Lessons I've learned

Exactly two years ago I walked into a small studio space that had been gutted to the studs. It was a typical construction site, but there was one element that stole my heart–a bay window with original lead latticework from the 70’s. As I reflect on the past two years, I’m so grateful for everything that space has brought me: a thriving medical aesthetics practice, a lifestyle that lets me be with my family, and invaluable life lessons. Here are three things I’ve learned:

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Number one: I’m in the business of whole person wellbeing, not injecting.

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No shade on anyone who does, but I never call myself an ‘injector.’ It sounds like something robotic and mechanical whose only role is to transfer something from a syringe into a body. That is probably the least important thing I do. I spend an hour with each and every patient who walks through my door before I ever inject anything. I listen to their stories, I watch their micro expressions, I study their body language. I share with them elements of my experience and education that will help them make decisions about their own aesthetic treatments. I show them pictures of facial muscles, explaining exactly why I recommend what I recommend. I’ll tell them if treatments aren’t a good fit and why, and even if they would be better treated by someone other than me. If I sense any hesitation in their resolve to have treatment, I root it out and help them face it, often recommending they come back when they have no more hesitation. “The whole point of this treatment is to help you feel great,” I’ll say, “I don’t want anything to tarnish that for you.” I’ve had patients wait over a year for treatment until they feel genuinely ready. I am a whole person healthcare provider.

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Number two: Small things can be transformative.

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The top fear new patients tell me they have is that of looking overdone. “I have a friend that got filler and now she looks so different,” they say, “I don’t want to look different.” My treatments never run the risk of looking overdone, rather the exact opposite. I walk the tightrope of making a noticeable improvement without it being noticeable. Patients often come back for a follow up and say they don’t know if they notice much of a difference, but that they do feel better. I call it the Yellow Brick Road approach: one step won’t get you very far, but string a few of them together and you’re getting somewhere. For my patients who trust me, and remain consistent with at-home skin care and routine subtle treatments, the transformation in six months to a year is really amazing. The external transformation is only a piece of it. Their lives change as well–new relationships, job promotions, new experiences–all because they feel better and live bigger.

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Number three: Consistency is key.

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This is probably true in almost every area of life. I endeavor to be consistent for you by showing up on social media so you can get to know me and feel comfortable with me, by providing consistently good results every time I give you a treatment, by texting you after every treatment to follow up on your experience. I want you to know exactly what to expect from me each and every time so that your experience is seamless.

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Consistency is also key in seeing results. If you consistently use SPF and antioxidants in your daily skincare regimen and do nothing else, you will see improvement in a few months. If you’ve got deep frown lines, or 11’s, and they don’t go away with your first botox treatment, but you get treated consistently every three months, they will go away eventually. We all know it’s true, no one expects to get buff after one day at the gym.

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My own anti-aging journey has been one of just being consistent. My daily skincare, routine exercise, and subtle treatments have led me to feel more confident now than ever before in my life. The dark blue circles under my eyes have completely resolved. My skin is bright and clear. And it wasn’t one treatment that did it for me, it was small changes maintained with consistency.

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I’m giving myself these last few weeks of December to reflect, rest, and refresh myself. January will come, and I’ll be full of big dreams again. But for now, I’m grateful for the growth I’ve had both personally and professionally, and I’m grateful to you, my patients, for your trust and openness.