Betty on the Scene

SmoothSF: Entering the World of the Wrinkle Free

Pondering Botox at the opening of a new spa in San Francisco

-Heidi Isern

The healthy part of me really wanted to make a 7 p.m. yoga class on Wednesday night. I was dressed to the nines in Lulu Lemon and mentally prepared for an evening odyssey into Ohm Land.

Then my girlfriend called me at asked me to go to the opening event at SmoothSF, a fashionable new medical day spa on Union Street. Free mini facials and champagne? Promises to remove wrinkles? Twist my arm. My inner downward dog keeled over and I replaced the yogi naturalistic attire for an aspiration to join the ranks of procedure-induced perfection.

I entered the white walls of SmoothSF and was instantly greeted by the wrinkle-free and beautiful. "A glass of champagne, Miss?" Well, I would be wrinkle-free too if I got poured champagne every day at 6 p.m.!

SmoothSF offers a variety of treatments from laser hair removal to Botox to Thermage. Thermage (I had never heard of it before either) is some futuristic body shaping that makes cellulite and loose skin disappear. Now I have never been one to consider myself a candidate for such treatments. I'm more for old-fashioned wax and good moisturizer. However, after talking to the cosmetic divas, I started to change my mind. It probably was no design accident that half the spa's walls were covered in floor to ceiling mirrors. Hmmm ... was that a new crinkle on my forehead? Did my waistline look bulky in this top? As I examined myself, the staff discreetly handed me brochures on ways to preserve and yes, even improve my youth.

Botox, after all, is a PREVENTATIVE measure, right? Don't they even do it in the suburbs of Milwaukee now? I was assured that the "frozen face" look was a thing of the past and the new procedures would only keep the frown upside down. The knowledgeable staff was quite convincing. And these days, leveling the beauty playing field seems to require a little assistance from our good friend collagen.

Although I was hesitant to make an appointment on the spot, I left the event with an overflowing goodie bag of treatment coupons, a changed perspective, and a wonderful ‘skip-down-the-street' feeling that only comes with a bit of free bubbly and a rhinestone "I Botox" t shirt.