Tarek El Moussa opens up about using Botox to celebrate his 43rd birthday

Tarek El Moussa attaches great importance to aesthetics when it comes to cosmetic treatments.

The Turning El Moussas around In an Instagram post on Tuesday, August 28, the star spoke about his Botox treatment on the occasion of his 43rd birthday.

“OMG I still can’t believe I’m 43!!! Huge thanks to whoever invented Botox!” he wrote in the caption, followed by three crying laughing emojis. His post also included snaps from a birthday outing he took with his wife. Sell ​​sunset alum Heather El Moussa.

“So… I celebrated my birthday in Tampa last weekend with the boss and incredible friends! The trip was the perfect mix of business and pleasure – just what we needed! From sunny adventures to unforgettable moments, it was an unforgettable birthday,” he writes.

He ends the post by thanking his followers for “all the amazing birthday wishes,” adding, “I appreciate you all,” alongside a red heart emoji.

Tarek can thank Dr. Alastair Carruthers and his wife, Dr. Jean Carruthers, for their pioneering work in the cosmetic use of Botox (botulinum toxin).

Alastair, a dermatologist, and his wife, an ophthalmologist, discovered the toxin’s wrinkle-smoothing effects after Jean treated a patient’s uncontrollable blinking with a diluted botulinum toxin solution. After years of research by the married doctors, BOTOX® was officially approved for aesthetic use by the FDA in 2002.

In addition to being open about the cosmetic treatments he has undergone, Tarek has also spoken to his fans about many of the health issues he has had to deal with over the past decade.

In February 2024, the HGTV star delved deep into his past challenges, including his steroid addiction, in his memoir. Turn your life around.

In the book, he speaks openly about his experiences through a series of painful episodes, including a diagnosis of thyroid cancer in 2013 and testicular cancer shortly thereafter.

Thanks to several operations and radioiodine therapy, he managed to win both titles. However, a “debilitating” back injury while playing golf presented him with a new challenge.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE in January, Tarek spoke about the “emotional rollercoaster” that came with chronicling these events and his recovery in the book.

“The most important thing to realize is that anything is possible. Literally anything is possible. You just have to start. Most people never start,” he said. “Take the first step. Take the first walk… Just start.”