Every procedure on RealSelf comes with a Worth It Rating, as determined by real members with firsthand insight and experience. We’re highlighting the top treatments ranked “Worth It” by our trusted community. This story is part of the 2020 Most Worth It campaign to help you make smart, confident cosmetic decisions.
It’s understandable that an outsider watching from Instagram might feel both bitter about the excess of perks and mesmerized by the shimmery makeup swatches that come along with being a beauty editor. Their bathroom cabinets aren’t ever big enough to hold all the retinoids and eye creams they get sent; their inboxes are filled with offers from dermatologists for complimentary facials and injectables.
Give yourself a moment to be annoyed that all your job provides is breakroom coffee, then get ready to take notes: we asked eight influential beauty editors to share their personal Most Worth It cosmetic procedure—because when a person with access to everything says they love something, chances are it’s really, really good.
My Most Worth It treatment: Breast reduction
Who: Jessica Matlin, 38, beauty director of Harper’s Bazaar and cohost of the Fat Mascara podcast
Why: “I was never comfortable with my large breasts. I felt they overwhelmed my appearance and made me feel conspicuous. Getting them so early catapulted me into a more ‘adult’ figure than I wanted and brought attention that made me feel awkward. On a practical level, exercising became more uncomfortable and finding clothes that fit well was a struggle—this bummed me out, because I was really into fashion. My bra straps dug into my shoulders so much that I had permanent grooves.
“I had my first reduction at 20, and it was literally a weight off my shoulders—I felt so carefree, like I could finally be a girl my age. Because I wasn’t embarrassed by my figure, I started exercising regularly. Getting dressed in the morning or trying on clothes didn’t become such a tearful experience. I felt more comfortable in social situations, and I held my head higher and walked taller. At 28, I had my second reduction, because my breast tissue grew back. It could have been from hormones—which can dramatically affect breast size)—or perhaps I wasn’t done growing when I had my first one. Either way, they were both worth it.”
My best advice: “Find a surgeon who you feel comfortable with, and make sure you are truly happy with what [they are] proposing as your ideal breast size. I originally wanted to go smaller, but my doctor wanted to make me bigger, to balance out my hips. Those conversations were pretty critical.
“Also realize that your breasts will evolve in the months and even years post-surgery. After my first reduction, I almost screamed when I saw my breasts—they looked like a patchwork of surgical incisions! Then that faded, and they became very hard. A few months later, everything settled into place. If I had gotten caught up in every little stage, I would have suffered a lot of needless stress.
“Last, realize that it is surgery and there are risks. Scars may keloid or not heal as well as you expected, and there is still a chance of asymmetry after.”
My Most Worth It treatment: Botox
Name: Stephanie Saltzman, 29, beauty director of Fashionista
Why: “Botox is extremely satisfying. I notice results within just a few days. But I also love that Botox has helped train me to use my muscles in my face differently. I’ve learned to relax tension and unfurrow my judgy brow—(I tend to make a lot of voluntary and involuntary judgy faces, what can I say?
“I don’t really have a phobia of needles, so that part is not an issue for me, and in regards to pain, the right practitioner makes it pretty easy. I do tend to bruise insanely easily, so I often get little marks at the site of injection, dark bruises no larger than the size of a dime. They’re not the cutest thing ever and last for a few days, but I don’t mind because they’re usually easy to cover with makeup.
“In regards to using Botox in my masseter muscles/jaw, I will always remember the immense relief I felt the first time I got it. I get migraines and headaches and carry lots of tension in my jaw. The first time my derm injected the muscle, I felt a huge release—my back top and bottom molars no longer clenched together. Not only did it make me realize how much strain I’d been putting in the area, but it immediately made me feel more relaxed, helped me sleep better, and significantly cut down on my headaches. I also like the aesthetic benefits of a less defined/clenched masseter muscle, which can make my already round face look wider. Getting Botox in that area lengthened and slimmed out my face very subtly.”
My best advice: “Botox makes you so much more aware of how you use the muscles in your face, and it can also genuinely impact your mood. Carrying less tension, scrunching up your face less during stressful situations, and feeling the release of certain muscles that are usually clenched or furrowed can really make a difference in how you’re perceived by others and how you feel. By that same token, the few times I’ve had negative experiences with Botox have been when the injector has overdone it in certain spots—like my forehead, causing my brow to appear and become even heavier. I look sad and sleepy—and feel it too. For me, a super-frozen, heavy-handed treatment makes me feel almost claustrophobic and trapped in my own face. There’s a fine line between being released from tension and feeling paralyzed in certain areas. That’s why it’s really important to go to practitioners you trust and communicate your expectations and concerns.”
Related: Injectable Bruises? Been There. Here’s How to Handle Them Without Hiding Out.
My Most Worth It treatment: Ultherapy
Who: Gwen Flamberg, 49, Executive Editor – Beauty & Style of Us Weekly
Why: “I got Ultherapy about nine months ago, after I interviewed Christie Brinkley around her 65th birthday about how she stays ageless. She raved about Ultherapy, so I ran to Dr. Jennifer Levine’s office to give it a go!
“I don’t have many lines and my skin clarity is pretty bright, but my trouble spot is my jawline—the sagging I see is what makes me feel like I’m aging. Ultherapy purports to tighten the jawline and make you look snatched. More than one treatment is recommended, to achieve notable results, but I’ve only had one—and I’ve noticed a huge difference.
“The tricky thing with Ultherapy is that it is extremely painful, so most patients take Valium before treatment. I’m not a meds person, so I chose to get numbed. Dr. Levine numbed me as if I was getting dental surgery, and I didn’t feel a thing! Of course, I was numb for about 12 hours, which felt weird, but getting through the treatment was totally worth it. I had a bit of redness and swelling along my jawline for a few days following the procedure, though I’m not sure it was noticeable to anyone but me. I had to film some videos, so I wore a heavy concealer, and it really was no big deal.
“Now, almost a year later, my jawline is decidedly firmer and I feel like my neck even looks tauter as well. The best part is that these results stick—if I can get up the nerve, I’ll get a second treatment in the next year to maximize my results!”
My best advice: “I had heard that Ultherapy was painful, but I wasn’t familiar with how the pain was meant to be managed. Talk with your medical provider about options to deal with the pain of the procedure. I probably would’ve scheduled my appointment first thing in the morning and taken a PTO day, or [had it done] at the end of the workday.”
My Most Worth It treatment: Laser hair removal
Who: Chloe Hall, 28, beauty director of Elle.com
Why: “I first tried laser hair removal in college, after years of shaving and waxing. I played beach volleyball competitively, and having underarm hair was limiting my spiking capabilities. I wanted to scare my opponent with my skills, not my underarms.
“It took six 10-minute sessions to finally get my desired results—dolphin-smooth underarms—but it was definitely worth it. Yes, it is painful, but if you’ve ever gotten a wax, you’re no stranger to pain. I was spending so much money on waxes every month, and this felt like an investment.”
My best advice: “People of color need to make sure they go to a salon or dermatologist [who] has lasers specialized for dark skin—ask for the Nd:YAG laser. A good specialist will skin test before the procedure to make sure it’s safe for your skin tone.”
My Most Worth It treatment: Neuromodulators
Who: Brian Underwood, 40, beauty director of O, The Oprah Magazine
Why: “I got my first Botox injections about two years ago. A deep forehead wrinkle—let’s call it the Crevice of Queens County—had been nagging me for a while, and I figured it was time to do something about it. Depending on the amount injected and the injector’s style, I usually go back every three to five months for a refresher.
“I’m a skin-care junkie. I pride myself in using no-frills but effective ingredients and products and, as a guy who chooses not to wear makeup, my skin in its natural state is very tied into how I present myself to the world, especially as a beauty editor. I confess to beaming with pride whenever someone says, ‘You have great skin.’ Yet nothing topically was helping me with that stubborn forehead line. I go in for my injections for a very targeted reason, and [they solve] that problem beautifully. There is no downtime, and I get good results for several months—even a smidge longer, now that I’ve been having them done for a few years. For me, the injections are a natural adjunct to my skin-care routine, which is really about taking care of and investing in myself. The feeling of doing something good for yourself is, in my opinion, worth it every time.”
My best advice: “I’ve tried many different brand-name toxins—Botox, Dysport, Jeuveau—and have yet to personally notice a difference between them. What makes the most difference is who is injecting. I prefer someone with a conservative approach, someone with finesse who won’t leave me looking frozen or like I’m perpetually sticking my face out of the window of a speeding car. I believe I’ve found that person in Dr. Howard Sobel in New York City, but I think it would be beneficial to talk to multiple injectors, get a sense of their specific style, and choose based on who makes you feel the most comfortable.”
Related: What’s the Difference Between Botox, Dysport, Xeomin and Jeuveau?
My Most Worth It treatment: Breast reduction
Who: Samantha Sasso, 25, associate native beauty editor of PopSugar
Why: “I got my breast reduction in November 2018. I [had] stood in front of mirrors for years, thinking about the appeal of smaller breasts—mostly due to the fact that my scoliosis grew increasingly worse over the years because of their weight. I can’t even remember a time I didn’t want to get my breasts reduced, but it wasn’t until I was in my 20s that I knew I absolutely needed the procedure.
“I’ve had a few surgeries in my life, most of which were due to medical emergencies, but this was the first time I got to wake up out of an anesthetic haze and be incredibly happy about what had happened. I felt immediately different: lighter, happier. I was pretty awful about applying scar cream to the incisions while in recovery, and even so my scars have almost entirely faded. I love my boobs. I love my new nipples, the new perky lift they have, and the fact that I don’t have to feel so physically uncomfortable in my own body because of this procedure. It’s only been a year since the surgery, but I’ve noticed a major difference in the level of discomfort I feel in my lower back and neck. If any pain ever exists now, it’s usually due to stress—not my breasts.”
My best advice: “The pain varies. I know people who felt better a few days post-op; for me, the undersides of my breasts were on fire for weeks. It was manageable but certainly uncomfortable. Consider soft breastfeeding bras. They’re more lightweight on the breast area than a traditional sports bra and easy to live in for several weeks after the surgery. Also, find a surgeon you trust—it was important to me to choose a female doctor. It’ll be worth it.”
My Most Worth It treatment: Under-eye filler
Who: Cheryl Kramer Kaye, 50, beauty director of NextTribe.com
Why: “The first time I tried under-eye filler was about four years ago. My under-eye hollows were creating such dark shadows that I looked tired all the time. But what really bothered me is that the tear trough on my right side was much deeper than on my left—exhausted and lopsided!
“I went to see Dr. David Bank, my dear friend and derm in Mt. Kisco, New York. He’s so subtle with his injections, and I trust him completely. He chose Belotero Balance because of its very low viscosity and injected it directly into the tear trough. The dark circles disappeared, like magic. I didn’t look like I’d had anything done—I just didn’t look tired anymore. Dr. Bank used more product under my right eye than my left, so my under-eye area was finally even! He’s injected my tear troughs many times now, using a variety of different fillers, and it’s the best little pick-me-up.
“I tend to get tiny, pinpoint bruising where the needle pierces the skin, but it’s easily covered with concealer. I do have a friend who had more serious complications from under-eye filler—the filler pressed on a nerve, which led to a few uneasy weeks of numbness and tingling on one side of her face. Thank goodness it’s resolved, but it’s an important reminder that injections into the under-eye area are not as simple as [in] other parts of the face and it’s extra-important to see a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon for the procedure.
My best advice: “I swim for exercise and found out the hard way that the pressure from my goggles can screw up my filler! I’ve since switched to masklike goggles that sit lower on my face.”
My Most Worth It treatment: Lash lift
Who: Jennifer Goldstein, 41, cohost of the Fat Mascara podcast
Why: “I got my first lash lift and tint from an artist who uses the Sugarlash Pro treatment, two years ago. The results last about six weeks, but I like to take a little time off between treatments. I’d estimate I do it about four times a year now.
“When my lashes are freshly lifted and tinted, I look so much more awake and polished. It’s like you’re wearing the most amazing mascara that never smudges, and the semipermanent curl makes your whole eye area look brighter. Honestly, I feel like I don’t even need makeup when my lashes are done—it just pulls together my look.”
My best advice: “The growing-out phase can be a little weird. As the permed [read: lifted] lashes fall out and are replaced by new hairs, you’ll have some lashes that are curled, some that are straight. Truthfully, it looks a bit wonky. My solution is to use a curler to gently crimp them together, then I just apply mascara. But about 10 weeks after the lift, they’re all straight again—and you can go back for another treatment.”
