How can we talk about these things we do?

Do your family and friends know that you get Botox, filler, chemical peels, or any other aesthetic treatments?  If you dread the idea of them finding out, you are not alone! About half of our clients do not tell people that they have these treatments done.  Many people are quite judgey about this stuff, and some are downright hostile.  Some clients have expressed that they worry about giving their kids the idea that they need to change themselves or look different.  Most of us grew up with those kind of hurtful messages, and we are working constantly to do things differently with our own children.  The concern about this is very valid, and in fact these are things I think about all the time.  It is very important to me as someone who works in an industry that is all about how we look, that I make sure we are not sending the message to our clients (or anyone) that we SHOULD look a certain way.  What is attractive and appealing should be determined by our own eyes alone.  At Derma we make a point of supporting whatever your own goals are for your appearance, and not telling you what you should want.  Back to our friends and family.  When someone near you finds out what you’ve had done, the response is often mixed.  They may be excited and want to know all about it and where to get some themselves, or they may seem disappointed or skeptical.  Often, adults and children, will ask, “why?”.  I approach these conversations as if I’m talking about makeup.  “I like how it looks on me,” or, “It’s fun and temporary, and I enjoy being able to make small changes for fun like dying my hair.”  I know that many of us feel more than this, that doing these procedures can sometimes feel like a lifeline in this fast-moving river of aging, but it’s ok to not dwell on that.  It’s also OK to have those feelings be private, or just between us spa girls.  It’s OK to keep these things secret, as just your special self-care for you and you alone.  Hopefully though, this may help you navigate those awkward interactions that come up.