Motykie Med Spa - Beverly Hills

I really liked the lip shape she gave me. She was quick and highly skilled. I would recommend her to friends and also return for another treatment. The office is clean- the only con is that it's on a busy street.

Neekan does not need this review because she has an overflowing wait list of returning and new clients, works at 3 centers (one of which is her own new clinic in Denver), & has an established Instagram following of >30k where she shares her balanced aesthetic philosophy, countless before-after transformations, behind-the-scenes, and nuggets of knowledge teaching other injectors who follow her. When she isn't injecting, she trains other nurses, PAs, NPs, and doctors (she's a national Allergan & Galderma trainer). I highly recommend you follow her Instagram because you can see for yourself whether your aesthetic goals align. She's the only person I will trust with my face, and I'm lucky to have her be the first to inject me with filler.

Her philosophy: facial harmony, global balance, safety, transparency, natural beauty, gradual and layered approach, you on your best and well-rested day, a long-term facial plan, splits syringes into areas based on what you need, expert with needles and cannulas

I first saw Neekan in Feb to get my first lip job. She is a LIP QUEEN. I thought my original lips were very similar to m-shaped lips, which are notoriously difficult to treat, so I knew I had to find someone with a before-after I liked. I'm very scrutinizing with aesthetic procedures and have a very sharp eye for what I want and I needed to find someone who could deliver a natural SHAPE change (vs size or volume). I'm also very suspicious of med spas and injectors who downplay the difficulty and complexity of these procedures, and wanted to find someone who acknowledged these risks and prioritized safety.

Prior to this appointment I had been obsessively researching for 4 months, looking at post-op healing photos and screenshotting pictures of lips and shapes that I loved and hated.

I showed her a huge bank of pictures. She understood my vision perfectly, recommended Restylane Refyne for its extremely natural look and feel, and delivered the lips of my dreams. I asked for increased vertical height, softening/flattening of my m-shape lips into a more bow and arrow look, heart shaped lips, and a defined cupid's bow. She used a cannula on me because my lip borders were pronounced, and shaped my cupid's bow with a needle. Because I was focused on a natural look and it was my first time, we decided to only put about .8mL and the rest were feathered into my undereyes with a cannula.

Now after seeing a lot of post-op photos and videos, I expected big purple sausages the morning after. But when I woke up, I had some swelling and only a little bruise. Unlike some people, it took me closer to a month for my lips to settle into perfection because I don't prefer the swollen look, but once it did, my confidence shot through the roof. These lips balanced my entire face and I woke up everyday ecstatic, even as we were going under quarantine. I could care less that no one was going to see my lips, because every time I looked in the mirror, I just felt so incredibly happy and confident.

Because Neekan was my first ever filler experience, I made the mistake of assuming that as long as I went to a place with good RS/Yelp reviews, I would also see life changing results. I wanted to look well-rested, so I purchased 2 fillers for undereye and cheek at a different, well-rated medspa in beverly hills with a different nurse and as soon as offices opened up, I got it done.

I GOT BOTCHED. I cried every day for a whole month. The nurse overfilled my cheeks, and the heaviness restricted my smile. This made my face shape look more square because when I smile, my cheeks lift up. Worse, this meant I couldn't fully and freely smile for a whole month, which definitely impacted my mental health. I got Tyndall effect in my undereyes (my eyebags were reflecting a blue purple pigment so they looked even worse than before), and my ligaments under my eye were popping out more because of the filler. For the record, this injector used a needle, not a cannula, which requires more skill. Luckily we were under lockdown, but my family, who didn't know I got anything done, commented on how tired and SICK I looked. :'(

I went back to the same nurse to get it dissolved twice, and patiently waited for Neekan's schedule to open so she could rescue my face. I am very blessed that I didn't experience serious complications, and I learned a very valuable lesson about price hunting and the value I put on my safety and face. I learned to appreciate how naturally flawless my face already was, because I woke up everyday praying I could go back to the way I used to look.

I have nothing against this nurse and did not write any reviews, but the problem with many aesthetic injectors is that they try to execute the same "it-girl" look on different people, and that's not what Neekan is about.

I just saw Neekan when she came back to LA for a few days, and I got my lips maintained, my undereyes FIXED, and a PDO thread lift for my nose. Clients have been practically fighting to get seen by her, but I cannot emphasize how much care and attention she gives each patient, even though her schedule was packed to the brim and she was running late.

Needless to say, Neekan FIXED my undereyes. There was a bit of filler still leftover that was accentuating my ligaments when I smiled, and she blended it out. MAGIC. What took the other injector 1 whole mL to BOTCH, Neekan fixed with just some leftover .2 ml we didn't use for my lips.

I inquired about nose filler, and Neekan carefully explained to me the complications, how it's the highest risk area, and can cause blindness. If Neekan thinks you are a good candidate for nose filler (and a lot of people AREN'T), she will probably go slow and in stages. For what she could do for me with filler, she instead suggested PDO threads, which would give me the results I desired (slight bridge definition, lifted nose tip) immediately, without stages, and without the dangerous complications. Again, I showed her pictures of what I didn't like, and she delivered exactly what I wanted.

I appreciate her honesty, and recommend that you look for this transparency in injectors. I see deals from IG famous, influencer-marketed med spas that are giving away NSNJs for 499$. That scares me, because 5 months ago, I would have jumped at that deal - unaware that I'm not the ideal candidate - and put my face and health on the line for a medspa that just wants my money.

If you're looking for natural, sustainable results from a skilled, down-to-earth medical professional, get your name on Neekan's waitlists before she closes it. Or not, because I'm still fighting to see her too ;) And again, I recommend you follow her on instagram. I think it's so important to know exactly how your injector approaches aesthetic beauty, to see what you align best with.

My photos speak for themselves. Most importantly, I feel and look like me. No one believes I ever got anything done even when I tell them, because the results are so natural and improve my facial harmony. I've always loved the face I was given, but Neekan truly SEES your unique natural beauty, and simply accentuates it. I will never let anyone else touch my face again <3

During my wife surgery with Dr Motykie, I decided to spend some times next door at the Motykie Med Spa. I went for an HydraFacial treatment to hydrate clean and rejuvenate my face skin. It has been a great experience under the hands of a super friendly girl explaining me each stp of the treatment why it is done and what it does. I really saw the difference my skin was younger, well hydrated and I just looked better. Don't hesitate, visit Motykie Med Spa you will enjoy your time and have great results. Philippe from Switzerland

I will be getting rhinoplasty (my first and hopefully last plastic surgery) with Dr Motykie on 2/11.

Dr M was recommended by a good friend, so after doing a lot of research online, I took the plunge and went with him without doing other consultations. I'm a little nervous since this is a huge expense and I worry about the results coming out the way I want them.

I've attached photos, including the morphs Dr M sent me.

Updated on 31 Jan 2016:
Friday was my pre-op consultation with Dr. Motykie. I came at 12:30 and ended up being seen by the doctor at ~2:30 (I guess they were having a pretty hectic day...)

Dr. M remembered me and was very cheerful, then went over the morphs with me. When I mentioned I felt like the space between my lips and nose was still too big, we started talking about the other things that could be done to my face to achieve the right balance.

Having my appearance talked about in a critical, honest, clinical way really made me feel anxious and unsettled. Just something to be prepared for.

Dr. M suggested an upper lip lift for me as well, to help the appearance of my profile and create better balance. I am pretty sure this would be without an additional cost. I'm waiting on additional morphs before I decide on this.

Diana met with my after, gave me a plush robe and some other small gifts, and went over everything I would need to be aware of before the procedure. She was super helpful and kind, which helped put me at ease.

I also agreed to a series of aggressive skin treatments at the med spa, to help with old acne scars on my cheeks. I had a microneedling treatment the next day, and the girls at the med spa were GREAT. Talking to them and having a great treatment really made me feel more comfortable and excited for the actual surgery.

Day of surgery I'll be getting an aggressive pixel laser treatment, and all this combined should improve the depth of my scars by at least 50%. They even offered to comp another treatment if it didn't, since I was nervous to take the leap.

Updated on 31 Jan 2016:
Wondering if I should consider the upper lip lift Dr Motykie recommended... it's something I've never thought of, but sounds like he would comp it as part of the overall procedure. Just worried about the risk of an additional surgery and something not going right... any thoughts? Would it be worth it for me to take the risk?

Updated on 10 Feb 2016:
Hey all! Surgery is tomorrow -- Diana and the rest of the staff have been super helpful with answering my questions and following up with me.

I'm so nervous and excited! Decided not to do the upper lip lift and going to stick with the rhino, plus the pixel laser skin treatment as well.

So ready to come out of this with beautiful skin and the nose I always dreamed of! Will update tomorrow. :)

Updated on 11 Feb 2016:
Was so nervous/anxious. Went in at 8:30, they put me under anesthesia just after 10. I met with the anesthesiologist, nurse, and Dr M first.

Dr M was very nice, and although it was only a 5 minute meeting, he made sure to ask me the top 3 things in order of importance that I wanted to achieve.

Then they took me over and performed the surgery. They also had a girl from the med spa come and laser my face with an aggressive pixel treatment (for acne scars) while I was still under.

Face is BURNT. Waking up was hard and confusing -- my throat was sore and HURT, top of my mouth hurt, throat and lips were dry, skin was BURNING and of course my nose hurt and I had a headache.

It's 8pm now and I'm on vicoden and xanax and feeling good. :)

Post-op will be tomorrow.

I think you can kind of see the tip already??

Updated on 12 Feb 2016:
Went in to see one of the nurses at Dr Motykie's office this morning. She was very sweet and cleaned my nose, sent me home with long qtips and more bandages, etc.

My face looks [RS bleep] CRAZY from the pixel laser (they did a very aggressive 2-in-1 treatment while I was under) but I'm hoping it starts to fade soon... supposedly it will scab and peel off, so that's something to look forward to.

I bled A LOT yesterday and could barely sleep, even with xanax and vicoden. Would wake up every few hours. PRO TIP - get a pillow chair thing for your bed, it helps sleep sitting up.

SUPER congested as well, this experience has been more intense than I thought it would be but I'm enjoying the ride for what it's worth. It's actually been very interesting, if nothing else.

From the little I can see of my tip I think it looks promising? Nostrils appear even for now and it seems to have a nice little shape to it from the frontside view.

Will keep updating! Cast comes off Weds morning (they are doing it a day early since Dr M is out of town Thursday). Hoping the reveal is everything I've been waiting for. :)

Updated on 12 Feb 2016:
It's the second day post-surgery and from the little bit I can see I think the profile looks nice even with the cast on, and the tip seems very well-proportioned and feminine.

For others who have gotten nose jobs and were ultimately happy/disappointed with them-- did you like what you saw while the cast was still on? Is this any indication of how I will feel about the final outcome?

So nervous haha. All comments really appreciated right now. <3

Updated on 12 Feb 2016:
Having SUCH trouble sleeping despite all these meds. Very restless.

Checking out the tip -- does this look good so far? I feel like it's more than I might have expected at this stage, but I really didn't know what to expect at all. Sorry these pictures are all kind of disgusting. My skin somehow looks WORSE than it did yesterday.

I also feel like my nose appears a bit short -- am I imagining it? Is it still too early to judge?

This process was way more than I ever anticipated. Can't wait for Wednesday.

Updated on 13 Feb 2016:
Starting to feel very weak from not being able to eat normally. I can't breathe from my nose at all (is that normal?) so I wake up every few hours with a very dry mouth and throat from having them open all night.

I have been waking up every 2-3 hours to take a little more vicodin and put moisturizer on my face and change bandages. Sleeping is very hard, but thank god for my chair pillow thing I ordered.

Very weak today. Every time I swallow a sip of water or a bite of food I feel like I'm choking a little bit -- like the feeling of inhaling water while in the pool and getting chlorine in your nose.

I also feel like one side of my nose is looking longer than the other, which hopefully is just my imagination or normal swelling.

No improvement in my skin yet, but I guess it's only been 48 hours.

Updated on 13 Feb 2016:
Feeling better, finally feeling hungry, can breathe a bit better than this morning and looks like my skin is slowly healing. This black eye is intense though.

Feeling very optimistic. :)

Updated on 14 Feb 2016:
Surgery was Thursday, now it's Sunday afternoon.

This morning was rough. Mornings have been rough so far, but once I clean my nose, drink, and take my meds I start to feel a lot better.

I can finally breathe through my nose again! Not easily, but getting much better. Been cleaning it out with hydrogen peroxide every so often.

My skin looks scary as [RS bleep], which makes it hard to look in the mirror or take photos. I think this might be the worst day of it before it starts really scabbing and peeling. Using a LOT of moisturizer and ice for the swelling.

Bruising is definitely worse than it has been so far. I look pretty bad, but again, still optimistic. Reminding myself it will all be worth it in the end.

I know it's still in a cast, but I can't help but love the way my nose looks so far. :)

Updated on 14 Feb 2016:
I put on lipstick and washed my hair and am feeling amazing about my nose. I know, I know it's too soon. So ready for this cast off - 3 more days!

Updated on 15 Feb 2016:
Monday morning, surgery was Thursday.

Skin is FINALLY peeling, feeling so much better about that.

Nose looking good, still happy. :) Cast off in 48 hours.

Updated on 16 Feb 2016:
Skin is peeling more and I'm so grateful. I'm still reserving judgement on the final results of the peel, but from what I can see I am very optimistic.

I might be crazy, but I feel like my nose looks bigger/more swollen, even still under the cast. Tomorrow will probably be a rollercoaster.

I'm trying to stop the vicodin and xanax and am feeling pretty awful. Sleeping was so bad last night. Everything is pretty foggy and bad. Trying hard to get work done and be a normal person again.

Updated on 16 Feb 2016:
I am so excited for tomorrow. I am so excited to be able to take photos straight-on, to not have to angle my face to make my nose appear smaller, to look in the mirror without make-up and feel attractive, and to actually feel beautiful -- not just "almost beautiful".

Writing this, it all sounds so superficial and unimportant. I just can't even begin to stress how much this all means to me, what a profound difference it will have on my life. I'm sure you all understand.

Tomorrow is going to be the first day of the rest of my life. I am so happy and feel so lucky to have finally been able to do this for myself.

Updated on 16 Feb 2016:
So ready for this.

Updated on 17 Feb 2016:
Got the cast off less than two hours ago. Was INSTANTLY shocked and thrilled by the result. Like, OVER THE MOON happy. I can't even believe it looks this good already.

I would do this 5 times over again to get this result. I can't even describe how happy I am. I don't think it could have possibly gone better.

This is everything I wanted and more.

Updated on 17 Feb 2016:
Took this video on the car ride home -- can you tell I'm high af?

This is day 6, not even a full week.

Again, I can't believe it. I really can't believe it came out this well and that I've been healing so quickly. Dr. Motykie and his staff are incredible.

Updated on 17 Feb 2016:
I feel like this must be a common problem -- does anyone have issues cleaning their noses out after rhino?

My nose feels disgusting lol. I've been using the nasal spray and q-tips with hydrogen peroxide VERY LIBERALLY, but there is a lot of blood etc (ew) buildup stuck in my nose that is driving me crazy.

Gross, but any tips? :|

Updated on 18 Feb 2016:
Swelling was a [RS bleep] today, but I was still able to get a good angle on it. :)

Updated on 19 Feb 2016:
Morning of day 8 now.

This entire process, while worth it, has been a lot more intense than I thought it would be. Maybe because I've never been seriously ill or had surgery before, I didn't really know what to expect.

The surgery itself is a very strange experience. I remember being guided by the nurse from the posh office area of Dr. Motykie's building to the white, sterile, fluorescent operating room. I think that was when it hit me -- this wasn't like going to the med spa, this was a real motherfucking surgery.

The anesthesiologist lay me down, put a needle in my arm and said he would give me something to help me "calm down" -- I think that was the anesthesia, but I can't be sure. Next thing I know I'm waking up in a different room entirely, as if I was cut off mid-conversation. I don't remember falling asleep and I barely remember waking up. All I remember was a nurse being there, and I was desperately trying to blow my nose and generally freaking out. My throat hurt like hell -- I begged for water. My anxiety was all-consuming, so I begged for a xanax as well, which helped a little.

Everyone there was helpful and really fantastic, but it wasn't a fun day. They wheeled me out in a wheelchair and my friend helped me into her car in the parking garage. I half-fell asleep on the car ride home, then took a nap in my pillow chair when we got back.

Sleeping was very difficult the first several days. I was in so much discomfort that I would wake up constantly, pretty much every 1-3 hours. I'd wake up, get water, change my bandages, pop a piece of vicoden and go back to sleep.

The vicoden and the xanax helped a lot, but now on day 8 it's been like coming out of a fog. I tried driving for the first time last night, to a friend's house. I can't believe how dizzy and disoriented I felt while driving. There were moments when I couldn't tell if the car in front of me was stopped or moving. And I was on no drugs, just Tylenol and antibiotics.

I got out of the car feeling dizzy and weak. It was scary.

My moods and emotions have been a rollercoaster since day 6 when I stopped taking the pain and anxiety meds. I was pretty drugged up on them for close to a full week, it was like I was barely a person. The first night without xanax was terrible. I couldn't fall asleep, I felt miserable and depressed and my anxiety was through the roof. Last night was better at least.

This is a taste of what I went through -- not to discourage anyone, because personally, I would do it again. But know what to expect, because I really didn't.

Updated on 26 Feb 2016:
It's been 2 weeks and a day since my surgery date.

Already, I don't think about the surgery much anymore. Earlier this week I was pretty much healed -- my nose still gets runny and is swollen, but I have no more black eyes or bruising to speak of. I think the tumeric paste I used on my face really helped with the bruising.

I actually traveled to Vegas for work a few days ago, my face looked fine and nobody noticed.

I am very excited for my nose to actually take more of a shape. Since getting the cast off it's definitely looked a bit bulbous, but I expect it to go down to what it looked like the first day I saw it (if not better). I loved the shape when the cast was removed, so I guess that's probably what it will look like once I've healed more (right?).

I don't have a lot of anxiety about it anymore, although keeping busy has probably helped with that.

Still feeling happy and excited for the final results, will take more photos once the swelling is down more (doesn't help that I've been flying).

Updated on 29 Feb 2016:
These photos are the most flattering I was able to take today, but my nose has been REALLY swollen and distorted looking.

Is this probably from starting drinking again? Also, I flew twice last week. Gotta get on another plane Friday so looking forward to that...

One nostril is distinctly more lopsided than the other, if you can tell. I'm not going to post the photos where it's super obvious because they are hideous, haha.

ALSO my nose looks really short and upturned on the profile. :|

I'm of course still happy with my results and I understand this is all part of the process, but it's frustrating.

Should I go back to taking arnica? Any advice?

Updated on 1 Mar 2016:
Attached two other photos taken this past weekend.

It's only been a week and a half since I've gotten my cast off, and despite my complains/anxiety about swelling (which definitely exists), I don't think I could be happier with the way this process has played out.

I feel very lucky and very positive about the trust I placed in Dr. Motykie. It's been a week since I've had any bruising (it seriously cleared up like magic -- I'm telling you guys, lots of Arnica + turmeric paste must be the trick here) and I feel like my life is already back to normal. I traveled last week without issues, and over the weekend I went out, drank, party, went to a concert and had a great time.

Overall, I feel confident and normal about my face.

There are ups and downs (see my post from yesterday) but God, I'm not religious but I feel so grateful and blessed. So excited to see my final result.

And anyone in LA looking for rhino -- I could not say more positive things about my experience with Dr. M, his team, and my results. My friend who referred me to him said the same.

Updated on 4 Mar 2016:
Some before and afters... what do you guys think? Obviously it's still swollen, but big difference so far?

Going to the Motykie Med Spa today for my complimentary facial. :) Will post more photos this weekend!

Updated on 4 Mar 2016:
Had my complimentary facial at Motykie Med Spa - Jennifer gave me a custom facial that made my skin feel ridiculously soft, firm, and hydrated! Really lovely :)

I'm still healing really nicely. Taking arnica again and it's helping significantly. Got on a plane this evening and feel/look totally normal.

Posting photos from today and another before and after. Really so pleased. Even though nostrils are still quite lopsided, heh.

Updated on 7 Mar 2016:
So swollen this morning after flying this weekend.

Arnica has truly been my best friend. Despite flying and drinking, my nose didn't swell as badly as it could have while I was traveling. Been taking it 2-3 times a day (per instructions on the bottle).

My one month post-op appointment is on Friday! Really looking forward to the before/after.

Skin is looking amazing after my facial as well -- these photos are no makeup. Jennifer did a really awesome job. :)

Updated on 9 Mar 2016:
Not sure my nose has looked this big since my operation :(

Updated on 22 Mar 2016:
Some days my nose looks bigger than others, but it's starting to look more normal, even without taking arnica.

Here's some photos from the past week -- these are flattering angles, but I am definitely am happy with the progress so far. :) When I tell people, no one can believe I was operated on last month. And on that note, no one can notice I got work done unless I bring it up -- is that a good or bad thing? Haha.

But really, I feel so happy and normal, I honestly can't believe I just got work done myself.

Updated on 29 Mar 2016:
Do you ever look at your Before photos, carefully examining them and comparing to your new face?

I did that for about half an hour last night, going through albums full of old photos on my phone, not knowing how to feel about the way I used to look. Torn between feeling grateful and feeling massive amounts of anxiety and horror thinking about how I lived 24yrs of my life looking like this. Fear that I'm still not pretty enough or good enough.

I'm feeling better today, but I'm so often haunted by feelings that my nose still isn't perfect, my skin is far from perfect. I am not perfect. Obviously this goes a lot deeper than cosmetic surgery and I should probably address this with a therapist.

Just wondering how many others have felt this way after surgery? I am so grateful for this experience and my new nose, but there is so much mentally, emotionally, spiritually wrapped up in it that I'll probably still be dealing with long after my nose has healed.

Updated on 11 Apr 2016:
Hey guys, wanted to give a proper update now that I've reached the two month mark!

I have not seen any noticeable differences in my nose pretty much since the surgery, which is starting to bother me a bit. I don't know how normal this is, but after two months my tip has not begun to drop (see how upturned and short the profile still is) and the width of the bridge has yet to decrease.

I feel like my result essentially looks the same as it has since day 1. I don't hate the result (by any means), but I really want the tip to drop and for there to be more definition in the bridge, and the lack of progress seems strange. :/

Updated on 22 May 2016:
Been needing to post an update!

I'm not sure if my nose has seen any big changes since the last time I posted, but here are some photos from this past week.. a 3.5 month post-op update.

I've been having what I've come to call a "good nose day". There are many days where it looks larger or lumpier or the nostrils aren't aligned, but I'm hoping more subtle changes will continue to occur and that my nose will stabilize soon...

(Also, I really need to touch up my roots -- ignore those ;) )

Updated on 22 May 2016:
A before & after - found this old pic from a few years back :)

Updated on 25 May 2016:
Took this photo today -- a pretty good angle on my nose (it definitely looks best to the side like this, as opposed to straight on or at profile).

Hoping to be as happy with it at every angle by the time healing is done. :)

Updated on 4 Aug 2016:
Hey guys,

Thought it was time to give an update as I'm about to hit the 6 month mark!

I've been struggling lately with the swelling in my nose. It's been bad to the point (for about a month or longer) that it's difficult for me to look in the mirror or take a selfie without getting anxious about it.

I keep trying to tell myself that it is just swelling and that it will go down. Although at the 6 month mark, it's really worrying me. I have an appointment to follow up with Dr Motykie in a few weeks and am hoping to maybe get a shot that will help reduce the swelling and have a more defined nose.

Really, I think the issue is the roundness of the tip and a kind of triangular appearance to the bridge.

Today I took some arnica and was having a reasonably "good nose day" so thought I would take some pictures. I guess if I can experience enough changes to have a good nose day, that must mean I am not seeing the final result yet..

Updated on 12 Aug 2016:
Just a 6 month before and after!

Updated on 1 Mar 2017:
Attached some pics from one year post-op!
I absolutely love my result. The swelling is pretty non-existent at this point and I love the shape it took. It's still a bit up-turned, but I can definitely live with it. I feel like I have a PERFECT nose and am so happy about it. :)

I got Juvederm XC injected on my lips by an Aesthetic Practioner from CALI who was visiting NYC! She is based in Beverly Hills, California. Her name is Pawnta Abrahimi, search her FB! She is amazing and very skilled with lips. I went to to a surgeon before her in NYC (board certified), but didn't like my results and he didn't have any technique. I am so happy with my results now. She defined by lips just how I wanted.

4/17/14
I had my first treatment of "Cool Sculpting" today!, Yes! I am so excited! Until very recently I hadn't heard of a way that I could have effectively and permanently reduced the amount of that super hard to lose fat around my lower abdomen without having to go through and invasive and costly procedure like Liposuction, to be honest I have this little bit of fat left over from my weight loss that I just couldn't get rid of. I would catch a side view of my profile and eek! you know that bump that just peeks out causing me to look like I stuffed a small pillow down the front of my pants, you know the look I mean...! It is not pretty people! I have lived this way for very long time, with my weight going up and down and my war with weight loss raging on, I finally had the opportunity to try a (what I now have come to love) new procedure called "Cool Sculpting" a non-Invasive procedure that can be used anywhere on your body to help reduce your body fat in areas that are hard or in my case nearly impossible to lose, genius right?, for me that area was my lower abdominal area or the "Puffy Pillow Zone! as I like to call it." Cool Sculpting literally feels like someone is pinching your flabby bits kinda hard! I experienced a minimal amount of tingling during the first few minutes of the procedure but after about 10 minutes the area being treated goes numb and you only feel pressure I was able to lie back use my cell phone watch a movie and close my eyes and relax, I ended up taking selfies with the staff and hamming it up a bit. Trisha my nurse, made me feel very comfortable, her engaging attitude and knowledge of the procedure itself put any questions I had to rest. I was very impressed with the services overall, my treatment lasted for an hour and I was back up dressed and back to my day, I am feeling great, I am little tender in the area I had treated, I am sitting up and walking around there is no pain no discomfort, You should drink a lot of water after and during the procedure a little hydration is always good. My experience at Motykie Medspa was great! The facility is gorgeous, the medical and spa staff were amazing , this procedure is amazing! I would highly recommend this to anyone considering an alternative to Liposuction for sure!

Updated on 19 Apr 2014:
So its the day after my CoolSculpting treatment, I am more tender and I have developed a small bruise on my right side but I am not uncomfortable I feel good I am up and walking about and going about my routine without much strain or effort at all! If it wasn't the weekend I am sure Id go to work after my treatment without hesitation! Crazy!!

Updated on 27 Apr 2014:
Hey all just wanted to check in to share what I have learned and what I am experiencing on my first full week post treatment. I am really tender in the treated areas and my nerves are re-firing in those areas too, so there is that tingling pins and needles feeling and every once in awhile especially first thing in the morning I can feel the tension in my abdomen muscles like I was doing sit ups or something(which I totally haven't been doing), I haven't changed my routine, I still am walking to work and going about my daily life. You will be tender but it shouldn't stop you from getting on with your daily lives and routines for sure. Here is a little tid bit you should know... If you can ask your med spa/practice to provide for you (there will most likely be a charge) or you can locate and purchase on your own ahead of time, a "Compression Garment" this will assist in giving you the best possible result in the end, the "Compression Garment" must be worn night and day for at least a week straight in order to assure maximum results.. More to come next week folks!!

Updated on 27 Apr 2014:
Hey guys I forgot to mention in my earlier update today; "swelling" expect it, it will happen and depending on your body it may take anywhere from a few days to about a week or two before it goes down, do not despair my lovelies, it will go down, mine has already started to subside!

Updated on 7 May 2014:
So folks its been a few week since I had my treatment I am no longer feeling swollen or in any discomfort for m the procedure and I am looking forward to my results in a few more weeks! I highly recommend this proceedure.

Updated on 19 May 2014:
If you are interested my lovelies I had actually won my first cool-sculpting session from this event below that I attended on Thursday, March 27th – Power of Beauty Networking Event at Motykie Med Spa – LA’s biggest women Influencers along with the city’s most vivacious entrepreneurs came together for one special night of networking and pampering with the latest in modern beauty treatments. This event included Publicists, Stylists, Beauty & Health Bloggers, Editors, Journalists, Event Planners, Authors, Local Influencers and women that run their own businesses I had a great time networking and learning all about the Newest procedures offered at Motykie Med Spa, If you are interested in attending these networking events I'd suggest getting on the email blast list if you can. I literally just fell into this by showing up for a friend. so you never know what lies around the corner of Life! So glad I went..

Updated on 19 May 2014:
So I know I am not going to be wearing a Bikini or Maybe I will! Hmm.. Anyway for those of you out there not sure how to go about finding these types treatments or have any interest in Med Spa treatments at all this is an event I also attended on the day of my procedure I was actually a model for the event on Thursday, April 17th - Bikini Boot Camp Event - Fun was had by all at our recent Bikini Boot-Camp Event. In anticipation of summer, it was a chance to introduce guests, not only to our newly remodeled Medical Spa, but also allowed them to watch live demos on CoolSculpting and JuVaShape. Both non- invasive, body contouring treatments yield amazing results that get you “bikini ready”. Special discount packages were given to all who attended. We partnered with other great companies that are also in alignment with both health and beauty. Our guests enjoyed healthy snacks and sipped Coco Libre's organic coconut water while familiarizing themselves with reps from our partner companies such as Sunset Tan, Cycle House and Body Language Sportswear. For these types of events I would call and ask what if any public events are being held for you attend this way you can get a full grasp visually as well as mentally about any treatment you may have in mind for the future this is a great way to introduce ones self to this industry.

Updated on 4 Jun 2014:
So guys I have no photos yet but I will post them after my Appt with Motykie MedSpa tomorrow morning, I have noticed a significant reduction in my lower abdomen, I will require a few more treatments to achieve the result that I am looking for (realistically speaking I would just like to look good in my clothes, I am not expecting Science Fiction Skinny I am a thick guy and will always be a thick guy) The Cool sculpting has, to my surprise given me a little extra added bonus, by boosting my self confidence to a new level previously unexplored by me. So for that alone it was worth it! Here is the trick kids, if you do cool sculpting or any cosmetic procedure staying realistic about your results is the best gift you can give yourself. I have noticed that my lower ab area is about 25% reduced as compared with the rest of my upper ab area it is noticeable in my clothing as well, I cannot say enough what a great decision I made in having this procedure done, Good service and proper care stems from the top and my choice in Dr. Motykie Medpspa for my cool sculpting was for me, the best decision I have made, I walk taller, I am smiling more and the my over all demeanor has changed and for the better. Thank you Thank you Thank you Dr. Motykie! I am "Happy Dancing" all day everyday...Thank you again.

Hylan

Just over a week ago I had a microneedling procedure done to address hyper pigmentation issues and acne scarring. I am 33 years old and in the past year I'd noticed it was taking longer than normal for my skin tone to even out after experiencing hormonal breakouts and I was left with permanent acne scarring. Both of these changes were very unwelcome and I was not getting the results I desired from over the counter treatments, so I decided to opt for a more result-oriented medical treatment. I met Dr. Motykie and several of his staff member while working as a makeup artist on a talk show he was appearing on and was immediately charmed by his manner and the staff. After discussing my issues with the spa director, she recommended I come in for an assessment of my skin issues. We settled on microneedling as an appropriate treatment. The experience was amazing. First of all, the spa is beautiful and inviting. The charm of the staff was taken to next level upon arrival. The knowledge and professionalism of the staff really stood out. This made a huge impression on me because I have had bad experiences at medical spas in the past because the staff lacked knowledge on dealing with African American skin resulting in more damage to my skin than I came in with. Microneedling turned out to be a very effective treatment for me. The way treatment is administered with an advanced instrument called The Derma Pen. The Derma Pen contains a cluster of fine needles which create a controlled injury or micro tears in the skin with motorized needling action. A topical pain killer was administered so I felt no pain, but the sensation reminded me of being tattooed. The needling prompts collagen stimulation and growth factors which naturally repair the skin to take action. The procedure was painless, required no down time, and yeilded phenomenal results. What I experienced immediately after treatment was tighter, firmer skin. In the days following the procedure, I experienced dryness, roughness and shedding of the skin. Both of which were expected but not esthetically unnoticeable. On the 7th day after the treatment my skin turned a corner. It was SO smooth, SO firm and almost completely evened out. The healing and results I saw over 7 days would have taken 6 months ordinarily. I highly recommend this treatment. It is HIGHLY effective if you experience pigmentation issues, want tighter former skin and want to minimize acne scarring.

I've always had a layer of pudge on my tummy, which I didn't really mind pre-kiddos, but the crepe-ing and overall looseness of my skin makes the extra weight really unbearable for me to look at. So it had to go.

I started a series of treatments with Motykie Med Spa in LA both to shrink down the inches and deal with the skin situation. I kicked it off with CoolSculpting (large suction head, lower abdomen) about four weeks ago.

The procedure itself was no big deal. Mild discomfort in the beginning, slightly more moderate discomfort towards the end. I was a little claustrophobic, but I took a my prescribed anti-anxiety medication before the procedure and for the most part I was fairly relaxed. (Loved Tricia, she was incredibly soothing.)

The real shock came when the hour was up and it was time to remove the device. It is not for the faint of heart, my fat was frozen in to a solid block on the front of my torso. Whew! My heart still speeds up a little thinking about it. I've attached a photo for your enjoyment.

Tricia massaged down the block of fat-ice, which was uncomfortable to say the least. You are completely frozen and thawing out feels like what you might think thawing out would feel like. Awful. It lasted about ten minutes, and then slowly faded to numbness and I was on my way.

The first few days post-procedure I was sore. By the fourth day I was having stabbing pains in my stomach and could hardly stand the itching. My husband patted my butt through my pants one evening and it nearly sent me over the edge I was so close to my pain threshold from the pain in my stomach. It's worth noting that I also got my period on the same day. I was crampy inside and out so it was kind of a one-two punch of horrible.

I spoke with the lovely folks at Motykie who listened to all my whining and assured me it was a normal reaction (and from reading reviews online after the fact, it seems like it's almost a standard reaction) and recommended advil and cortisone cream, both of which did help. For my next round, I'm going to ask about a prescription for a nerve-blocker, something I've read is really effective in dulling the discomfort. (Yes, I'm still planning a next round, more on that in a moment...)

The stabbing pain subsided after a few days, but the soreness and itchiness slowly faded, hanging on until about the end of week three, just about week four when I finally felt like I'd returned to normal. Again, cortisone cream really helped with the itching when applied regularly. I also found my Strivectin stretch mark lotion to help, but that might have been mental.

So...will I be continuing on my series of treatments? Absolutely. I've lost 4 pounds in my stomach since the procedure and I'm not quite half way through the recovery period. There is no question it's been effective. As for the pain, I don't know what people expect killing off fat cells to feel like, but I can't say I'm surprised it doesn't feel good. In short: It's an area I truly feel self conscious about and I'm not afraid of a little discomfort to see it banished for life.

I'm sharing a photo of my frozen fat block, and I'll come back with before and afters when I'm fully healed.

I got it during my rhinoplasty on my face, neck, chest, and hands. I loved it. My face is pretty much done peeling now and it looks really shiny and fresh. It did not hurt. it itched a little on my neck and chest. My face got brownish and crusty and peeled a lot but I liked that. I thought it would be stronger, honestly. I was wanting to do a TCA peel and I may do that another time, but this peel was nice and a little deeper than other peels I have gotten in the past like the skin medica vitalize peel, PCA peel, 50% and 70% glycolic acid peels. I get them to control breakouts and help fade hyperpigmentation and solar lentigos (brown spots) from excess sun exposure as a child and teen.


Updated on 22 Jan 2011:
It is 17 days post -peel today and my skin is no longer as nice as is was after the initial peel days. After the initial peel days my skin was moist and fresh, now it has become somewhat dry and has broken out. I am flaky all over my face. I am not sure if it is the surgery and anesthesia that is causing dry, flaky skin or if it is normal post-peel flakiness. Anyone else who knows about this, let me know :)


Updated on 23 Jan 2011:
Today-Jan.23-11-I broke out a little on my forhead and the area around my nose. My skin is kinda dry now in some parts. My nose is horribly dry but it might just be from having that splint on from my rhinoplasty. I am still happy I got the peel though.


Updated on 29 Jan 2011:
Today is January 29, 2011. It has been 25 days since my peel. My skin was beautiful 7 days post peel but now it dry, rough, flaky, broken out, and it gets a burning sensation sometimes. I do not know what happened because I used sunblock everyday and everything. I am hoping this will go away because my skin looks like crap right now. Also, a scar I had under my eye got darker after the peel.



Updated on 18 Feb 2011:
Hi everyone. I am 6 weeks post-peel now. I am still really dry on my face. My skin is rough and flaky, especially on my nose, cheeks, and forehead. I had some dryness before but nothing this bad. I can feel every expression on my face due to the dryness. The peel did not get rid of my annoying lentigo under my right eye so I got it zapped with the laser when I went in for my 2nd laser hair removal treatment this past Wednesday. It got a little darker after it was zapped, but now its back to normal and has not crusted and flaked off so maybe the laser setting was not strong enough for that spot. I am washing with CeraVe, moisturizing with Complex 15, and using Blue Lizard sunblock for sensitive skin. I have not started on my retin-a again yet due to this irritation on my face. I have a dermatologist appointment on Monday. Hopefully, she can help me with the dryness.

Updated on 16 Mar 2011:
My skin dryness has been improving. As of now, my nose is still the most dry area of my face. I barely put moisturizer on it because it is to sensitive to rub it in. I have started back on my regular skin care regimen. It goes as follows:

am= CeraVe cleanser, glycolic acid treatment pads (15%) 3X a week, Nia24 intensive recovery moisturizer, blue lizard sunblock for sensitive skin.

pm= oil cleanser to remove sunblock, CeraVe cleanser, retin-a micro .04%

I started a new birth control, nuva ring, and I got some breakouts, so I am hoping that starting back on my regular skin care will take care of that.

At 3 months post-op I will start again on getting monthly to 6-week glycolic peels. That really keeps my pores clean, clear, and tight.

I did try using some jojoba oil on my skin when it was really dry and i think it did help but I think it may have also contributed to the breakouts along with the NuvaRing. I liked how shiny and fresh the jojoba oil made my skin look and feel but I will wait until my skin settles down from the breakouts before I think about adding that back in.


Updated on 29 Mar 2011:
My skin has improved. My nose is still dry and flaky but it is slowly getting better. I am 3 months post-peel in 2 days.

Updated on 17 Apr 2011:
My skin is back to being dry, flaky, irritated, red, and rough. Also, I have acne now (from the NuvaRing). My skin has also taken another turn for the worse. My normal, gentle cleanser, CeraVe, is now burning the hell out of my skin when I wash with it. It feels like acid is being applied to my skin each time I wash my face. I don't know what is happening, but I guess there is something that is irritating my already irritated skin because when I use my oil cleanser to remove my sun block, I have no burning. This never happened to me before the Vi peel. I used to use so many skin products before and my skin was more than fine. I used retin-a micro every night. Glycolic aicd peels once a month and even some glycolic acid at home peel pads. With all that stuff, I never had any problems and now since the peel I have all these new problems. After this peel, my annoying brown lentigo under my right eye still did not go away. My skin looked so good 1 week post-peel and I do not understand what the hell happened!!!



Updated on 17 May 2011:
At 4 months post-peel (Vi peel), I am still dry, flaky, and have lizard skin. I guess I am turning into the lizard from using so much blue lizard sunblock!!


Updated on 22 Jun 2011:
So, I am 6 months post-op now and my skin is still bad. Actually, it has gotten worse over the past few days. I look like I have a sunburn on my face and the flaking is horrible. I can literally rub skin off my face when I wash my face morning and night and ALL throughout the day. My skin actually looks older. It has this weird look to it. It burns when I wash it an dis really sensitive to the sun. I tried to wear makeup the other day to cover the redness but that was a mistake. The makeup stuck in all the flakes and since my face is soooo red and chapped, the makeup did not even match my skin tone anymore. This is after I rubbed the skin off in the shower, sprayed my face with Evian, and put on 2 coats of moisturizer. It's like the moisturizr does not even penetrate. Once the moisturizer dries on my face, my skin just goes right back to feeling chapped again. Chapped is the best way I can explain it. There is like this burnt later over my regular face. I am so desperate at this point. I went to another dermatologist today and he prescribed me with this cream called Desonide. He gave it to me in an ointment form, which means the vehicle is petroleum jelly. It is a corticosteroid so I can;t use it for too long but hopefully it will offer some relief. This has not been a good experience at all. :( Make sure you guys make the pictures larger when you look at them so you can see my skin up close.
Updated on 28 Jun 2011:
Ok, so it's been 7 days of me using the Desonide ointment to treat my dry, flaky, red, chapped skin. The ointment is a petroleum jelly base. It is really hydrating but the only con is that when you use the ointment during the day it is hard to put anything else on the skin since the jelly is so thick and sticky. Anyways, my skin has improved. The dryness is really the most noticeable difference. My skin is still sunburned looking though. I have been using the ointment a.m. and p.m. In the morning, I do not use face wash anymore, I just rinse my skin with plain, cool water and then reapply the ointment. After tonight, I will not use the ointment anymore, but I think I will continue to use plain petroleum jelly on my face at night and CeraVe moisturizer with sunblock during the day. I am not going to sue retin-a, glycolic acid, or anything else irritating. I am hoping that if I just leave my skin alone it will heal itself naturally. Down the line, I can resume the use of other skin care products with the approval and supervision of my dermatologist. I will keep you all updated. For all of you experiencing side effects from this chemical peel or any other, I think you might want to try the petroleum jelly treatment. It may work for you too.


Updated on 11 Jul 2011:
My skin is still bad. It is still red, dry, rough, broken out, burning. So pretty much I have not been using anything on my face except aquaphor and have been trying to avoid going outside during the day so i don't even have to wear sunblock. I am trying to let my skin heal. I have been using the aquaphor for 2 straight says now (day and night). Even with the aquaphor, I wake up with dry a** skin. I am not exaggerating when I say my skin is as rough as a reptile. It is like there is some kind of callus or something forming over my normal skin. I have been to the dermatologist 4 times and they can't seem to figure out what is wrong. No derm has yet suggest rosacea but I think it is a possibility. Hopefully not, but I still have to be realistic about what it may be. I never had this problem before. it as only been since my surgery and peel. But maybe all the stress of everything caused a bad rosacea flare. I am scared to use any topical rosacea meds for fear of further injuring my skin, in the case it is not rosacea and just a chemical burn or something. It has been over 6 months that I am dealing with this issue. The best way to describe my skin is sandpaper skin.

Went to get botox at Dr Motykie. His PA, Neekan, persuaded me Kybella would help my marionette lines. She didn’t say it’s not FDA approved or used for face and no one uses it on thin face. She injected more in the left side. When my face became scarred with lumps and indentation Dr Motykie suggested kenlog steroids which is known to cause indentation. They were very reckless and don’t have the machines to help fix this.