where aesthetics meets artistry
A boutique cosmetic dental and medical aesthetics studio in Del Mar, California.
The Muse Story
Muse began with a conversation.
Sarah had spent years building her aesthetic practice around a simple philosophy: patients deserved more than quick, transactional treatments from providers who weren't really looking at their whole face. She wanted an approach grounded in restraint, artistry, and genuine care.
Darian shared the same philosophy in cosmetic dentistry. He watched patients leave his previous practice with beautiful work, but often wondered if their smile design would have been even more impactful if their facial aesthetics had been planned in concert. Too often, patients were getting veneers from one office, Botox from another, and fillers from a third, with no one looking at how the pieces fit together.
The obvious answer was to build something new. One studio, two specialties, one coordinated plan. Cosmetic dentistry and medical aesthetics under the same roof, designed to work together rather than in isolation.
That's how Muse Aesthetics & Dentistry was born. Not as a concept pitched to investors, but as something Sarah and Darian would have wanted to find for themselves.
What Makes Muse Different
Muse is a boutique, fee-for-service studio. That means unrushed consultations, personalized treatment planning, and the kind of attention that comes from being somewhere that isn't trying to see as many patients as possible in a day.
Our clinical philosophy is grounded in restraint and artistry. We believe the best cosmetic work is the kind no one can point to. Patients who come through Muse leave hearing "you look amazing" from the people in their lives, not "did you have something done?"
That's the standard we hold ourselves to. And it's how we work, every day.
AESTHETIC NURSE PRACTITIONER | FACIAL BALANCING SPECIALIST
Sarah Garces, NP-C
Sarah Garces, NP-C is a board-certified aesthetic nurse practitioner specializing in facial balancing and advanced injectable techniques. Her philosophy centers on restraint, artistry, and results that look refreshed rather than transformed.
Sarah's clinical background spans dermatology, pediatrics, and aesthetic medicine. A former Navy Nurse with a background in pediatrics, she brings the precision and patient-centered approach of medical nursing to every treatment she performs. Her years in dermatology gave her a deep foundation in skin health and long-term rejuvenation, which informs her full-face approach to aesthetics.
At Muse, Sarah performs all filler treatments with ultrasound guidance, allowing her to see beneath the skin and place product with a level of precision and safety that most practices don't offer. This is particularly valuable for facial balancing, non-surgical rhinoplasty, tear trough work, and any treatment near high-risk vascular areas.
Her treatment philosophy is grounded in the belief that less is almost always more. Sarah consistently recommends conservative, well-placed product over volume-driven results, and treats the face as a cohesive whole rather than a list of isolated concerns.
As a San Diego native, Sarah is proud to have founded Muse Aesthetics as her professional home, and now co-leads Muse Aesthetics & Dentistry alongside Dr. Darian Anderson. Together, their combined practice offers the area's only true full-face approach, integrating cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics in one coordinated studio.
COSMETIC DENTIST
Darian Anderson, DDS
Darian Anderson, DDS is a cosmetic dentist devoted to the art and architecture of the smile. A graduate of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry with advanced training through an AEGD (Advanced Education in General Dentistry) residency at UCLA, he brings a foundation in comprehensive and aesthetic care to every case.
Dr. Darian's approach is grounded in three principles: conservative tooth preparation, facially integrated smile design, and natural-looking results. His prep philosophy preserves the maximum amount of natural tooth structure, which produces thinner, more translucent veneers that mimic the optical properties of real enamel. His smile designs are mapped to each patient's individual facial proportions rather than to a generic template, because a smile that belongs to your face will always photograph better than one that doesn't.
His commitment to continuing education is central to how he practices. Dr. Darian actively invests in advanced training in smile design, veneer technique, and facially driven treatment planning to ensure every patient receives care that reflects the current standard in cosmetic dentistry.
At Muse, every veneer case begins with a Virtual Smile Design so patients preview their new smile before any work begins. Dr. Darian works exclusively with a trusted master ceramist to craft each veneer by hand, ensuring natural variation in shade, translucency, and texture.
His goal is never simply to restore teeth. It's to create confident, natural, and beautifully balanced smiles that complement the entire face.
MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Monica Kieu, D.O., FACS
Dr. Monica Kieu is a double board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon with seven years of private practice experience, specializing in both surgical and nonsurgical aesthetic procedures. With residency training in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and a fellowship in Facial Plastic Surgery at the University of Toronto, she brings a wealth of expertise to her work. Her surgical specialties include rhinoplasty, facelifts, neck lifts, blepharoplasty, brow lifts, and reconstructive surgeries such as cleft lip and palate repair. On the nonsurgical side, Dr. Kieu excels in advanced injectable treatments, skin resurfacing, body contouring, and minimally invasive techniques that prioritize natural and balanced results.
For the past five years, Dr. Kieu has been a clinical instructor for Empire Medical Training, providing hands-on and didactic training on neurotoxins, dermal fillers, PRP, Kybella, and hair restoration. She has overseen NPs, PAs, and RNs in her Beverly Hills and Newport Beach practices, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. Dr. Kieu is dedicated to contributing to the aesthetic community through education and leadership while ensuring the highest standards of patient care and satisfaction.
Looking for results.
that are you, but better?
Whether you're exploring injectables, considering a smile transformation, or looking for expert refinement, we're here to help you feel your absolute best. Let's enhance your natural beauty together!