How to Look Younger WITHOUT Filler or Botox! | Dr Chesnut
Podcast:The EMPWR Podcast Published On: Wed Aug 05 2026 Description: Dr. Cameron Chesnut is one of the most sought-after facial plastic surgeons in the world, and honestly, this is the episode I've been waiting eight months to record. He operates on ONE patient a day, says no to about 80% of the people who reach out to him, and looks at every single procedure as a metabolic event. We get into all of it: what he actually thinks about Botox (his answer surprised me!), why filler is basically a semi-permanent implant, the study where lip filler had migrated to the base of the nose in 49 out of 50 patients, why he refuses opioids and benzos in his OR, and the two "unsexy" things he says matter more than any treatment you could buy. I also asked him about my own Botox, my lip filler that migrated, and what I should be doing before my wedding in September. Plus a rapid fire round at the end that I did not expect to end on creatine. Timestamps: [1:32] - His mom the dietitian who was 40 years ahead of everyone [4:37] - The red flags he saw in training [7:39] - How little nutrition med school actually teaches (about 12 hours) [10:19] - Why recovery deserves as much attention as the surgery itself [12:24] - Pre-hab: how he lowers your inflammatory load before you ever arrive [13:01] - The photo screening process (he says no to about 80%) [14:48] - "I want a brow lift" - why the answer is usually something else [17:48] - If you're in your 30s or 40s thinking about eyelid surgery, pause [18:47] - Transformation vs. rejuvenation (this reframed everything for me) [20:01] - "When I look in the mirror, I don't look how I feel" [22:27] - The starter pack for your 20s and 30s [23:34] - The non-negotiables: sleep, blood sugar, and his CGM [26:09] - Microneedling and lasers: collagen vs. elastin [28:01] - When a device promises you a facelift, run! [30:26] - The biases that push people toward the wrong treatment [32:12] - Botox: is it as toxic as people say? What it actually does [34:00] - Facial expression as human communication (and how babies read your face) [36:14] - When he DOES use Botox [38:32] - My own Botox history and wanting to stretch my sessions [39:47] - Do the patches and at-home rollers actually work? [42:01] - Filler is a semi-permanent implant, not a temporary one [43:02] - Migration, encapsulation, and the 20-year-old filler he removed [45:24] - The study: filler at the base of the nose in 49 of 50 patients [46:46] - PRF and PRP: the more natural route [48:40] - Dark circles and what's actually causing them [50:54] - Sculptra and biostimulators through a surgeon's eyes [54:38] - Switching gears: does diet change how you age? [55:38] - His anesthesia protocol: no opioids, no benzodiazepines [58:16] - Why good sleep beats hyperbaric and red light combined [1:02:16] - Does a collagen supplement actually do anything? [1:03:18] - Red light therapy and my surgery on Friday [1:05:08] - Stem cells and fat transfer explained [1:10:10] - Before and afters, and why celebrities get such a bad rap [1:13:05] - Social media, beauty trends, and buccal fat [1:14:58] - RAPID FIRE [1:17:44] - Why he's had female patients on creatine for 12 years [1:19:17] - What does empowerment mean to you? [1:20:52] - Where to find Dr. Chesnut and how to start the process Follow Dr. Cameron Chesnut: Instagram: @chesnut.md Clinic 5C: https://clinic5c.com/ Thank you to our sponsors: Jones Road Beauty: Get a FREE full-size mascara with your first purchase at https://jonesroadbeauty.com/ with code: EMPWR AquaTru: Get 20% off your purifier at https://aquatru.com/ with code: SAM Remi Night Guards: Get up to 50% off custom-made night guards at https://www.remiclub.com/ with code: SAMCFIT Clearstem Skincare: Get a FREE Mini Hydro Glow Plumping Moisturizer when you spend $75+ at https://clearstem.com/SAMCFIT/ with code: SAMCFIT Lola Blankets: Get 40% off select products at https://lolablankets.com/ with code: SAMCFIT Sam's LINKS: ELEVATE App by Sam | free 7 day trial: https://www.elevatebysam.com/ My Macro Guide: https://samanthachristine.co/nutrition-guides/ Running Programs: https://samanthachristine.co/running-guides/ Follow Sam: Insta: @samcfit_ YouTube: @samantha_christine #facialplasticsurgery #antiaging #botox #filler #fillermigration #sculptra #microneedling #skincare #collagen #regenerativemedicine #stemcells #fattransfer #redlighttherapy #ketones #creatine #bloodsugar #longevity #metabolichealth #functionalmedicine #agingracefully #empwrpodcast #womenshealth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices