our staff is the reason why we are the best med spa in houston

Dr. Tarina Desai, MD

A board certified physician, wife, mother and Small business owner.

After practicing medicine for almost 7 years and living life as a skincare and makeup fanatic since early middle school, she decided to start her path down the middle, bringing the two together. Born and raised in Houston, TX and recently moved to Oak Forest, she found the Heights Mercantile in Houston to be the perfect place to open her med spa.

Dr. Tarina Desai is the Owner, Medical Director, and Chief Injector of Artavi Med Spa. She received her BS in Business Administration from Trinity University and thereafter attended medical school. She completed her residency training in San Antonio, TX where she also served as chief resident and became board certified in family medicine.

After finishing her residency training, she worked as a hospitalist in Houston for a few years and then set out to further her studies in aesthetic medicine. She spent two years studying aesthetics, flying around the US to train under expert injectors who have been in the field for over 20 years, including Family Practice physicians, Dermatologists, Plastic Surgeons, and Neurosurgery physicians.

She has a long list of certifications which include the art and science of botulinum toxin cosmetic use injections, the art of dermal filler injections, sclerotherapy, emerging therapies in regenerative aesthetic medicine, laser and IPL training, and the science of skin rejuvenation with chemical peeling, medical microdermabrasion, and microneedling. She is one of the top injectors in her field and uses advanced techniques to give the most natural and visible results that her patients desire. Dr. Desai is continually advancing her knowledge and training in aesthetics by attending conferences and courses to perfect her skills. She was selected by Allergan (the makers of Botox and Juvederm) to attend their exclusive institute masterclass led by a Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon. Other notable examples of her continued training include:

• 2022 Allergan Medical Institute Master Expert Series Program

• 2022 Swift Beauty International Masterclass on Advanced Injection Therapy in collaboration with world renowned anatomist Dr. Sebastian Cotofana, MD, PhD, PhD

• 2022 IMCAS in Paris, France- a conference where the leaders in the aesthetic industry go to teach and learn from each other. Dr. Desai traveled to Paris to learn about the latest techniques and advancements in the aesthetic industry straight from the source!

• 2021 Allergan Medical Institute Master Expert Series Program

• 2021 Swift Beauty Lip Enhancement: Anatomical-Based Injection Techniques with Julie Horne

• 2021 Swift Beauty Treatment of Temporal Hollowing: Anatomical-Based Injection Techniques

• 2020 Academy of Injection Anatomy- a unique, Hands On cadaver training course for filler injection

• 2020 IMCAS in Paris, France- a conference where the leaders in the aesthetic industry go to teach and learn from each other. Dr. Desai traveled to Paris to learn about the latest techniques and advancements in the aesthetic industry straight from the source!

• 2019 GAIN Galderma (makers of Dysport and Restylane) teaching conference on cannula use with Restylane Lyft

• 2019 GAIN Galderma course on lip injections taught by the world renowned top expert in lip fillers, Julie Horne

• 2019 ASLMS scientific conference on energy based medicine and laser use

• and many more including multiple courses by Cutera- a laser device company, Amspa, Allergan, Galderma, Diamond Glow, Skinceuticals, Sciton, InMode

Dr. Desai likes to spend her time outside of aesthetics with her husband, two kids (6 year old and 3 year old), and dog Coco. Fun Fact: She named Artavi after her family. “AR” is the first two letters of both of her kids’ names, “TA” is the first two letters of her name, and “VI” is the first two letters of her husband’s name!

Heather Taylor, NP

Aesthetic Nurse Injector

Heather Taylor, NP, is a skilled nurse with 12 years of experience in women’s health, pediatrics, and neonatal ICU. A native Houstonian and honors graduate, she brings her passion for art and beauty into her aesthetic practice, specializing in injectables, cellulite treatment, laser therapy, and skincare regimens.

Committed to staying current with aesthetic advancements, Heather delivers safe, natural results that help patients feel confident. Outside of work, she enjoys time with her family, being a competitive sports mom, and exploring new brunch spots. Heather is excited to join the Artavi team and collaborate with Dr. Desai to provide exceptional care.