Mirror Mirror with Amy Chang

What are you really paying for when a facelift costs $300,000 instead of $30,000? And does a higher price actually mean a better result?Dr. Kian Karimi joins Amy Chang to unpack the cost of facial rejuvenation, from the surgeon’s fee to anesthesia, facility charges, recovery support, and potential revisions. He explains how the scope of a surgical plan changes the price and why an expensive procedure cannot guarantee a particular outcome.They explore the differences between SMAS and deep plane facelifts, how additional procedures can change the overall cost, and what patients should ask about complications and revision policies. The conversation also covers choosing an injector, the importance of ongoing training, and how Dr. Karimi uses ultrasound in his practice.A candid conversation about looking beyond the price tag and understanding what you are paying for before making a cosmetic treatment decision.MATERA is a physician-led aesthetic clinic in Santa Monica, CA, founded by Amy Chang and medically led by board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. John Frederick. We help patients age beautifully through personalized care and the MATERA Slow Beauty Method™.Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/materaclinics/Website — https://materaclinics.com/Learn more or book a consultation: [email protected]→ Have a beauty question you want me to tackle on the next Inbox? DM @mirrormirrorwithamy on Instagram→ Subscribe so you don't miss next week's full Mirror Mirror episode.ABOUT MIRROR MIRRORMirror Mirror is a podcast that cuts through the noise and uncovers the science shaping beauty and the psychology driving our desire for it. Hosted by Amy Chang — LA Times contributing writer, Marie Claire 2024 Power Player, and a trusted authority in beauty, with over 2.4 million followers who turn to her for insights on cutting-edge treatments and science-backed skincare.Expect unfiltered conversations, expert insight, and the freedom to love your lipstick — while still questioning what perfection means.#beauty #skincare #aesthetics #facelift #plasticsurgery #cosmeticsurgery

After 16 years of beauty treatments and visits to more than 25 clinics, Amy Chang knew what she wanted from an aesthetic appointment: time to ask questions, thoughtful recommendations, and a plan that didn’t involve doing everything at once.In this special episode of Mirror Mirror, Amy switches seats and shares the story behind Matera, the medical aesthetics clinic she founded in Santa Monica. She opens up about the experiences that shaped it, from her first laser treatments for acne scars to finding the medical team to bring her vision to life. Amy explains what “slow beauty” means to her: unhurried consultations, gradual treatment, and taking time to reassess. She also discusses working with Dr. John Frederick and Matera’s clinical team, and how her mother’s life and passing inspired both the name and the courage to begin.Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/materaclinics/Website — https://materaclinics.com/MATERA is a physician-led aesthetic clinic in Santa Monica, CA, founded by Amy Chang and medically led by board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. John Frederick. We help patients age beautifully through personalized care and the MATERA Slow Beauty Method™.Learn more or book a consultation: [email protected]→ Have a beauty question you want me to tackle on the next Inbox? DM @mirrormirrorwithamy on Instagram→ Subscribe so you don't miss next week's full Mirror Mirror episode.ABOUT MIRROR MIRRORMirror Mirror is a podcast that cuts through the noise and uncovers the science shaping beauty and the psychology driving our desire for it. Hosted by Amy Chang — LA Times contributing writer, Marie Claire 2024 Power Player, and a trusted authority in beauty, with over 2.4 million followers who turn to her for insights on cutting-edge treatments and science-backed skincare.Expect unfiltered conversations, expert insight, and the freedom to love your lipstick — while still questioning what perfection means.LISTEN ANYWHEREApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/bh/podcast/mirror-mirror-with-amy-chang/id1876357199Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3NcpTY7ObN43ugrGsZtxgl?si=dbeb2c865aec4b21Instagram: @mirrormirrorwithamy#beautymyths #skincare #aesthetics #cosmetics #cosmeticsurgery

Veneers can change more than your smile. But what makes them look natural and what should you understand before permanently changing your teeth?Amy Chang sits down with her own cosmetic dentist, Dr. Jon Marashi, DDS, a Los Angeles cosmetic dentist and porcelain veneer specialist, for a candid conversation about veneer regret, natural-looking smiles, and the decisions that matter before permanently changing your teeth.They explore how tooth size, bite height and lip support influence facial appearance; what can happen when too much enamel is removed; and why planning matters before committing to cosmetic dental work.Amy also shares her experience with veneers and bite correction, while Dr. Marashi walks through his approach to temporary veneers, reviewing the final result before bonding, and coordinating dental work with other aesthetic treatments.In this episode:• What makes veneers look too big, too white or unnatural• Tooth preparation and preserving enamel• How teeth, lips and facial proportions work together• Temporary veneers and inspecting the final porcelain before bonding• Veneer regret, revision work and replacement• Questions to ask when choosing a cosmetic dentistLearn more from Dr. Jon Marashi:Explore his practice and services: https://www.drmarashi.com/Follow Dr. Jon Marashi on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/drjonmarashi/MATERA is a physician-led aesthetic clinic in Santa Monica, CA, founded by Amy Chang and medically led by board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. John Frederick. We help patients age beautifully through personalized care and the MATERA Slow Beauty Method™.Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/materaclinics/Website — https://materaclinics.com/Learn more or book a consultation: [email protected]→ Have a beauty question you want me to tackle on the next Inbox? DM @mirrormirrorwithamy on Instagram→ Subscribe so you don't miss next week's full Mirror Mirror episode.ABOUT MIRROR MIRRORMirror Mirror is a podcast that cuts through the noise and uncovers the science shaping beauty and the psychology driving our desire for it. Hosted by Amy Chang, LA Times contributing writer, Marie Claire 2024 Power Player, and a trusted authority in beauty, with over 2.4 million followers who turn to her for insights on cutting-edge treatments and science-backed skincare.Expect unfiltered conversations, expert insight, and the freedom to love your lipstick while still questioning what perfection means.#beautymyths #skincare #aesthetics #Veneers #CosmeticDentistry #PorcelainVeneers

Waking up at 3 a.m., struggling with brain fog, or noticing changes in your skin and hair? What should you ask when you no longer feel like yourself?Amy Chang sits down with Dr. Taz Bhatia, integrative medicine physician and author of The Hormone Shift, for a candid conversation about perimenopause, women’s health, and the experience of feeling dismissed when something feels wrong.Dr. Taz shares her own health journey, while Amy opens up about noticing changes at 38 and navigating treatment with her clinician. Together, they explore the questions women bring to appointments, the debate around hormone testing, and Dr. Taz’s perspective on nutrition and individualized care.Topics in this episode:• Perimenopause, sleep changes and brain fog• Feeling dismissed and advocating for yourself• Hormone testing and treatment conversations• Protein, nutrition and changing needs• Skin, hair and hormonal changes• Amy’s personal experience with perimenopauseLearn more from Dr. Taz:Explore Dr. Taz’s integrative health practice and services: https://holplus.co/Find more of her work, resources, books, and education: https://doctortaz.com/Follow Dr. Taz on YouTube: @DrTazMDMATERA is a physician-led aesthetic clinic in Santa Monica, CA, founded by Amy Chang and medically led by board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. John Frederick. We help patients age beautifully through personalized care and the MATERA Slow Beauty Method™.Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/materaclinics/Website — https://materaclinics.com/Learn more or book a consultation: [email protected]→ Have a beauty question you want me to tackle on the next Inbox? DM @mirrormirrorwithamy on Instagram→ Subscribe so you don't miss next week's full Mirror Mirror episode.ABOUT MIRROR MIRRORMirror Mirror is a podcast that cuts through the noise and uncovers the science shaping beauty and the psychology driving our desire for it. Hosted by Amy Chang, LA Times contributing writer, Marie Claire 2024 Power Player, and a trusted authority in beauty, with over 2.4 million followers who turn to her for insights on cutting-edge treatments and science-backed skincare.Expect unfiltered conversations, expert insight, and the freedom to love your lipstick while still questioning what perfection means.#beauty #skincare #hrt #hormones #hormonehealth #perimenopause #pcos #drtaz #menopause

What happens when you’re praised for your beauty but still don’t feel good enough?Nazanin Mandi joins Amy Chang for a candid conversation about body dysmorphia, life after her divorce from Miguel, and rebuilding an identity she felt she had lost.Scouted as a model at 10, Nazanin shares how an early comment about her body stayed with her and how insecurity later affected her work, confidence, and willingness to be seen. She reflects on a music video she never released, anxiety before red carpets, and the difference between receiving compliments and believing them.Nazanin also opens up about the loneliness of starting over after a relationship that spanned nearly two decades. She shares the role therapy, family, solitude, and returning to music played in reconnecting with herself.In this conversation:• Childhood beauty pressure and body image• Losing your identity in a long-term relationship• Life after divorce and learning to be alone• People-pleasing, perfectionism, and the inner critic• What helps Nazanin when old thought patterns return• Building connection through her wellness community, You Bloom This isn’t a story about becoming someone else. It’s about remembering who you are.Subscribe to Mirror Mirror with Amy Chang for honest conversations about beauty, identity, and self-worth.Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/materaclinics/Website — https://materaclinics.com/MATERA is a physician-led aesthetic clinic in Santa Monica, CA, founded by Amy Chang and medically led by board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. John Frederick. We help patients age beautifully through personalized care and the MATERA Slow Beauty Method™.Learn more or book a consultation: [email protected]→ Subscribe so you don't miss next week's full Mirror Mirror episode.ABOUT MIRROR MIRRORMirror Mirror is a podcast that cuts through the noise and uncovers the science shaping beauty and the psychology driving our desire for it. Hosted by Amy Chang, LA Times contributing writer, Marie Claire 2024 Power Player, and a trusted authority in beauty, with over 2.4 million followers who turn to her for insights on cutting-edge treatments and science-backed skincare.Expect unfiltered conversations, expert insight, and the freedom to love your lipstick while still questioning what perfection means.#beautymyths #skincare #aesthetics #beauty #filler

How does “just a little filler” turn into a look you never intended and why can it be difficult to notice the change? Amy Chang sits down with Dr. Evan Rieder, a dermatologist and psychiatrist, to explore perception drift: how our surroundings, social feeds, and cosmetic experiences can shift what looks normal or beautiful to us.They discuss the pressure of pretty privilege, why the satisfaction of a treatment can fade, and how the pursuit of one improvement can become the search for the next. Amy also shares her own experience with being overfilled and how it changed what she looks for in an injector.In this conversation:• How repeated exposure can reshape beauty preferences• Why your injector’s judgment matters• When a practitioner should say no• The relationship between appearance, identity, and satisfaction• Why perception drift and body dysmorphic disorder are not the same thing• Four areas to reflect on before pursuing another treatment Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/materaclinics/Website — https://materaclinics.com/MATERA is a physician-led aesthetic clinic in Santa Monica, CA, founded by Amy Chang and medically led by board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. John Frederick. We help patients age beautifully through personalized care and the MATERA Slow Beauty Method™.Learn more or book a consultation: [email protected]→ Have a beauty question you want me to tackle on the next Inbox? DM @mirrormirrorwithamy on Instagram→ Subscribe so you don't miss next week's full Mirror Mirror episode.ABOUT MIRROR MIRRORMirror Mirror is a podcast that cuts through the noise and uncovers the science shaping beauty and the psychology driving our desire for it. Hosted by Amy Chang — LA Times contributing writer, Marie Claire 2024 Power Player, and a trusted authority in beauty, with over 2.4 million followers who turn to her for insights on cutting-edge treatments and science-backed skincare.Expect unfiltered conversations, expert insight, and the freedom to love your lipstick — while still questioning what perfection means.#beautymyths #skincare #aesthetics #beauty #filler

Looking your best doesn’t have to mean looking younger. What changes in your skin as you age and what changes when you stop believing your best years are behind you?In this special Mirror Mirror conversation with Shiseido, Amy Chang explores aging well from two perspectives: skincare science and personal reinvention.First, Dr. Nathalie Broussard, PharmD and Shiseido’s Director of Scientific Communication for EMEA, discusses skin aging, collagen, sagging and the relationship between skin, stress and lifestyle. She also introduces the brand’s research behind the Vital Perfection Sculpt-Define Serum.Then, Chriselle Lim joins Amy to talk about starting over after divorce, questioning the expectations she grew up with, and finding confidence through lived experience. They discuss simplifying skincare, wanting to look good without chasing youth, and why Chriselle wouldn’t trade her 40s for her 20s.In this episode:• How skin changes with age• Shiseido’s research into collagen and skin’s support network• Skincare, SPF, stress and daily routines• Reinvention after divorce and cultural expectations• Why confidence can come after taking the leap• Looking your best without trying to look youngerMATERA is a physician-led aesthetic clinic in Santa Monica, CA, founded by Amy Chang and medically led by board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. John Frederick. We help patients age beautifully through personalized care and the MATERA Slow Beauty Method™.Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/materaclinics/Website — https://materaclinics.com/Learn more or book a consultation: [email protected]→ Have a beauty question you want me to tackle on the next Inbox? DM @mirrormirrorwithamy on Instagram→ Subscribe so you don't miss next week's full Mirror Mirror episode.ABOUT MIRROR MIRRORMirror Mirror is a podcast that cuts through the noise and uncovers the science shaping beauty and the psychology driving our desire for it. Hosted by Amy Chang — LA Times contributing writer, Marie Claire 2024 Power Player, and a trusted authority in beauty, with over 2.4 million followers who turn to her for insights on cutting-edge treatments and science-backed skincare.Expect unfiltered conversations, expert insight, and the freedom to love your lipstick — while still questioning what perfection means.#beautymyths #skincare #aesthetics #ChriselleLim #AgingWell #aging #Shiseido

What does the SPF number on your sunscreen actually tell you and how is it tested?Amy Chang sits down with Ava Matthews, co-founder of Ultra Violette, to explore sunscreen labels, mineral versus chemical filters, and why sunscreen formulas differ around the world. Ava shares her perspective on the CHOICE sunscreen testing controversy, Ultra Violette’s product recall, and the changes the brand made to its testing process. They also discuss bemotrizinol (BEMT), sunscreen texture and wearability, and the everyday questions that make SPF feel more complicated than it should.Topics covered in this episode:• How SPF testing works and why results can vary• Ultra Violette’s experience with a sunscreen recall• Mineral versus chemical sunscreen filters• Why American, Australian, European, and Korean sunscreens differ• Whether makeup with SPF and over-makeup mists are enough• Sunscreen for sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin• Tinted sunscreen, reapplication, and common sunscreen misconceptions→ Have a beauty question you want me to tackle on the next Inbox? DM @mirrormirrorwithamy on Instagram→ Subscribe so you don't miss next week's full Mirror Mirror episode.ABOUT MIRROR MIRRORMirror Mirror is a podcast that cuts through the noise and uncovers the science shaping beauty and the psychology driving our desire for it. Hosted by Amy Chang — LA Times contributing writer, Marie Claire 2024 Power Player, and a trusted authority in beauty, with over 2.4 million followers who turn to her for insights on cutting-edge treatments and science-backed skincare.Expect unfiltered conversations, expert insight, and the freedom to love your lipstick — while still questioning what perfection means.#beautymyths #skincare #aesthetics #sunscreen #spf

Filler, Botox, Sculptra, PRP, PDGF and exosomes are everywhere, but how do these treatments differ, and what should you understand before trying one?In this episode, Amy Chang sits down with board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. John Frederick to unpack the rapidly changing world of aesthetic medicine. They discuss why filler can remain in the face longer than patients expect, where filler may be appropriate, the risks associated with nose filler, and why your treatment history can matter when planning a future facelift.Dr. Frederick also explains the differences between filler and collagen-stimulating treatments, including Sculptra, PRP, PRF, topical PDGF and exosomes. Plus, they examine Botox and other neuromodulators, the trade-offs of longer-lasting treatments, and how aesthetic priorities can change as we age.→ Have a beauty question you want me to tackle on the next Inbox? DM @mirrormirrorwithamy on Instagram→ Subscribe so you don't miss next week's full Mirror Mirror episode.ABOUT MIRROR MIRRORMirror Mirror is a podcast that cuts through the noise and uncovers the science shaping beauty and the psychology driving our desire for it. Hosted by Amy Chang — LA Times contributing writer, Marie Claire 2024 Power Player, and a trusted authority in beauty, with over 2.4 million followers who turn to her for insights on cutting-edge treatments and science-backed skincare.Expect unfiltered conversations, expert insight, and the freedom to love your lipstick — while still questioning what perfection means.#beautymyths #skincare #aesthetics #dermalfillers #prp #collagen #sculptra #prf #exosomes #beauty

Social media gives us endless fashion inspiration, so why is it making personal style harder to find?Fashion trend forecaster Mandy Lee, known online as @oldloserinbrooklyn, joins Amy Chang to unpack why fear of looking wrong, being “cringe,” or changing in public can keep us from developing a style that actually feels like our own.Mandy explains why people online increasingly dress alike, even when real life remains much more diverse, and how TikTok and Instagram can turn aesthetics into rigid rulebooks. Amy and Mandy explore trending topics like why personal style requires vulnerability, experimentation and the willingness to make mistakes. They also discuss how politics, economics and regional culture shape fashion; why copying an aesthetic isn’t the same as developing taste; clean-girl fatigue and the return of indie sleaze; Pinterest versus genuine trend forecasting; accelerating trend cycles; and how internet culture is changing beauty and body standards. Mandy’s most practical advice is surprisingly simple: stop shopping. Wear what is already in your closet, photograph your outfits and pay attention to what you naturally repeat. That process can reveal what you genuinely like—and what your wardrobe actually needs.→ Have a beauty question you want me to tackle on the next Inbox? DM @mirrormirrorwithamy on Instagram→ Subscribe so you don't miss next week's full Mirror Mirror episode.ABOUT MIRROR MIRRORMirror Mirror is a podcast that cuts through the noise and uncovers the science shaping beauty and the psychology driving our desire for it. Hosted by Amy Chang — LA Times contributing writer, Marie Claire 2024 Power Player, and a trusted authority in beauty, with over 2.4 million followers who turn to her for insights on cutting-edge treatments and science-backed skincare.Expect unfiltered conversations, expert insight, and the freedom to love your lipstick — while still questioning what perfection means.#beautymyths #skincare #aesthetics #personalstyle #fashiontrends #styletrends