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I had the pleasure of joining The Smart Girls Club podcast for Episode 14 - a conversation that felt both honest and rejuvenating. Exactly what great cosmetic treatments and conversations should be. In the episode, we dive into everything from the myths surrounding Botox® and fillers, to how cosmetic medicine can be approached in a way that feels natural, thoughtful, and personal. We also talk through the subtle shifts in how confidence, identity, and beauty evolve as we age and how important it is to feel informed and in control of your choices. If you’ve ever felt curious (or cautious!) about aesthetic treatments, this is a great listen. I share insights on lip fillers, Botox®, Profhilo®, and how I work with patients to achieve results that still feel like you - just a little more rested and refreshed. At ALLOR, my goal has always been to create a space where people feel seen, heard, and never judged. This conversation was a wonderful extension of that ethos, and I’m so grateful to have been invited. A big thank you to Sarah Cavanagh, the lovely host of The Smart Girls Club, for having me on and guiding such a thoughtful, engaging chat. You can listen now to Episode 14 on iHeartRadio or Spotify on the links below or just search The Smart Girls Club and look for my name. Written by Dr. Heather Anderson, MBChB, BSc, Urgent Care FRNZCUC, Cosmetic Medicine PGDip - NZSCM | ALLOR Cosmetic Medicine, Auckland Botox®, Prescription Medicine For the treatment of frown lines and crow’s feet around the eyes. Botox® has risks and benefits. Ask your doctor if Botox is right for you. Botulinum toxin type A 50, 100, 200 Units. For product information check with your doctor or Consumer Medicine Information on www.medsafe.govt.nz. Click for further details. Allergan, Auckland. PROFHILO® containing low & high molecular weight hyaluronic acid, is a Class III medical device for the treatment of the face and body for contours redefinition and laxity remodelling where skin laxity is a problem. Profhilo® has risks and benefits. Do not use with treatments such a laser resurfacing or medium deep skin-peeling. Caution in people on blood thinning medicines. Do not inject into inflamed areas or intravenously or intramuscularly. Possible side effects: pain and swelling at injection site. Accelagen Pty. Ltd. Whanganui. Dermal Filler, Medical Device Class III to smooth facial wrinkles and folds, correct facial atrophic scars, restore or enhance the lips or restore facial volume. Dermal filler has risk and benefits. Ask your doctor if dermal filler is right for you. For product information check with your doctor or from product details with the supplier.

I think about doing cosmetic treatments but feel guilty. I always put my family first, but my husband keeps telling me not to feel bad for wanting to put myself first for a change. How do people get around feeling guilty? Anon, Riverhead. Parental guilt is real for parents, so it is entirely understandable you feel this way. We always put our family first and so naturally feel as if we don’t deserve the same. Interestingly this concept often stems from us suffering low self-worth. Taught to us by generations above, it is surprisingly common to feel as if we don’t deserve certain things because we feel we aren’t worthy. Self-worth is a core belief we possess similarly to any other core belief such as religion. It is different from low self-esteem as it does not fluctuate easily (think good hair day versus bad hair day). It is instead a static mental space where one is so secure within themselves; they know they will be okay if they lost everything (a scary but very powerful space to be). The seeds of low self-worth are often planted when we are children and continue to grow with dysfunctional adult relationships, where we suffer emotional abuse ranging from not feeling heard, through to being yelled at, severely criticised, or even physically abused. Identifying this is not to necessarily lay blame on our parents, partners, or friends, as they are a product of their own experience, but instead allows us to identify patterns of intergenerational and interpersonal trauma that lay the foundations of low self-worth, so toxic cycles can be broken. Low self-worth is often developed alongside an inner critic who negates our decisions and tells us we shouldn’t do things because we aren’t worthy. It can also develop as a reflex of receiving criticism from influential figures in our lives and can be hard to turn off. One of the most liberating things we can do to counteract our inner critic is to say DELETE every time it rears its ugly head. Saying it aloud, with conviction is an extremely effective way to diminish its power and allows us to instead turn up the volume on compliments. Sometimes naming our inner critic can further help disconnect from its influence. When we shift our thinking in this way, we become more positive and allow ourselves to internalise positive feedback. We then start to really respect and love ourselves. We get to know ourselves. We become our own best friend. It then becomes okay to put ourselves first just as we are always told in flights to put our oxygen mask on first. This also allows us to build stronger boundaries and we become happier with more capacity for acts of kindness, as we are no longer stomped on by negativity. Whether it be cosmetic treatments, going out for that lunch with a friend or eating that piece of cake, being kind to ourselves by silencing our inner critic and welcoming in positivity can be a life changing experience. The warm hug of grace we give ourselves can be just what the Doctor ordered. Quick Answers: Why do I feel guilty about wanting cosmetic treatments? Guilt often comes from low self-worth and the habit of always putting others first, which can make it feel undeserved to prioritise yourself. Is feeling guilty about self-care a sign of low self-worth? It can be. Low self-worth is a deep-seated belief that you are not worthy, and it often shows up as guilt when you do something for yourself. What is the difference between low self-worth and low self-esteem? Low self-esteem fluctuates with circumstances, while low self-worth is a more fixed core belief about your value as a person. Where does low self-worth usually come from? It often develops in childhood and can be reinforced by critical or emotionally unhealthy relationships later in life. How can I stop my inner critic from controlling my decisions? Actively interrupt it. Saying “delete” when critical thoughts arise can help reduce their power and make room for more positive thinking. Is it okay to put myself first sometimes? Yes. Looking after yourself builds stronger boundaries, improves wellbeing, and allows you to show up more positively for others. If you have a question for Dr. Heather you would like answered anonymously, please email askdrheather@allor.co.nz. Written by Dr. Heather Anderson, MBChB, BSc, FRNZCUC, PGDip Cosmetic Medicine, NZSCM | ALLOR Cosmetic Medicine, Auckland

What is Botox®? Anon, Whenuapai. A great question. Many assume they know as it's well splashed over the media, however I imagine many don't know more than "it freezes your face, Susan". Botox® is actually a brand name for Botulinum toxin (other brand names include Dysport® and Xeomin®). All of these contain variable concentrations of toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Originally used by the United States Army as a bioweapon in World War II, this chemical has a powerful effect on paralyzing muscles. In large quantities Botulinum toxin can be dangerous, causing muscles needed for breathing to stop working. When used in much smaller concentrations, such as those used in Cosmetic Medicine, it is an effective tweaker of facial musculature, acting as a relaxant for muscles that cause pesky wrinkles. In skilled hands the result is a lovely, refreshed face, without looking frozen (think post-holiday-in-the-tropics glow). In not-so-skilled hands it can lead to something that resembles a stroke. Botox® also acts on other parts of tissue such as sweat glands, providing an effective treatment for hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). It has also been shown to help reduce the appearance of scars. The effect of this chemical is transient, lasting 3-4 months on average (up to 6-9 months in some). Muscle fibre and sweat gland function completely returns once it wears off, so top-ups are required to maintain results. Despite function recovering, repeated treatments on muscles leads to wasting, as one slowly diminishes their desire to do certain expressions targeted by treatment injections, such as frowning. This alters the connectome in the brain, the complex wiring of brain cells connecting muscles of facial expression with emotion. Gradual weakening of muscles leads to altered emotions, hence less frowning triggers us to feel happier. Our animal instincts cause us to mimic each other, so if we look happier, so too do our peers. Like so many historical discoveries, Botox® began as a beast and morphed into a thing of beauty. In the right hands, you too can benefit from its clever brilliance. Quick Answers: What is Botox® and how does it work? Botox® is a brand name for botulinum toxin, which relaxes targeted muscles in small, controlled doses to soften wrinkles and refresh facial expression. Is Botox® the same as botulinum toxin? Yes. Botox® is one brand of botulinum toxin, along with others such as Dysport® and Xeomin®. Is Botox® safe when used for cosmetic treatments? Yes, when used in very small doses by a trained practitioner. The doses used in cosmetic medicine are carefully controlled and safe. How long do Botox® results last? Results typically last around 3–4 months, although some people may see effects for up to 6–9 months. Can Botox® be used for anything other than wrinkles? Yes. Botox® can also be used to treat excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) and has been shown to help reduce the appearance of some scars. Can repeated Botox® treatments change facial expression or mood? Over time, repeated treatments can weaken targeted muscles, which may reduce habitual frowning and can influence how emotions are expressed and perceived. If you have a question for Dr. Heather you would like answered anonymously, please email askdrheather@allor.co.nz. Xeomin® (incobotulinum toxin) Prescription Medicine for the treatment of upper facial lines: glabellar frown lines, crow’s feet around the eyes, horizontal forehead lines. Xeomin® has risks and benefits. Ask your doctor if Xeomin® is right for you (incobotulinum toxin A, purified Botulinum toxin type A 50 Units and 100 Units). For product information check with your doctor or Consumer Medicine Information on www.medsafe.govt.nz. Click for further details. Merz, Sydney. Distributed by Healthcare Logistics, Auckland. Dysport®, Prescription Medicine For the treatment of frown lines and crow’s feet around the eyes. Dysport® has risks and benefits. Ask your doctor if Dysport is right for you. Botulinum toxin type A 300 or 500 Ipsen Units. For product information check with your doctor or Consumer Medicine Information on www.medsafe.govt.nz. Click for further details. Galderma, Auckland. Botox®, Prescription Medicine For the treatment of frown lines and crow’s feet around the eyes. Botox® has risks and benefits. Ask your doctor if Botox is right for you. Botulinum toxin type A 50, 100, 200 Units. For product information check with your doctor or Consumer Medicine Information on www.medsafe.govt.nz. Click for further details. Allergan, Auckland.

I always feel very anxious over Christmas time, any recommendations on how to get through it all without being a nervous wreck? Anon, Whenuapai. Anxiety is very common. Add in pressure to attend multiple events, cook, host, buy presents, all whilst coping with the ever-increasing cost of living? Relentless. It's a stressful time. All wrapped up with feelings of guilt for not enjoying it as we are supposed to, it can leave many loathing the holidays. For those with children, the seemingly endless school holidays add another layer of pressure. Firstly, it is important to realise you are not alone. As humans we are built to feel anxious as a natural response to threatening situations. The adrenaline rush dilates our pupils, increases our heart rate, and puts our digestion on pause so we are ready to fight or flight. Sometimes less threatening situations trigger this response and we feel just as intensely when we aren't actually going to be physically harmed in the same way (although it feels a lot like it we are when dealing with tantruming children!). Social media, news and endless information at our fingertips triggers us to think more about issues we never used to. We are constantly bombarded so sometimes don't obtain the respite we need to switch off, so this must be done intentionally. This means forcing ourselves to stop. Really stop. Mindfulness and meditation are one of the ways we can achieve this. Thinking about our breath and body in real time helps ground our thinking and reminds us to be in the present. Taking even 1 or 2 minutes a day to do this can be so powerful. You can even do it whilst going for a walk. A great alternative is guided mediation or Hatha yoga, where yoga is combined with meditation (Google these and you will discover a raft of excellent free resources). These practices settle the mind, helping the clouds to clear and reminds us that just as aeroplanes escape clouds as they ascend, so can we. Even when it is raining, the blue sky is always there. Another great technique is writing down what triggers your anxiety. Be specific and really think about where it comes from, then write what would actually happen if the worst-case scenario played out. Then write how it makes you feel. Finally, write an affirmation of a positive way you can respond to the trigger. Something along the lines of "I am strong" or “I can…” to re-programme the mind to switch automatic negative thoughts into automatic positive ones. Doing this and re-reading your affirmations can really help you believe in your strength and power. Because we all have these qualities, we just need to realise them. Anxiety is best faced head on. That may feel scary, but just as a shadow monster grows in the eery darkness, it disappears once the light is switched on. You too, can switch the light on. If that still feels overwhelming, talking to you GP will help as there are pharmacological and professional services available if you need them. And finally, be kind to yourself. This is a busy time; however it can be wonderful if we pace ourselves and keep our boundaries. Say no to things that don't serve you, if it's not a "heck yes!", it's a no. A polite one of course. Quick Answers: Is it normal to feel more anxious over Christmas? Yes. Extra social pressure, costs, and family demands can make anxiety feel more intense at this time of year. What’s one simple thing I can do daily to calm anxiety? Try mindfulness or meditation. Even 1–2 minutes a day focusing on your breath and body can help ground you. How can I work out what’s actually triggering my anxiety? Write it down. List your triggers, imagine the worst-case scenario, note how it makes you feel, then write a positive affirmation for how you can respond. Should I talk to my GP if my anxiety feels overwhelming? Yes. If anxiety feels too hard to manage alone, your GP can help and can talk through professional supports and medication options if needed. How do I reduce holiday stress without feeling guilty? Set boundaries and pace yourself. Say no to things that do not serve you, and be kind to yourself. If you have a question for Dr. Heather you would like answered anonymously, please email askdrheather@allor.co.nz. Written by Dr. Heather Anderson, MBChB, BSc, FRNZCUC, PGDip Cosmetic Medicine, NZSCM | ALLOR Cosmetic Medicine, Auckland