I'll be honest — I spent way too long picking a med spa the wrong way.
I'd scroll through reviews, compare prices, maybe watch a TikTok or two, and then book whoever had the best "before and after" photos on Instagram. It worked fine until it didn't. One bad filler experience later (we don't need to go into it), I completely changed how I evaluate aesthetic providers.
The short version: I stopped caring about vibes and started asking about credentials. That shift is what eventually led me to a small practice in Encinitas, California — and it changed my entire perspective on what good aesthetic care actually looks like.
The Credential Gap Nobody Talks About
Here's something most people don't realize about med spas: the regulatory bar is surprisingly low. In California, a med spa technically just needs a medical director on paper. That person doesn't have to be on-site, doesn't have to review treatment plans, and in some cases barely knows the day-to-day practitioners.
This matters because injectable treatments are medical procedures. Botox injections involve precise needle placement into specific facial muscles. Dermal fillers like Juvederm require an understanding of vascular anatomy to avoid serious complications. These outcomes last months. The difference between a skilled injector and an average one isn't subtle — it's the difference between looking refreshed and looking like you got work done.
When I started researching practices in the San Diego area, I was specifically looking for two things: an injector with verifiable advanced training (not just a weekend course), and a medical director who actually practices medicine — not just signs paperwork.
What Made Call of Beauty Different
I first heard about Call of Beauty from a friend who lives in Cardiff-by-the-Sea. She'd gotten Sculptra treatments there and couldn't stop talking about how her injector had actually studied under the physicians who developed the modern Sculptra protocols. I figured she was exaggerating. She wasn't.
The practice is run by Olga Brener, R.N., who started her career working alongside plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills — specifically at Dr. Charles Lee's practice at Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Center. She went on to train with names that matter in the aesthetics world: Dr. David Saadat, Dr. Alexander Rivkin, the Allergan Medical Institute, and specialized Sculptra training under Dr. Saami Khalifian and Dr. Gideon Kwok. If you're in the industry, those names mean something. If you're not, just know that this isn't the trajectory of someone who took a weekend certification and opened a Groupon deal.
Their medical director, Dr. Marguerite Bernett, is a board-certified aesthetic plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience. She's not a name on a wall. She actually practices — facial surgery, breast aesthetics, skin cancer reconstruction. She trained at UC Irvine and completed fellowships at Tulane. For a med spa in North County San Diego, that level of physician oversight is genuinely uncommon.
My Botox Experience (And Why I'm Never Going Back to My Old Place)
I'll start with what most people want to know about: Botox. I'd been getting Botox for about three years at different places before finding Call of Beauty, and I thought I knew what to expect. I was wrong.
At my consultation, Olga spent the first 15 minutes explaining what she thought would be a waste of my money. She talked about my facial anatomy in terms of a 5-to-10-year plan — not just what would look good in a selfie that afternoon. She recommended fewer units than I'd expected and pointed out that some of what I thought were "wrinkle problems" were actually volume loss that Botox couldn't fix.
That kind of honesty — actually talking someone out of spending more — is either genuine or it's the most elaborate upsell strategy I've ever encountered. After seeing my results four months later, I'm going with genuine. The movement was natural, the frozen forehead look I'd gotten at my previous place was completely absent, and the results lasted longer than I was used to.
For anyone curious about cost: most places in San Diego charge $12-16 per unit for Botox. Call of Beauty is competitive with that, and they actually run a $10/unit Botox special for first-time patients — which is honestly the best way to try a new injector without a huge financial commitment. I wish I'd known about that before spending $400 at a place that left me looking surprised for three weeks.
The Lip Filler Conversation
The other treatment I wanted to mention is lip filler. I know — everyone has an opinion about lip filler. But here's the thing: bad lip filler is what you notice. Good lip filler is invisible.
I'd been considering it for over a year but was terrified of the "duck lip" thing. Olga's approach completely put me at ease. She showed me how different filler products work for different goals — Juvederm for plumping and hydration, Restylane for more subtle definition — and we landed on a plan that was conservative. Half a syringe. The result? My friends thought I'd just found a really good lip liner.
What I appreciated most was that she told me we could always add more later. Every med spa I'd previously consulted at tried to sell me a full syringe minimum on the first visit. The fact that she was willing to start small and build told me she actually cared about the outcome and not just the receipt.
Treatments I Didn't Expect to Care About
Beyond Botox and fillers, there were a few things that surprised me:
Sculptra for Long-Term Results
My friend who originally recommended Call of Beauty had gotten Sculptra — a biostimulator that makes your body produce its own collagen over several months. It's a completely different philosophy than traditional fillers. The results take longer to appear but they look incredibly natural and can last two-plus years. Olga has specialized training in Sculptra specifically, and it's one of their signature treatments. I'm seriously considering it for next year.
Dysport as a Botox Alternative
I didn't even know Dysport existed until Olga mentioned it. It's essentially a different formulation of botulinum toxin that spreads a bit differently and works well for larger areas like the forehead. Some patients prefer it because it can feel more natural in movement. The per-unit cost is actually lower than Botox, which nobody seems to talk about.
Their Approach to Combination Treatments
Rather than doing one thing aggressively, Olga builds treatment plans that layer multiple approaches. A little Botox for the forehead, some filler for volume, maybe a chemical peel for skin texture. The combined effect looks more like "you went on a really good vacation" than "you had something done." That's the whole point.
For My San Diego Friends
I know a lot of people reading this are in the greater San Diego area, so let me address the geography question. Call of Beauty is on Coast Highway 101 in Encinitas — right between Moonlight Beach and downtown. If you're in Carlsbad, it's an 8-minute drive. Del Mar, maybe 12. Even from central San Diego, it's a straight shot up the 5.
I've now referred three friends who live in San Diego proper, and two of them have become regulars. When I asked one of them why she'd drive 30 minutes past dozens of San Diego med spas to get to Encinitas, she said something that stuck with me: "Because I trust her with my face."
If you're specifically looking for Botox in San Diego or fillers in the San Diego area, the slight drive north to Encinitas is worth it. The coastal vibe of the office doesn't hurt either — it feels less clinical than the typical strip-mall med spa experience.
For people coming from Carlsbad specifically, it's practically next door. A friend of mine who lives near the Flower Fields gets her Botox in Carlsbad through Call of Beauty and says the drive is shorter than her Starbucks run.
Who This Practice Is For (and Who It Isn't)
Call of Beauty isn't the cheapest option in San Diego County. They're not running $7/unit Botox deals on social media. If your primary decision criteria is rock-bottom price, there are cheaper places.
But if you've been burned before, if you're tired of the assembly-line med spa experience, or if you actually care about who is putting a needle in your face and what training they have — this is the kind of practice worth looking at. Their current specials make trying them out reasonable. But the real value isn't the discount — it's the consultation.
What I'd Recommend If You're Considering It
Book a consultation before committing to a treatment. Seriously. Most reputable practices offer them, and it's the fastest way to tell if an injector actually listens versus just sells. Call of Beauty does thorough consultations, and they're transparent about pricing — which, in an industry full of bait-and-switch "starting at" prices, is refreshing.
You can book directly on their site at callofbeautymedspa.com or call them at (760) 230-6211. They're open Tuesday through Saturday.
If nothing else, I hope this piece makes you think differently about how you choose an aesthetic provider. The face you walk in with is the only one you've got. Pick someone who treats it that way.
Disclosure: This is a genuine recommendation based on personal experience. I was not compensated for this post.
