Facial Balancing 101: What Black Women Should Know Before Booking The Popular Injectable Treatment

When it comes to cosmetic treatments, injectables can still feel taboo in the Black community. While the saying “Black don’t crack” often rings true, board-certified nurse practitioner Andi Assebian, MSN, AGNP-C, and founder of Derm Artisan wants us to keep an open mind to treatments.

“In this industry, it’s mostly Caucasian people who tend to be more open about it,” she explains. “When it comes to African American people, we’re still getting into it because we have a preconceived notion that Black don’t crack. I’m not saying that Black don’t crack—we have great genes. But, at the end of the day, we have to maintain what we have and age gracefully,” she adds. 

Enter facial balancing. The cosmetic procedure, which aims to enhance the overall harmony and balance of the facial features, has become a go-to service since it went viral in 2023. Initially driven by consumer demand for non-surgical, less invasive cosmetic alternatives, the trend has since exploded on TikTok. The #facialbalancing hashtag now boasts over 29,000 posts, many of them featuring dramatic before-and-after photos of everyday patients.    

For many of her Black clients, however, Assebian notes that the biggest concerns are looking “overdone” and avoiding judgment from friends and family. To that, she reassures them that facial balancing isn’t about changing who you are. “It’s not to change your features or to have you look white, per se. It’s about enhancing what you have and aging with grace,” she says.

With facial balancing gaining steam across diverse beauty demographics, below, Assebian breaks down the need-to-knows, expectations, and other oft-overlooked FAQs for anyone considering the treatment. 

Replying to @B. Michelle | GQ Live Host Part 2 of 3 Thank you to my gorgeous J for trusting me with her beautiful face

Facial balancing takes a holistic approach to proportions rather than focusing on a single area. “It’s a custom facial aesthetic plan to adjust your facial proportion,” says Assebian. “We focus mostly on the features. We want the features to look more harmonious from all angles, without erasing your unique features. We often do it in stages for safety and for natural results.”

The treatment typically involves neuromodulators such as Botox, hyaluronic acid-basedtitle="@luxmodeaesthetics" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@luxmodeaesthetics?refer=embed">@luxmodeaesthetics

Lux Doll /luhks-dawl/ noun1. A confident beauty who invests in timeless results over fleeting trends.2. A LuxMode Aesthetics client radiating self-love, balance, and glow — from the inside out. Today’s feature: Post-facial balancing + lip hydration glow. But this is just one chapter of heralt="✨" class="wp-smiley"/> Medical-grade skincare tailored to her skin type Monthly Hydrafacials to cleanse, hydrate + prep the canvas Undereye correction for a brighter, refreshed look Subtle, hydrated lips for a youthful, natural finish Facial balancing isn’t about looking different — it’s about restoring harmony, proportion, and radiance. At LuxMode, we blend aesthetic artistry + regenerative science to help you age on your own terms. Ready to become a Lux Doll? #FacialBalancing #prf #LipHydration #RegenerativeAesthetics #SkinGlowUp #MedicalGradeSkincare #HydrafacialGlow #FacialAesthetics #LuxDoll #GlowUpByHank #LuxModeAesthetics #BaltimoreInjector #BlackInjectorMagic #AestheticsForAllSkinTones

Preparation begins at home. Assebian asks new clients totitle="@drjb.aesthetics" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@drjb.aesthetics?refer=embed">@drjb.aesthetics

Aleshia had been thinking about getting treatments done for some time, but had struggled to find a practitioner who focused on delivering natural results.When it comes to profile balancing, dermaltarget="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/jawline?refer=embed">#jawline #profilebalancing #facialaesthetics ♬ original sound – Dr Jonny How Much It Costs

Facial balancing is an investment, especially in New York City. “You need to have a minimum of $2,000,” says Assebian. “On average, yourrel="tag">facial balancing

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