In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Dr. Alexes Hazen—board-certified plastic surgeon, microsurgery specialist, and founder of Zen Essentials—for a thoughtful conversation on skin health, ethical aesthetics, and why real results can never be separated from whole-body well-being. With a background that spans public health, global medicine, and some of the most technically demanding surgical training, Dr. Hazen brings a rare depth to how she thinks about beauty, healing, and care.

Her path to medicine was anything but linear. From working with the New York City Department of Health during the AIDS crisis to serving in the Peace Corps in Honduras, Dr. Hazen learned early that medicine isn’t just technical—it’s human. Those experiences shaped a philosophy she carries into every aspect of her work today: outcomes are influenced as much by mental health, sleep, nutrition, and support systems as they are by surgical skill.

Throughout the conversation, Dr. Hazen challenges the surface-level thinking that dominates skincare culture. Skin, she reminds us, is an organ—and it reflects what’s happening internally. No product can compensate for chronic stress, dehydration, or exhaustion. When those fundamentals are addressed, skincare finally has the space to work as it should.

She also speaks candidly about ethics in aesthetic medicine—why board certification matters, why saying “no” is sometimes the most responsible choice, and how listening to patients should always come before selling solutions.

That same restraint and intention led to the creation of Zen Essentials, born from Dr. Hazen’s own struggles with severe skin sensitivities. Designed to be effective yet calming, the line reflects her belief that skincare should support the body—not fight it.

Listen to the full episode to hear Dr. Alexes Hazen unpack holistic healing, ethical aesthetics, and why real skin health starts with caring for the whole person.

SHOP Zen Essentials and learn more on social media!

CHAPTERS:

(0:02) - Introduction & Guest Welcome

(0:46) - A Nonlinear Path Into Medicine

(1:26) - Public Health, AIDS Education & the Peace Corps

(2:46) - Falling in Love With Surgery & Plastic Surgery Training

(3:01) - Early Burn Injury, Scars & Coming Full Circle

(4:12) - Why Holistic Care Matters in Surgical Outcomes

(8:40) - Skin as a Reflection of Whole-Body Health

(11:22) - Ethics, Training & Responsibility in Aesthetic Surgery

(26:21) - The Origins of Zen Essentials & Sensitive Skin Science

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