Skin care

How My Mom Suckered Me Into Seeing a Fancy Beverly Hills Dermatologist

It was all she wanted for Christmas. I had to go.

by Emily Popp

6 of 8

Worst Case, Best Case After examining my skin, Dr. Shamban lays out my best case and worst case scenarios. The worst comes first. "Worst case, you get too much sun, you get some brown spots, rosacea, fine lines and wrinkles, and if you don't do anything under your eyes, the circles get very dark five years from now. That's your worst case."

OK, good to know! Now let's get to that best case, stat.

"Best case, you always have the skin you have now," she says.

That's it? I thought my best case scenario was, "You turn into Gwyneth Paltrow" or something on that level. But what Dr. Shamban seems to be getting at is that I've got it good now. I should take a moment to appreciate that fact, and then do what I can to keep it that way.

"You know, everything you do -- how you look, how you dress -- gives me an idea about who you are as a person. From your eyes, to your hair pulled back, to your pink-colored jeans, I get the sense that you're whimsical, but you're poised and smart," says Dr. Shamban.

The end of our meeting feels more like a Tarot card reading than it does a dermatologist appointment. I went from feeling like a gorgeous runway model to feeling like a hallowed out zombie in desperate need of fillers. But it's right now, at the end of our appointment, that I feel most myself.

"Now, let's pop that milia," says Dr. Shamban, leaning in and adjusting my chair.

SEE NEXT PAGE: Phone Call Freak Out

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Older comments

Thank you.

by Monique3 Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 09:15PM Report as inappropriate

Interesting to know price of undereye injections! Very good writer!

by StayinYoung Friday, April 12, 2013 at 05:40PM Report as inappropriate

Lovely article and sorta funny!!!

by Zeaundra Monday, March 25, 2013 at 02:32PM Report as inappropriate

Very nice article. $900 for Restylane is quite reasonable. I'm assuming the doc was recommending a modest amount for that price. Her mother seems caring, but quite overbearing. She's 27, not 7.

by robyne00 Friday, March 15, 2013 at 04:05PM Report as inappropriate

i do not need the services of a dermatologist at this moment but i did I would not hire someone so expensive

by stacy45 Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 08:00PM Report as inappropriate

wish i could go to a nice beverly hills derm

by treehugger1997 Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 02:23PM Report as inappropriate

haha, moms...

by AstridB Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 05:52AM Report as inappropriate

Just a question--if the dermatologist said she had beautiful skin, why inject her with Restylane? This is what keeps me from trusting certain members of the medical industry--money, money, money! I did enjoy the mother-daughter conversation immensely.

by GigiSD Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 08:57PM Report as inappropriate

This was very a great article!

by Chris213 Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 07:14PM Report as inappropriate

good article, love the transcript of the phone call! haha

by sportimonki13 Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 02:57PM Report as inappropriate