Esther Penn, M.D.

Esther Penn, M.D. Esther Penn, MD Medical Aesthetics is a physician-led practice in Santa Rosa, CA. Esther Penn, M.D.

Dr. Penn personally provides all treatments, bringing ophthalmology training and a thoughtful, safety-focused approach to natural-looking results. is a Board-Certified Ophthalmologist, trained since 2002 in intraocular and periocluar (eyelid) surgery and medicine, offering natural-looking Medical Aesthetic services.

05/22/2026

Why do some lines become permanent?

One of the biggest factors is repetitive muscle movement over time. As we repeatedly make the same expressions-frowning, squinting, raising the brows-the resulting creases in the skin can gradually become visible as etched-in lines-even at rest.

This is a good example of long-term maintenance and prevention. By treating consistently over time, this patient has been able to soften muscle movement before deeper etched-in lines developed, while still maintaining a natural, polished appearance.

In the frowning image (first frame), you can see active effort to contract the muscles-but significantly reduced ability to fully form the deep “11” lines after treatment (bottom photo). At rest (in the second frame), the skin appears smoother and more relaxed after treatment, without looking frozen or overdone.

Many of my patients are professional women who want to continue looking like themselves-simply well-rested, approachable, and polished for work and everyday life. One of my favorite aspects of aesthetic medicine is helping patients age thoughtfully and naturally over time.

Daxxify® results shown here. Similar results can be achieved with Botox, Dysport, and other neuromodulators.

Feel free to reach out with questions or to schedule your personalized consultation.

~Dr. Penn

“Light touch” may be one of my favorite patient compliments to receive.It’s lovely to hear that treatments felt gentler ...
05/12/2026

“Light touch” may be one of my favorite patient compliments to receive.

It’s lovely to hear that treatments felt gentler and more comfortable than expected.

Thank you for the thoughtful review. ✨

~Dr. Penn

05/04/2026

First visits don’t have to feel intimidating. 🤍

In this reel, I’m walking through what a first appointment is like-from consultation and medical history-taking to treatment planning, comfort measures, and what to expect afterward.

My goal is always to make the visit feel thoughtful, unhurried, and clear.

We’ll talk through:
• your goals
• your prior treatment history
• your anatomy
• options like Botox®, Dysport®, Daxxify®, or HA dermal fillers when appropriate
• what creates the most natural-looking, balanced result for you

For Botox, Dysport, and Daxxify, I typically treat the same day. Sometimes we make a plan first, do the consultation, and schedule a second visit-especially for HA dermal fillers.

Comfort matters too-ice, gentle technique, breathing, and simple distraction tools can make treatment much easier than many people expect.

If you’ve been curious but unsure what the first step looks like, this is a little peek inside the process.

~Dr. Penn

04/23/2026

Correction: Allē Mother’s Day Gift Card Date – Mark Your Calendar for May 6th

04/22/2026

✨Allē Mother’s Day Gift Cards, Offers

04/22/2026

Sharing this patient-created “come with me, this is 30” video with permission.

I love seeing how patients experience their visits—and how easy it is to return to their day afterward. 🤍

A few quick clinical notes for context:

• Product: This treatment was done with Dysport® (a neuromodulator similar to Botox®, but dosed a bit differently).

• Timing: At ~2 hours, it’s completely normal to *not* see a change yet.
Most patients begin to notice softening in 2–3 days, with full effect by 1–2 weeks.

• How it may feel early on: Some patients notice a mild sense of fullness or slight tenderness at injection sites right after treatment—this settles quickly, within 20-30 minutes.
Small bruises can occur and typically resolve within a few days to a week.

• Later sensations: as the medication takes effect, the muscle in the area weakens-so for example, if trying to frown, you become aware that you can’t frown as easily, and this effect increases until you cannot frown anymore (depending on dosing-some patients prefer to feel less “frozen,” so dosing can be adjusted). This reflects the normal settling-in process of the medication.

Effects for most neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport last about 3 months. In some patients, effects last longer for one or the other. This is individual.

Daxxify is a newer medication that can last longer-up to 4 or more months-but again, this is individual for each person.

My approach is always customized, with a focus on refined, natural-looking results-especially in expressive areas like the forehead.

If you’re curious whether this might be a fit for you, I’m always happy to talk through options.

~Dr. Penn





Thank you for your kind words—it truly means a lot. ✨– Dr. Penn
04/15/2026

Thank you for your kind words—it truly means a lot. ✨
– Dr. Penn

03/08/2026

Showed up early on a Sunday morning to cheer on the athletes taking on 26.2 at CrossFit North Gate.

03/06/2026

Dr. Penn’s *new* Clinical Notes, Spring Updates: Daxxify, Rewards

Roses are red. 🌹Inflammation is… lower when you feel loved. 😉Last weekend I shared:Food is medicine.Nature is medicine.C...
02/14/2026

Roses are red. 🌹
Inflammation is… lower when you feel loved. 😉

Last weekend I shared:
Food is medicine.
Nature is medicine.
Connection is medicine.

Today feels like a good day to return to that.

As a physician in aesthetic medicine, I still think about whole health — not just what’s visible, but what’s happening under the surface.

Strong, supportive relationships are associated with lower inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6), healthier cardiovascular responses, improved wound healing, and better long-term health outcomes. Perceived support and affectionate touch are linked to higher oxytocin and lower stress physiology (cortisol, sympathetic activation).

Taking care of yourself — your skin, your strength, your relationships, your overall health — builds confidence, yes. But it also regulates stress, steadies inflammation, and supports the biology underneath it all.

So today, in whatever form it takes-

Connection is medicine. 💜

Address

3865D Montgomery Drive
Santa Rosa, CA
95405

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Esther Penn, M.D. posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Esther Penn, M.D.:

Shortcuts

Share

Category