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S o C a l B e a u t y D o c

@monicabonakdar.md

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SoCal’s Premier Educator In Facial Rejuvenation
Patients Seen @ NewportBch PalmDesert & DanaPoint Offices
AllerganMedInstitute Faculty
MDCodesFaculty

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We had to 😎!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO NURSE BIJAN 👨🏻‍⚕️💉

✨Book your appointment with Nurse Bijan✨

📍Palm Desert
📍Newport Beach
📍Dana Point

#filler #juvederm #botox #nurse #birthdaytrend by @monicabonakdar.md

Happy Birthday, Bijan! ❤️

Some of my fondest memories of your childhood are walking into your bedroom in the morning and discovering the drawings you had created the night before. Even as a little boy, your imagination and creativity amazed me. Art has always been part of your DNA.

Watching you grow up and pursue your creative dreams was such a joy. From modeling to launching your own evening gown label, you followed your passion and turned your artistic vision into something real. I was so proud of you.

But eventually, you felt the need for something more. You wanted to challenge yourself intellectually, continue growing, and find a new sense of purpose.
And then you surprised me. You decided to go to nursing school with the dream of becoming an aesthetic provider and one day working alongside me.

I never saw that coming!

Your journey wasn’t easy. COVID brought unexpected challenges during your schooling, but you persevered. You stayed committed to your goal, earned your nursing degree, and stepped into an entirely new chapter of your life.

Now, one year into working together, I couldn’t be prouder of the provider you’re becoming. Your artistic eye, your compassion, your curiosity, and your passion for learning are coming together in such a beautiful way. Who knew that the little boy drawing late into the night would one day be using that same artistic eye to help people feel more confident?

One of my greatest joys today is coming to work and seeing your smiling face. Not every mother gets the privilege of watching her son discover his calling up close, let alone sharing that journey with him.

Bijan, thank you for being exactly who you are. For your creativity, your courage to reinvent yourself, your kindness, and the joy you bring into my life.

Never stop dreaming. Never stop challenging yourself. And never lose that little boy who stayed up late creating something beautiful.

I’m so proud to be your mom, and even more excited to see where life takes you next.
Happy Birthday, my beautiful boy. I love you! ❤️
MOM

✨Help me wish Bijan a very Happy Birthday!
Leave him a birthday message in the comments, and follow his page @nursebijan by @monicabonakdar.md

The new aesthetic goal? Looking refreshed, not treated. ✨

One sentiment I hear overwhelmingly from patients today is the desire for natural, under-the-radar results. They want to look like themselves—just a little more refreshed, balanced, and confident.

That philosophy was at the center of my latest Allergan Medical Institute (AMI) training, where we focused on two of the most impactful areas of facial aesthetics: cheeks and lips.
Natural results don’t happen by accident. They require an understanding of facial anatomy, proportions, structural support, and, most importantly, knowing when less is more.

My goal when teaching injectors is to move beyond simply placing filler and toward thoughtful assessment, intentional treatment planning, and precise injection techniques.
Because the best compliment a patient can receive isn’t “Who did your filler?”

It’s “You look amazing!” without anyone knowing why.
Grateful for another opportunity to share my experience and help elevate the art and science of aesthetic medicine through AMI.

🤍 For patients: Explore a customized approach to facial rejuvenation at Bonakdar Aesthetics or Aesthetix LAB.

💉 For injectors: Save and share with a colleague who believes natural results are the ultimate measure of great technique.

#AllerganMedicalInstitute #AMIFaculty #MDCodes #NaturalAesthetics #FacialBalancing by @monicabonakdar.md

A career milestone in Austin! ✨

I had the privilege of joining five fellow MD Codes™ faculty members at the Allergan Medical Institute (AMI) Center in Austin to train an exceptional group of injectors from @skinspirit , one of the nation’s leading medical aesthetics organizations.

What made this experience especially meaningful was that it marked my first time teaching at the AMI Center.
Sharing the MD Codes™ methodology with experienced injectors who are committed to advancing their skills is exactly why I love being an educator.

Grateful to Allergan Aesthetics, my fellow faculty members, and the SkinSpirit team for an inspiring experience.
Always learning. Always teaching. Always raising the standard of aesthetic medicine.

#MDCodes #AllerganMedicalInstitute #AllerganAesthetics #SkinSpirit #AestheticEducation by @monicabonakdar.md

A little about me… ✨

For the past 26 years, I’ve dedicated my career to aesthetic medicine, combining science, artistry, and a passion for helping patients look and feel their best.

Since 2008, I’ve had the privilege of serving as faculty for the Allergan Medical Institute, and more recently, becoming an Official USA MD Codes™ Trainer.

My philosophy has always been simple: Every face is unique, and every treatment should be thoughtful, personalized, and designed to enhance your natural beauty.

Today, I’m proud to lead an incredible team of aesthetic professionals across three locations:

📍 Newport Beach | Bonakdar Aesthetics
📍 Palm Desert | Bonakdar Aesthetics
📍 Dana Point | Aesthetix Lab

Whether you’re just beginning your aesthetic journey or refining your results, my team and I are here to guide you with expertise, honesty, and care.

Schedule through the link in bio.

#MonicaBonakdarMD #BonakdarAesthetics #AesthetixLab #AestheticMedicine #NaturalLookingResults by @monicabonakdar.md

“I can’t talk right now… it’s LASER SEASON.” ✨
The weather is cooling down, summer is behind us—and your skin may be showing the evidence.
Sun exposure can leave behind pigmentation, uneven tone, rough texture, enlarged pores, fine lines, and accelerated signs of aging. Fall is the ideal time to start addressing that accumulated damage and rebuilding healthier, more radiant skin.
But when it comes to lasers, the device is only part of the equation.
The right laser.
The right settings.
The right treatment depth.
The right patient.
Precision matters. And patient safety matters even more.
Not every laser is appropriate for every skin type or every concern. That’s why we start with a consultation, evaluate your skin, and create a treatment plan based on what your skin actually needs.
Whether your goal is brighter skin, smoother texture, improved pigmentation, collagen stimulation, or overall rejuvenation—now is the time to get started.
🍂 Cooler weather = laser season.

✨Schedule your Laser Consultation and let’s build your fall skin plan.
📍 Newport Beach
📍 Palm Desert
📍 Dana Point

#LaserSeason #LaserSkinResurfacing #SkinRejuvenation #FallSkin #collagenstimulation by @monicabonakdar.md

Another day dedicated to learning, refining, and becoming more intentional injectors.
During this recent MD Codes™ training, we worked through one of the most important parts of aesthetic medicine: what happens before the injection.
We assessed our model identifying the features contributing to his concerns, established treatment priorities, and built a comprehensive plan before ever picking up a syringe.
Because learning MD Codes™ isn’t simply about learning injection points. It’s about developing a systematic approach to facial assessment, treatment planning, technique, and clinical judgment.
Thank you to our wonderful model for trusting us with his treatment and to the injectors for bringing such curiosity and commitment to the training.
Every training reminds me how much there is to learn—and how much I enjoy teaching it.

✨For injectors interested in private training and mentorship DM me directly

#MDCodes #InjectorTraining #AestheticEducation #InjectorEducation #facialassessment by @monicabonakdar.md

Being an expert in your field is one skill. Being able to teach it well is another.

Last week at the 2026 Allergan Medical Institute Speaker Training Summit in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, I had the opportunity to step back into the role I value most: student.
We focused not only on what we teach, but how we teach—how to communicate complex anatomy, assessment, technique, and clinical decision-making in a way that is clear, relevant, and memorable.

After more than 25 years in aesthetic medicine, I still believe there is always another level. Another skill to refine. Another perspective to consider. Another way to become a better physician, injector, educator, and mentor.

And that commitment to learning extends beyond the podium.
It shapes how I treat my patients, how I train other injectors, and the clinical standards I work to build within our own team.
Grateful to Allergan Medical Institute for continuing to invest in its faculty and for bringing together a community of educators committed to advancing aesthetic medicine.
Keep learning. Keep refining. Then bring it back to the people you teach and the patients you serve.

✨For injectors: If you believe great injectors never stop learning, save this post and follow along for more clinical education and teaching pearls.

✨For patients: Choose a practice where education never stops—and where that commitment is carried through the entire team.

📍 Consultations in Newport Beach, Palm Desert & Dana Point

#AllerganMedicalInstitute #AestheticEducation #AMISummit2026 #EmpoweringExcellenceInAesthetics #AMIFaculty by @monicabonakdar.md

One year down. Year two begins.
As I reflect on the first year of our MD Codes™ mentorship, I’m struck by how much this experience has given me beyond the clinical education.
I’ve had the privilege of getting to know an extraordinary cohort of 20 dedicated, driven individuals, all committed to becoming better at what we do.
What I value most about this group is that there is no sense of competition with one another. The competition is with ourselves—to learn more, think more critically, refine our skills, and become better than we were yesterday.
This year has challenged me in ways I didn’t necessarily anticipate. I’ve learned an enormous amount about aesthetic medicine, but I’ve also learned a great deal about myself—about preparation, discipline, adaptability, and learning to perform under pressure.
Growth is rarely comfortable. And I’ve come to appreciate that being challenged is often where the greatest learning happens.
As we begin year two, I feel tremendous gratitude.
To Allergan Medical Institute for investing in our continued education.
To Dr. Mauricio de Maio for challenging us to continually raise our standards.
And to my cohort—for the camaraderie, generosity, encouragement, and shared commitment to becoming better.
Year one taught me how much more there is to learn. I can’t wait to see where year two takes us.
Hashtags:
#MDCodes #AllerganMedicalInstitute #AestheticEducation #InjectorEducation #PhysicianEducation by @monicabonakdar.md

✨ Your holiday glow starts now.

Botox needs time to kick in. Filler needs time to settle. And beautiful skin takes time to build. 🤎

Plan ahead now so you can look refreshed, confident, and naturally glowing when the holidays arrive.

Swipe for your holiday beauty timeline →
📌 Save this for later & DM us when you’re ready to start.

#HolidayGlowUp #Botox #Filler #Microneedling #PDRN by @monicabonakdar.md

Botox isn’t about buying a certain number of units. It’s about having the right treatment plan.

Two of the most common issues we see in patients coming to us for Botox are:

Waiting too long between treatments while lines become increasingly etched into the skin.
Underdosing based on a predetermined number of units rather than what their individual anatomy and muscle strength actually require.
If your goal is to soften existing lines and help prevent them from becoming deeper, consistency matters. For many patients, that means treatment approximately every 3–4 months.

And when it comes to dosing, less isn’t automatically better—or more natural.

Every face is different. Muscle strength, movement patterns, anatomy, treatment areas, and aesthetic goals all influence the appropriate dose.

Our philosophy is simple:

We don’t treat a number of units. We treat the patient.

The goal is thoughtful, individualized dosing that preserves natural expression while creating a result that looks refreshed—not “done.”

If you’re new to Botox—or simply want to understand your treatments better—follow us. Patient education is an important part of everything we do.

📍 Consultations and treatments available in Newport Beach, Palm Desert & Dana Point.

#BotoxEducation #BotoxCosmetic #BotoxResults #WrinklePrevention #NaturalBotox by @monicabonakdar.md

There is something especially rewarding about training an injector at the beginning of their aesthetic journey.

I recently spent the day at @GloBarMedspa with Alondra, a nurse practitioner new to aesthetic medicine, focusing on cheek and lip assessment, treatment planning, and injection technique through the MD Codes™ methodology.
When you’re new to injecting, it can be tempting to focus on where to place the needle or cannula. But great injecting begins much earlier—with learning how to assess the face, understand anatomy, identify the treatment objective, and create a thoughtful plan before ever picking up a syringe.
That is one of the things I value most about teaching MD Codes™: it gives injectors a structured framework for developing clinical judgment, not simply memorizing injection points.

Alondra was thoughtful, engaged, and eager to learn—and it was a pleasure helping her build that foundation.
The techniques will continue to evolve with experience. The way you learn to think is the foundation.
For injectors interested in private MD Codes™ training and mentorship, inquiries are welcome.

✨For injectors interested in private training and mentorship, inquiries are welcome.✨

#MDCodes #MDCodesTraining #MDCodesTrainer #InjectorTraining #aestheticinjectortraining by @monicabonakdar.md