar and counted down the days until our appointment; I was beyond excited to see how she’d be able to help me look my absolute best.
Located right on Ventura Blvd in a state-of-the-art building, a visit to Lauréate Aesthetics is all-around luxurious. With marble floors and gold accents, clients are greeted by friendly staff before heading into their appointment with the Armenian native and her talented team.
Rather than rushing to give me the standard injectables that everyone receives, Liana took time out of her busy schedule to start our session by assessing my face from top to bottom while asking about my overall aesthetic goals. She explained what treatments would be best for my features so I can not only be comfortable in the skin I’m in, but also unique when it comes to my appearance.
After examining my face, we began with the top by injecting Baby Botox in my forehead, “elevens,” crows feet and eyebrows, as Liana mentioned that I would get the “pick me up” lift needed in the most natural way possible. For those who don’t know, Baby Botox is just like regular Botox — it aims for the same result of smoothing lines and wrinkles on your face, however, it uses smaller doses of botulinum toxin during the procedure — that is, “baby” amounts.
Moving to towards the bottom of my face, Liana injected a small amount of filler in the apple of my left cheek to make them symmetrical before adding Piriform under my nose to open up my face and reduce smile lines. Liana says its the ultimate celeb secret when it comes to face filler, as it gives you a real-life airbrushed look just like you see on virtual face filters.
“It’s one of the most beautiful treatments,” she tells me. “I do it to every young girl because this area is something — even if you don’t have a smile line, you raise this. It’s like a small tweak, you know? It just changes your face.”
To top things off and keep everything in proportion, Liana suggested we also add some Juvéderm Volbella to my lips, as it gives the same results that last longer than a lip flip with Botox.
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While I saw a difference immediately after the injections, I made sure to not lie down on my back for four hours following my appointment and avoid alcohol for 24 hours, per doctor’s orders. I also refrained from putting future pressure on my face by applying makeup and other skincare products — as well as drinking from a straw — for the rest of the day as this could move the Botox and filler out of place.
I eventually went back to my normal makeup routine as I had to walk the red carpet at the 2023 MTV VMAs in Newark, NJ two weeks later. As I finished my full glam, I held back tears as it was the first time in a very long time that I loved the way my skin looked. I was using the same products that I would prior to visiting Lauréate, but this time, I looked airbrushed and lifted without going under the knife. It made me feel more confident on both the red carpet and on-camera during the event and beyond, as there was no need to Facetune or even put a filter on my photos. The way Liana placed my injectables gave me a real-life filter without altering my beautiful, natural features.
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You can book an appointment with Liana by visiting her website here or by calling 818-650-2704. Lauréate Aesthetics is located at 1421 Ventura Blvd, Suite 201, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423. You can also follow Lauréate Aesthetics on Instagram here and Liana’s work on her personal Instagram here.
