Today we’d like to introduce you to Iris Taylor.
Hi Iris, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey into medical aesthetics actually began with my own struggle with severe cystic nodular acne. I know firsthand how much a skin condition can affect your confidence, and I was determined to find solutions, not only for myself but also for others experiencing the same thing.
After moving to Austin and exploring several different career paths, I discovered esthetician school. I started my career in 2001 working alongside a plastic surgeon, initially focusing on advanced skincare treatments, chemical peels, and eventually laser treatments.
As cosmetic injectables became more popular, I began incorporating Botox and dermal fillers into my practice. I loved the combination of science, artistry, and precision involved in injectable treatments. Eventually, my injectable practice became so busy that I had to choose between lasers and injections. I chose injectables, and it’s been my passion ever since.
Today, I’m an advanced aesthetic injector at Body Tonic Med Spa in Westlake, Austin, Texas, where I’ve practiced for the past 15 years. With 25 years of experience in medical aesthetics, I specialize in Botox, Dysport, dermal fillers, facial balancing, and filler correction.
My philosophy has always been that the best injectable results should look natural. I want my patients to look refreshed, rested, and like themselves, never overdone. Rather than focusing on individual wrinkles or isolated areas of the face, I evaluate facial anatomy, proportions, and the aging process as a whole.
Over the years, I’ve developed a particular interest in correcting unwanted, overfilled, or poorly placed filler. I use high frequency ultrasound in my Austin practice to help locate existing dermal filler, evaluate facial structures, and make more informed decisions about dissolving or correcting previous treatments. It’s an incredibly valuable tool, particularly when treating patients who have had multiple injectable procedures over the years.
I’ve also had the opportunity to work with Galderma, one of the leading companies in aesthetic medicine, and was recently selected to treat models for a national campaign featuring Sculptra and Restylane.
One of the most rewarding parts of my career is the relationships I’ve built with my patients. Many have trusted me with their Botox and filler treatments for more than a decade. I take that responsibility seriously, and I believe education, honesty, and realistic expectations are just as important as the treatment itself.
It’s interesting to look back and realize that my career began because I wanted to improve my own skin and confidence. Twenty-five years later, helping other people feel confident in their appearance is still what motivates me.
Even after all these years, I’m constantly learning and refining my techniques. I always say I’m a better injector today than I was yesterday, and I intend to keep it that way.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road! One of the biggest challenges has been keeping up with an industry that’s constantly evolving. When I started in 2001, cosmetic injectables were still relatively new, and there weren’t nearly as many educational resources or advanced techniques available as there are today.
Over the years, I’ve watched trends come and go, products enter and leave the market, and our understanding of facial anatomy and aging change dramatically. I’ve had to be willing to question things I was taught early in my career, change techniques I’ve used for years, and occasionally admit that there’s a better way to do something.
Another challenge has been navigating the pressure of aesthetic trends, especially with the rise of social media. Patients often come in with photos of results they love, but what looks beautiful on one person’s face isn’t necessarily appropriate for another. Sometimes the hardest part of my job is telling someone that the Botox or filler they’re requesting isn’t what I would recommend.
I’ve also seen the consequences of overfilled faces and poorly placed dermal fillers, which is one of the reasons I’ve become so passionate about filler correction and using ultrasound to better understand what’s happening beneath the skin.
I think one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that being a good injector isn’t just about knowing how to inject. It’s knowing when to inject, when to take a different approach, and when to say no.
After 25 years in aesthetics, I still encounter situations that challenge me, and I actually appreciate that. It’s what keeps me learning and becoming better at what I do. I’ve never wanted to be the injector who thinks she knows everything.
If anything, experience has taught me just how much there is left to learn.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m an Advanced Aesthetic Injector with 25 years of experience in medical aesthetics, practicing at Body Tonic Med Spa in Westlake, Austin, Texas.
I specialize in Botox, Dysport, dermal fillers (i.e. Restylane, Juvederm, Radiesse, RHA, and more), facial balancing, and filler correction, particularly under eye filler. I also perform bio-stimulating Sculptra treatments, which stimulate the body’s own collagen production to gradually restore volume and improve facial contours.
I’m probably best known for my natural looking results. My goal has never been to make someone look different. I want people to look refreshed, balanced, and like the best version of themselves. I often tell my patients that facial balancing isn’t about creating perfect symmetry. It’s about understanding proportions and how different areas of the face work together.
Lip filler is another treatment I really enjoy, especially when the goal is subtle, natural looking enhancement. Beautiful lips aren’t necessarily bigger lips. I consider the patient’s natural lip shape, facial proportions, and how their lips move when they speak and smile. Sometimes a small amount of filler is all that’s needed to restore definition, improve balance, or replace volume that’s been lost with age. I want lips to complement the face, not become the first thing you notice.
One of my favorite areas to treat is the under eye, or tear trough, because it’s also one of the most technically challenging. Many patients come to me after having filler placed elsewhere that has migrated, become visible, or created puffiness or discoloration. I’ve developed a particular passion for identifying and correcting these issues, often using ultrasound to locate existing filler before deciding whether it should be dissolved or treated differently.
Ultrasound has become an important part of my practice. We’re one of the few aesthetic practices in Austin incorporating this technology into injectable assessments. Being able to visualize filler beneath the skin adds another layer of information that simply wasn’t available to us earlier in my career.
Another area I really enjoy is full face rejuvenation. Rather than treating one wrinkle or adding volume to one area, I look at the entire face and consider how everything works together. Sometimes the best result comes from treating an area the patient hadn’t even considered. Other times, it’s deciding that a particular treatment isn’t necessary at all.
I’ve also had the privilege of being selected by Galderma to treat models for their national SCULPT & LIFT campaign featuring Sculptra and Restylane. Being trusted with a project like that after so many years in this industry has been incredibly rewarding.
What sets me apart is probably the combination of experience, attention to detail, and my willingness to tell patients no. I don’t believe every line needs to be erased or every hollow needs to be filled. I would rather lose a sale than perform a treatment I don’t believe will benefit someone.
I’m also very honest about what injectables can and cannot accomplish. Botox and filler are wonderful tools, but they’re not substitutes for surgery, and I think patients deserve realistic expectations.
What I’m most proud of is the trust I’ve built with my patients over the years. Many have been coming to me for Botox and filler in Austin for well over a decade. Some have grown up with me, and now I’m seeing their daughters! Those relationships mean more to me than any award or recognition.
After 25 years, I still approach every face individually. No two people age exactly the same way, and I don’t believe their treatment plans should look the same either.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
If there’s one thing I’d love for people to understand about aesthetic treatments, it’s that choosing the right injector matters far more than choosing a particular product.
Botox, Dysport, and dermal fillers are tools, but the results depend heavily on the person using them. Experience, an understanding of facial anatomy, aesthetic judgment, and knowing when not to treat are all incredibly important.
I always encourage people to do their research, ask questions, and find an injector whose aesthetic aligns with their own. Look at before and after photos, especially healed results, and don’t be afraid to ask about experience or how complications are handled. A good consultation should leave you feeling educated and confident, never pressured.
I also want people to know that you don’t have to look frozen, overfilled, or noticeably different to benefit from injectables. Some of my favorite results are the ones nobody notices. My patients simply look refreshed, and that’s exactly what we were trying to accomplish.
For anyone in the Austin area who’s curious about Botox, natural looking lip filler, facial balancing, Sculptra, or correcting previous filler, I’m always happy to start with a consultation. Sometimes the most valuable thing I can offer someone is an honest opinion about what they do or don’t need.
You can find me at Body Tonic Med Spa in Westlake, Austin, or follow me on Instagram at @irisbodytonic, where I share educational content, real patient results, and a behind the scenes look at my work.
After 25 years, my goal is still the same: help people feel confident in their appearance without losing what makes them uniquely themselves.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mybodytonic.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/irisbodytonic/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/BodyTonicMedSpa
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/EFfWXBVzoq
- Other: https://linktr.ee/Injectionsxiris?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=ab8e0955-4f48-4825-b0d1-be6b614e3c93
