Naked Beauty Podcast: Beyond Skincare – Facial Balancing & Aesthetic Enhancements with Vanessa Lee

Release Date: July 7, 2025

In this enlightening episode of the Naked Beauty podcast, host Brooke DeVard sits down with renowned medical aesthetic provider Vanessa Lee to delve deep into the world of facial balancing and aesthetic enhancements. Their conversation spans a broad spectrum of topics, from the art and science behind natural beauty treatments to the latest advancements in skincare technologies. Here's a detailed summary capturing the essence of their discussion.

1. Introducing Vanessa Lee

Brooke kicks off the episode by introducing Vanessa Lee as a "world-renowned medical aesthetic provider" known for her dedication to natural beauty and her role as the owner of The Things We Do, a celebrated beauty concept bar. Vanessa's philosophy centers on enhancing inner beauty by emphasizing and restoring her clients' best features to achieve facial balance and harmony.

Notable Quote:

Brooke [01:45]: "You're easy to speak about because you do such great work."

2. The Importance of Transparency in Aesthetics

Vanessa emphasizes the growing trend of transparency in the cosmetic industry, highlighting how celebrities like Kris Jenner and Kylie Jenner openly discuss their aesthetic procedures. She shares her own commitment to being upfront about her interventions, believing that honesty fosters trust and empowers clients to make informed decisions about their beauty journeys.

Notable Quote:

Vanessa [04:09]: "With beauty and esthetics, everything really is in the eye of the beholder of how they want to take that beauty treatment."

3. Understanding Facial Balancing

A core topic of the episode is facial balancing, a term coined by Vanessa in 2017. She describes it as a comprehensive approach to evaluating facial symmetry, the interplay of different facial thirds, and overall face shape to maintain natural beauty as one ages.

Key Points:

• Symmetry Analysis: Assessing the right and left sides of the face to ensure harmony.
• Facial Thirds: Dividing the face into upper, middle, and lower sections to identify strengths and areas needing attention.
• Face Shapes: Categorizing into five main shapes to tailor treatments accordingly.

Notable Quote:

Vanessa [08:05]: "Facial balancing is a way at looking at a face as a medical esthetic provider practitioner and studying symmetry from right to left side..."

4. Aging Patterns and Specific Concerns

Vanessa discusses how different face shapes age uniquely. For instance, diamond-shaped faces often show thinning skin around the eyes and mouth, while rounder faces might experience more jowling. She shares her personal experience with jowls, detailing her surgical interventions to maintain a youthful and natural appearance.

Key Points:

• Diamond Face Shape: Prone to nasolabial folds and marionette lines.
• Jowling: The descent of facial fat pads leading to sagging.
• Surgical Solutions: Jawline liposuction and platysmaplasty to enhance facial structure.

Notable Quote:

Vanessa [14:05]: "Facial balancing is a way at looking at a face as a medical esthetic provider practitioner and studying symmetry from right to left side, studying the thirds of the face..."

5. Aesthetic Treatments Discussed

Vanessa provides an in-depth overview of various aesthetic treatments she employs, emphasizing minimally invasive procedures that preserve natural facial expressions.

Highlighted Treatments:

• PRFM (Platelet Rich Fibrin Matrix): For skin thickening and strengthening, especially around the under-eye area.

  Vanessa [44:06]: "The PRFM is great for skin thickening, for skin strengthening, for making sure that the scaffold of the skin is as young and healthy as possible."

• Sculptra: A bio stimulator used to enhance tissue volume and promote collagen production.

  Vanessa [44:17]: "Sculptra is a bio stimulator. That I love to not mess with it everywhere in the face you'll see these, like, sculpture die Hards..."

• Picosure Pro Laser: Specifically designed for darker skin tones to treat hyperpigmentation without adverse effects.

  Vanessa [19:30]: "Picosure Pro by Cynosure is absolutely safe for darker skin, it's acoustically sound wave and it's fragmenting hyperpigmentation..."

• Microcurrent Treatments: For facial tightening and enhancing the V-shape of the face.

  Vanessa [16:19]: "It's really like three to five PRFM treatments in one. So it's a little bit more impressive."

Notable Quote:

Vanessa [06:22]: "More of the bio stimulators, more of the filler, more of the Botox. No matter how everyone comes into our offices saying that they want to look as natural as possible."

6. The Korean Aesthetic Advantage

Vanessa recounts her transformative trip to Korea, a hub for advanced aesthetic treatments. She highlights the stark differences between treatments available in Korea and those in the U.S., noting that Korean clinics often offer more comprehensive and cutting-edge procedures at a fraction of the cost.

Key Points:

• Advanced Techniques: Learning Asian-style neuromodulator placements and thread enhancements.
• Cost Efficiency: Treatments like Picosure Pro are significantly cheaper in Korea.
• Competitive Excellence: The high concentration of plastic surgeons in areas like Gangnam drives innovation and quality.

Notable Quote:

Vanessa [22:15]: "In Korea, I had a talk with Dr. Han Jin Kwon... we have just within this one block, 50 plastic surgeons who are doing everything that I do."

7. Addressing Emotional and Mental Health in Aesthetics

Recognizing that physical treatments alone aren't sufficient for everyone, Vanessa explains how her practice collaborates with licensed therapists to support clients exhibiting signs of body or face dysmorphia. This holistic approach ensures that emotional well-being is addressed alongside aesthetic goals.

Key Points:

• Body Dysmorphia Signs: Extreme self-critique, unrealistic expectations, and persistent dissatisfaction despite treatments.
• Integrated Support: Referral to therapists for emotional assistance before proceeding with further aesthetic interventions.

Notable Quote:

Vanessa [28:59]: "That's the true way of working on beauty is like, let's figure out what's going on in the inside. All of that is connected..."

8. Favorite Skincare Products

Vanessa shares her top three skincare products, reflecting the latest innovations she adopted during her time in Korea.

Top Picks:

1. Acid Buff from The Things We Do: An at-home peel with alpha glucan oligosaccharides for minimizing pore size and enhancing skin health.

   Vanessa [52:19]: "The acid buff has alpha glucan oligosaccharides. It's an at home peel that you can do that doesn't feel like an intense peel..."

2. Anua Dry Rice Powder Cleanser: A gentle exfoliant that doubles as a ceramide-rich cleanser.

   Vanessa [53:10]: "It's an anua dry rice powder that's a cleanser. So it's a very, very gentle exfoliant."

3. Unsung by Katanya Breaux: A beloved sunscreen being discontinued soon.

   Vanessa [53:23]: "Unsung by Katanya Breaux... The product was genius. Just beautiful, and I love it so much."

Notable Quote:

Vanessa [54:17]: "She put a story out on it how when she first started selling in larger retail, there was something up with the contract, and then the numbers weren't correct..."

9. Personal Health Journey with GLP1

Towards the end of the episode, Vanessa opens up about her personal experience with GLP1 medications for weight loss, highlighting their positive impact on her health and mental clarity.

Key Points:

• Weight Loss Success: Lost 35 pounds over a year and a half with a combination of medication and lifestyle changes.
• Mental Health Benefits: Increased clarity and reduced reliance on ADHD medications.
• Medical Guidance: Emphasizes the importance of professional supervision and integrating support systems like nutritionists and health coaches.

Notable Quote:

Vanessa [50:12]: "After a year and a half, I lost 35 pounds, which I was so slow to lose the weight, by the way."

10. Final Thoughts: Embracing Natural Beauty

Vanessa concludes by advocating for a balanced approach to beauty—using treatments to enhance and preserve natural features without overdoing it. She underscores the importance of emotional well-being in achieving true beauty.

Notable Quote:

Vanessa [28:17]: "The true way of working on beauty is like, let's figure out what's going on in the inside..."

Conclusion

This episode of Naked Beauty offers a comprehensive look into the nuanced world of facial balancing and aesthetic enhancements. Vanessa Lee's expertise, combined with her transparent and holistic approach, provides listeners with valuable insights into maintaining and enhancing their natural beauty through informed and mindful choices.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this summary is based on the podcast transcript and is intended for informational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified medical professional before undergoing any aesthetic treatments.