Welcome to Polished with Elise Wilson, where FEMAIL’s qualified makeup artist and hair stylist answers your questions, shares advice and trials the up-and-coming beauty and skincare trends so you don’t have to.
I’ve always believed that good skin is a mix of genetic luck, a healthy lifestyle and a little helping hand from science.
So, when I heard whispers about a new luxury clinic in Sydney that was turning the cosmetic world on its head taking a distinctly art-meets-anatomy approach to aesthetics, I knew I had to see it for myself.
I have seen many a beauty trend come and go in my time, but it’s only lately that I’ve noticed something much bigger is happening in the world of aesthetics – a real shift in how we define ‘looking good’.
Gone are the days when a frozen forehead or over-plumped cheekbones were seen as aspirational. Women (and men) are moving away from that obvious ‘filled’ look and chasing something softer and much, much more natural.
That’s exactly why I found myself at Face Doctors, the CBD clinic everyone’s talking about for its doctor-led, beautifully restrained results – and in the chair with its founder, Dr Rafael Mejian.
Dr Raf (as his clients call him) has a background not just in medicine, but also in sculpture – a detail that makes immediate sense when you meet him. His eye for balance is meticulous, and his tone refreshingly honest.
Within minutes of chatting, it’s clear he’s not here to sell me a syringe full of dreams, but rather educate and recommend the most realistic and results-driven treatments tailored just for me.
This approach was very new to me, but I loved it.
I’ve seen many a beauty trend come and go in my time, but it’s only lately that I have noticed something much bigger is happening in the world of aesthetics – a real shift in how we define ‘looking good’
That’s exactly why I found myself at Face Doctors, the CBD clinic everyone’s talking about for its doctor-led, beautifully restrained results
The consultation that changed how I see my skin
Instead of launching straight into filler talk, Dr Raf begins with data, introducing me to something called Crisalix 3D Modelling, which is an advanced piece of software usually reserved for plastic-surgery simulations.
‘Face Doctors is one of the few clinics in Australia to offer Crisalix 3D modelling for volumisation,’ he explained.
‘Our aim is to have the most detailed, most data-driven aesthetic medical consultations in the country.’
The scan takes just a few minutes, and suddenly I’m staring at a hyper-realistic 3D version of my own face on screen. Every pore, contour and shadow rendered in uncanny detail.
Instead of diving straight into talk of fillers, Face Doctors founder Dr Rafael Mejian (left) begins with data – introducing me to Crisalix 3D Modelling, an advanced software usually reserved for plastic surgery simulations
The scan takes just a few minutes, and suddenly I’m staring at a hyper-realistic 3D version of my own face on screen. Every pore, contour and shadow rendered in uncanny detail
I’ll start with a humble brag – my skin texture scored an impressive 90 per cent (!), which is proof that years of diligent skincare (and some laser treatments here and there) are paying off.
But the scan also revealed subtle hollowing in my temples and some early sagging around my jawline and neck. All completely normal for my age, but interesting to see.
‘It can help us fine-tune things,’ he told me. ‘For example, would adding volume to the cheeks here look good, or would it make the temples look deeper? It helps us plan better and patients get a clearer idea of what their investment will achieve.’
The technology can even project how my face might change in 10, 20 or 30 years, which, I’ll be honest, was equal parts confronting and empowering.
For me, it reinforced that ageing gracefully isn’t about stopping the clock, but more about knowing what’s happening beneath the surface so you can work with it.
It also revealed subtle hollowing in my temples and some early sagging around my jawline and neck. All completely normal for my age, but interesting to see. As well as projecting how my face might change in 10, 20 or 30 years – I’ll be honest, this was quite confronting
Why fillers are officially ‘out’
If you’ve noticed a wave of celebrities quietly dissolving their fillers, you’re right. According to Dr Raf, we’ve hit a cultural turning point.
He told me that as soon as the Kardashians started dissolving their filler, so did we. But what stuck with me was his reference to the dangerous downsides to overdoing injectables.
‘I think that as more people started to get treated, they started to realise that it wasn’t a cure-all, and word started to get around of potential downsides to too much volume, such as migration.
‘Doctors have also started to speak out about the long-term health consequences of these treatments, with MRI scans showing they can last a lot longer than expected.’
That reality check has pushed patients, practitioners, and now me, toward a more holistic, science-based approach.
‘We have a more holistic approach that manages your health internally and your skin health before considering dramatic volumisation,’ he said. ‘Balance to me defies the approach of adding more volume to lift and hide wrinkles.’
If you’ve noticed a wave of celebrities quietly dissolving their fillers, you’re right. According to Dr Raf, we’ve hit a cultural turning point. Olivia Culpo (pictured) and Kylie Jenner are just a few celebs that have dissolved their lip and/or cheek fillers in recent years
Doctors have also started to speak out about the long-term health consequences of fillers, with MRI scans showing they can last a lot longer than expected in the body. Pictured: Olivia Culpo after her lip filler was dissolved in 2024
The new era of anti-ageing
When I ask what is ‘in’ right now in terms of treatments, Dr Raf doesn’t hesitate.
‘Everyone’s face is unique, and so my approach to volume is how do we balance the features of that person so that they are more in harmony,’ he explained.
‘Using the best devices is a huge deal, and studies show that the right laser or device can actually reverse DNA damage and make your skin genetically younger.’
He often recommends supplements, collagen-stimulating injectables and skin-strengthening treatments that build long-term resilience rather than quick-fix volume.
‘Treatments like Rejuran (the one derived from salmon sperm DNA) can be great for the right candidate because they stimulate collagen, make your skin healthier and can give you a glow without changing your facial structure.’
As someone who’s been writing about anti-ageing for years, it’s refreshing to hear a doctor speak in terms of health rather than fixing flaws.
Dr Raf’s philosophy is ‘great things take time’, which underpins his Advanced Natural Volumisation technique – an approach designed to restore harmony rather than inflate
An artist’s approach
Dr Raf’s philosophy is ‘great things take time’, which underpins his Advanced Natural Volumisation technique – an approach designed to restore harmony rather than inflate.
‘No area is going to pop out and look obviously treated; everything should blend in a way that you look refreshed, but strangers wouldn’t be able to recognise you have had anything done.’
It’s subtle, strategic and rooted in anatomical understanding, which is the complete opposite of the ‘more is more’ mentality that dominated the 2010s.
By the end of my consultation, Dr Raf had summed it up perfectly by reiterating that his patients need to know how things are going to look down the track, not just the day of the treatment. Pictured: Ultraformer (HIFU) lower face and neck treatment
By the end of my consultation, Dr Raf had summed it up perfectly by reiterating that his patients need to know how things are going to look down the track, not just the day of the treatment.
He then treated me with a Ultraformer which is a non-invasive treatment that uses High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) to lift and tighten the skin on the lower face and neck – another favourite of his.
Walking out, I felt reassured. The future of beauty, it seems, isn’t about chasing someone else’s face, it’s about fully understanding your own.
Now I have a clear and concise treatment plan tailored to me, I can’t wait to see the (very natural) results.
Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely my own and do not reflect those of any brands or companies mentioned. This content is not sponsored or endorsed.
