If you’re a fan of Netflix’s Bling Empire, you’ve been introduced to the glamorous lives of the Los Angeles socialites featured on the show. The show offers a glimpse inside the lives of its stars including Christine Chiu and Dr. Gabriel Chiu. The couple owns Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Inc., a medspa and plastic surgery center that offers surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures.

It’s no secret that celebrities and influencers often get professional help in order to look so perfect. Sometimes achieving their gorgeous appearance goes beyond having a great makeup artist and hairstylist. At times, Botox, fillers, lip injections, and even plastic surgery have played a role in enhancing their look.

Before the pandemic, we visited Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Inc in Beverly Hills, California to learn about the latest skin care techniques and non-invasive procedures. We had the chance to ask Dr. Gabriel Chiu, the renowned celebrity plastic and reconstructive surgeon who appears on Bling Empire, about celebrity beauty secrets, do’s and don’ts for first-timers, and more. Here’s what he revealed:

What’s the biggest mistake women make that ages them and what are some preventative steps they can take?

One of the biggest mistakes women make is placing a strong focus only on the face with skin care, while neglecting other areas that are giveaways for aging: the hands, neck, décolletage, shoulder blades, and knees. Also, many aren’t paying attention to the ingredients in their products. If your sunscreen is mineral, then you are protected as long as you can see that it’s still on your skin, but if it’s chemical-based, you have to reapply every few hours because the active ingredients will break down and leave you without protection.

Should one use physical or chemical sunscreen and what products do you recommend?

I recommend mineral sunscreen for the above reason, but also because it is safe for children. I recommend SkinCeuticals Sheer Fusion and Physical Fusion. They are very light and don’t give off a metallic shine. One even has a matte finish, doubles as a light foundation, and is waterproof. Always remember to reapply after getting out of the water. The only type of chemical sunscreen I recommend is Helioplex, which can be found in La Roche Posay and Neutrogena. It’s a stabilized chemical sunscreen that won’t break down as quickly as other sunscreens.

What would you recommend for someone who wants to eliminate wrinkles without looking like they’ve had anything done?

Depending on where your wrinkles are located and how they are formed, sometimes Botox is better and other times a filler or skin care is better. The important thing to remember is that you don’t want to overdo it—it can give you an unnatural result or make you look older.

Do you have a signature procedure that you are best known for?

 I’m known for mommy makeovers and high-definition body contouring—carving and etching.

What are the most important things that people should look for when choosing a plastic surgeon?

Experience is key. Make sure that you’re not only comfortable with your surgeon, but also that they are well-experienced with your proposed surgery. They should be able to inform you about the surgery, its recovery time, expectations, and possible complications. Finally, they should be able to show you plenty of before-and-after photos of the procedure, hopefully of similar-looking patients. Don’t choose a plastic surgeon who has only performed your desired surgery a few hundred times—you want them to have performed in the thousands range.

What’s the one procedure that most celebrities are doing but don’t want the rest of us to know about?

I’ll give you three: Vaginal rejuvenation/labiaplasty, Micro-Botox, and Ultherapy of the thighs/knees/buttocks.

What are the most popular celebrity trends? Is there an interesting celebrity secret that you can share?

There are celebrities who have their own skin care lines, but still use medical-grade, physician-strength skincare on themselves, in addition to surgical and non-surgical treatments. Celebrities use skin-tightening and lifting devices, not just on the face but literally all over the body, spending more than one can imagine.

You joined The Prince of Wales to open The Prince’s Foundation Chiu Integrated Health Programme at Dumfries House. Can you tell us more about your involvement and how it gives back to those in need?

We are very impressed with not only HRH Prince Charles’ passion for restoration, preservation, and education, but also his level of involvement in all aspects of his Foundation’s projects. We are thrilled to be able to open The Prince’s Foundation Chiu Integrated Health Programme, combining Eastern and Western medicine, for the underserved communities of Scotland. The core of plastic and reconstructive surgery is to ‘make better,’ whether improving the existing condition or repairing a damaged circumstance. The charities to which we expend time, energy, and resources endeavor to do precisely that—to make better.

For more information and to book a consultation, visit beverlyhillsplasticsurgeryinc.com and follow them on Instagram: @drchiubhps

This article was originally published in April, 2019.

[Images courtesy of Innovative PR/Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Inc.]

Lizzy Sherman is an award-winning digital content writer/editor. She has been a featured guest speaker at Cal State University Northridge, Digital LA and The National Association of Audience Marketing Professionals. When she's not writing, Lizzy enjoys yoga and playing guitar. Follow her on Instagram: @zillizy