I’m an Upper East Side injectables pro – anti-aging skin treatments stars get for a ‘Met Gala Glow’ before the big event
NATURALLY gorgeous and genetically blessed as they are, plenty of stars have still seen the pointy end of a Botox syringe.
And that’s not all they’re getting done, according to an injectables pro at a top Manhattan plastic surgeon’s office who detailed the pricey skin treatments Met Gala attendees get ahead of the big event.
Neinstein Plastic Surgery sits feet away from the Plaza Hotel and Bergdorf Goodman — and just a mile down Fifth Avenue from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The location is perfect for celebs and fashion royalty to slip in for a little nip, tuck, and tweak ahead of the big to-do on May 6.
While the docs won’t dish on their famous clientele, they told The U.S. Sun that both stars and fashion industry people are making appointments.
In fact, their schedule gets so packed in the lead-up to the Met Gala that they work overtime on the weekends.
They said they have regulars who come in for the same treatments every year, including a full face of Botox and filler in their lips, chin, or under-eye area.
“Many celebs have the same fears and worries about their appearance as normal people,” said head nurse and injectables specialist Tara Adashev.
They can also get the “Met Gala Glow” for a little extra boost.
So what, exactly does that entail?
It’s a combination of two treatments that are meant to leave skin with a “glassy glow,” according to Adashev.
She said it “gets your skin ready for upcoming events without the downtime.”
A PERSONALIZED GLOW-UP
First is the $400 Aquagold facial, which is customizable and can target fine lines and wrinkles, brighten dull skin, shrink pores, and lighten acne scars through microneedling.
“It’s a cocktail that’s completely just for your skin type,” Adashev explained.
“We’re treating the needs of your skin — not mine, not someone else’s,” she added, noting that she starts with a mini-assessment and picks which ingredients to include accordingly.
Everyone’s really into the glassy skin, the doughnut glaze look.
Tara Adashev
Then vitamins, minerals, hyaluronic acid, Botox, and anything else she picks is pumped into the skin with quick, tiny pricks.
The treatment is recommended 24 to 48 hours in advance, though Adashev said some people will get it the morning of a red carpet.
“By the time that kicks in, your skin is glowing and your makeup goes on nice and smooth,” she said.
“Everyone’s really into the glassy skin, the doughnut glaze look,” she added, noting that it lasts for three to four weeks.
ZAP ME, DOC
The second part is the Lutronic Ultra laser, which runs about $800 per treatment.
It also can improve skin texture and treat sun damage, dark spots, pigment, and fine lines.
This one takes a bit longer to get the full effects, so patients are more likely to book it a bit further out.
“This is good seven to ten days leading up to the Met Gala for skin tightening, skin brightening, anti-aging, pores, wrinkles,” said Adashev.
It’s considered to be low downtime for a laser treatment, getting “your best glow” in about a week.
According to Adashev, the finishing touch for all of this is an anti-aging staple: Botox, which usually takes a few days to show results.
Does the 'Met Gala Glow' really work?
The U.S. Sun's lifestyle editor, Carly Stern, tried out the treatment.
I’ve been to the Met Gala once — well, to the red carpet at least, where as a reporter I waved down stars to stop for interviews.
Kim Kardashian was pregnant that year and wore that controversial floral dress. I also got a grainy photo of Taylor Swift. It was magical.
Anyway, I don’t see my personal invite coming anytime soon, but when I was offered the chance to get my own “Met Gala Glow,” it was an easy yes.
First up, head nurse Tara Adashev assessed my skin to decide how she’d customize the first part of the treatment, the Aquagold facial.
She noted my fair skin, some redness on my cheeks, and pigmentation on my chin, and pulled some goodies out of her arsenal.
She hit me with some vitamin C, Botox — which was only injected superficially, not into the muscle — and Skinvive, a new hyaluronic acid filler just approved by the FDA last year.
Those were all pricked into my face with a microneedling tool, which pinched a bit but wasn’t too bad. It all took just a few minutes.
That was followed up by the Lutronic Ultra laser, which went for a couple of slightly stinging turns all over.
By the time I left the office, I’ll be honest — my face was on fire.
My skin is normally pretty sensitive so this didn’t surprise me, and I was excited to get a cool compress on my face when I got home.
Luckily, the burning was a blip and I was feeling a lot better about an hour and a half later.
Adashev warned me that my skin might feel like sandpaper for a couple of days, and it did — but strangely enough, you absolutely couldn’t tell just by looking at me.
After a few days, my skin texture was not just back to normal but smoother than it felt before.
I also noticed that my skin tone was more even, and the pores on my nose — which I spend way too much time staring at the mirror — were noticeably smaller.
The fine lines I have across my forehead and my little 11s were less deep, too.
Sadly, I don’t have any galas to attend to show off my glowy skin, but I’m thinking maybe that’s even better and I can really embrace my inner celebrity:
“No, of course I didn’t get anything done — I just naturally look like this. You know, I eat healthy. I hydrate. Good genes, I guess.”