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Welcome back, everybody, to Embrace the Squiggle.
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Today's guest brings together science, artistry, leadership, and a really interesting perspective on confidence and self-care.
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She's a nurse practitioner and the founder and medical director of an aesthetics practice where the focus isn't just about changing who you are, it's about helping people feel confident in who they already are.
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She's also an educator, training other medical professionals in advanced aesthetic techniques, and a founding member of an organization working to strengthen safety, compliance, collaboration within the aesthetics industry.
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What I really love about her approach is that she sees beauty and wellness as connected.
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Her work goes beyond aesthetics to explore the relationship between our skin and our bodies, our health, and ultimately how we all feel about each other.
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Today we're going to talk about confidence, entrepreneurship, the intersection of science and artistry, and what it really means to take a holistic approach to help people feel their best.
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I think this is going to be a fascinating conversation today.
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Welcome, Alyssa Darcy, to Embrace the Squiggle.
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Thank you so much, ladies.
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I'm really excited to dive into this, and I truly hope that it brings a little bit of a different perspective of what aesthetic medicine is.
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Sometimes there's a bit of a stigma of exactly what we do as nurse practitioners, nurses, um, you know, doctors in the field of aesthetics.
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So I think this is going to be a really enlightening conversation.
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Certainly.
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This is something that to your point, where you've you mentioned there being a bit of a stigma around it.
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I'm really excited to have this conversation because I I personally partake.
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But I am also very uh very into wellness and what's best for our bodies and learning how to really navigate what's best for us and listening to our inside.
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So very excited to talk to you today.
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And it's interesting that you say that, Ashley, because the direction of aesthetics is truly moving more towards wellness.
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So those who are somewhat more naive to the aesthetic industry may think it's just about injectable enhancements, um, you know, a laser, something like that.
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But truly um aesthetic medicine is evolving into uh particularly a woman's health wellness um kind of division where you know you think a lot about your GYN, maybe has 10 minutes of attention to give to you.
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But, you know, guess what?
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Your aesthetic nurse practitioner has 30 minutes or an hour to devote to your wellness needs, your hormone needs, um, things like that.
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So it's the whole aesthetic medical industry is driving down a road of true uh full-body wellness, not just your appearance, which I think is where some of that stigma kind of comes from.
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Yeah, absolutely.
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And I think also just um for me personally, and I know so many folks out there um learning about the various um vitamins and supplements, and now we start to hear about peptides and what does that mean and what journey and path should we be down?
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And not there isn't one size fits all.
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And so, you know, when you're seeing something on Instagram or TikTok and you like the way someone looks or they, you know, they have a glow, they look healthy in the way that they're talking about it.
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You think, oh, I want that, I want to, I want to feel that way, I want to look that way, I want that type of energy back.
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Um, those of us, you know, as we're into the perimetopause, menopause, we're but we're dying for energy.
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That couldn't be more true.
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I think, you know, to your point about TikTok and social media, social media does fortunately and unfortunately steer a lot of those that come in the door with their questions, concerns, or their um assuming of what they think they need.
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Um, and I really think that just boils down to being, you know, so sure that the individual is doing their research on who they're going to see, who are you going to talk to?
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What are their credentials?
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What is their experience?
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Because there's this contemplating, you know, you have a business, you have a medical aesthetics practice, but you're practicing medicine.
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And you can't let the practice of medicine, you know, drive your business, right?
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It it's it can be very complex.
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You have to let your ethical safety responsibility, your consultation, your ability to guide the patient into what is actually most appropriate and most safe for them drive that consult and drive, you know, the patient to feel secure in your care and not just allow the patient who's coming in seeing something fun on TikTok, dictating the care that they think that they're looking for.
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And you really do need to prioritize your research when you're looking for these fun, you know, TikTok incentives and social media guided, um, trendy things.
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You know, peptides are kind of all the rage right now.
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Um, and some of the best advice I can say is like you can't be the person or the med spa or the clinic that is, you know, offering the newest, latest, greatest trend.
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It it you can't possibly safely provide that to your patients and be sustainable.
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So taking your time to do the education, try it out, get certified, um, kind of let other people put it out there and maybe see them thrive or maybe see them fail, and then have that kind of guide you into what you're going to provide for your patients.
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You know, I always say if if the you know latest TikTok trend is now part of the number one service of a practice, I I might question that because you really have to do your due diligence and figure out a, does it represent your brand?
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Is it safe?
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Is it effective?
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Is it something that you believe in, or is it a trend?
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Um, and I think consumers, patients, don't know to their fault.
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And so you need to really provide that that education and and represent yourself as somebody that is ethical on all levels of of aesthetic care because it gets very complicated.
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There's so many things, right?
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Yeah, yeah.
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How do you it what would you recommend to our listeners as maybe a really short checklist of things they should be looking for when they're looking for a you online?
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If they're trying to, um, if they're going for the first time and they're looking for a recommendation, if they're moving out of state and need to find a new person, um, what are what's the checklist that somebody should be looking for?
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Well, I would say that there needs to be some really good oversight in the practice, meaning, are you need to understand and ask the right questions?
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Like, is this a nurse?
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Is this an aesthetician?
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Is this a nurse practitioner?
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Are they functioning within their scope of practice?
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And that varies state to state.
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So you wouldn't really know, but you can ask those questions.
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Um, how many years have you been practicing?
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Um, how many of these particular procedures do you do in a day, in a week, in a year?
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Um, show me some before and afters.
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Do you have good Google reviews, testimonials?
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Um, that's always really important.
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Um, and then I think too, are they, you know, what other credentials do they hold?
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For aesthetic medicine, there's no school you can go to and say, I'm an aesthetic provider.
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You're either a nurse, you're a nurse practitioner, PA, and MD.
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Um, however, there is under the Board of Plastic Surgery certified aesthetic nurse specialist.
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And I can speak to Massachusetts specifically.
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There's only about 18 at most that actually have the credentials of a certified aesthetic nurse specialist.
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This was something I immediately was driven to be sure that I met the criteria to take that exam as soon as I could.
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So you have to be practicing in aesthetic medicine for so many hours, for so many years.
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You have to have letters of recommendation from plastic surgeons, and you have to, you know, take an exam and you have to renew that licensure every couple of years.
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You have to provide continued education.
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And I just think there's nothing more important than being able to say, like, I have done everything that I can do within this, you know, nursing field, uh, this aesthetic field to credential myself.
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When you're in the hospital and you're doing specialties, there's ample certifications, credentials like up the wazoo that you can do.
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But for aesthetic practices, there they're really there's one.
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So a certified aesthetic nurse specialist is something that I pursued back in 2013 as soon as I could, and I continue to carry those credentials.
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And I think that speaks volumes because when you say to a patient, oh, I'm one of 18 certified aesthetic nurse specialists, you know, that it and I'm a trainer for Allergan, I do other things, but it just shows, you know, the dedication to the education of what I'm performing and what I'm providing for patients.
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So, but those are all things that you you need to go in, uh asking the right questions.
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And, you know, you'll I think too, when you make a connection with a provider, you can't underestimate how important that is.
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Um, nurses, especially, we're in a profession of compassion and loyalty and and one of the most trusted professions out there.
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And so you'll find that connection with a nurse or an advanced practice nurse.
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Um, so of course I'm biased to nurses working in aesthetics, but you know, that that compassion and that care and that kindness is something that you'll feel.
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And if it aligns with their credentials and their education and their ability to show their before and afters and and competency, you'll find the right person.
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Such great advice.
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So, Alyssa, how did you get there?
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Right?
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It I I know from your bio that this isn't your first, this isn't your first job.
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This isn't the only thing.
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This is not my first job.
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Right.
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So, how how did you land there?
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So I um I've been, I was a pediatric ICU nurse of 16 years at Boston Children's Hospital.
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And uh I had my family.
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I said to myself, I will never leave here.
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It's a very prestigious uh place to be affiliated with.
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And uh it truly, aside from being a wife and a mom, was my identity, a pediatric ICU nurse.
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Very, very proud of it.
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And once the kids got a little bit older, you know, the grind was was difficult.
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The ability to separate the emotion of, you know, the lot of the tragedies that you're dealing with on a day-to-day and come home and put on the mom hat and the wife hat, it started to burn uh a little bit deeper and was a little bit more challenging.
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And so I was looking for something that I could, you know, so naively like do on the side.
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We're talking, you know, over to 13 years ago now.
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And little did I know that you you could not actually be successful in really much of anything, doing it part-time, right?
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And I took a few courses, and of course, that like ICU precision type A mentality took over.
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I loved every second of it, but I had to know everything like right away.
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I had to get down to like the nitty-gritty, the anatomy.
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I had to understand it.
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That's that ICU mentality of like you need to be perfect before you can perform.
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And that is what drove me to study anatomy, the artistry of facial aging.
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And I found a business partner and we very naively started a business.
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And I think, you know, ignorance is bliss to some degree, because when you go into something a little ignorant into what you're really taking on, um, I say, if I knew now, you know, if I knew then what I know now, like I never would have done it.
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So to some degree, I'm kind of glad, you know.
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I just thought my clinical skills, my ability to relate with patients and provide safe, effective care would be enough.
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Um, but I was so wrong.
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You've got to be able to run numbers and a PL and a balance sheet and manage money and manage employees and HR.
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And oh my goodness, it was tremendously overwhelming, but exciting.
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I had a partner at the time.
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And so I stayed part-time at the hospital for the first two years that I transitioned into building the business and had one of those moments where I just felt like I need to be all in.
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It's not fair to my partner, it's not fair to my employee to keep that security blanket on the side.
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I need to cut the cord and I need to let it go.
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And truly, it was one of the hardest, hardest decisions uh to leave the hospital completely and resign because, like I said, it really was who I identified with.
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I was very, very prideful.
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And it goes a little bit back to that like stigma of aesthetics.
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I can remember a nurse that I had worked with for over 16 years, because I even worked in this same department when I was a student in college.
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So I had a relationship with these nurses for 20 years.
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Um and one of them said, So are you gonna keep up your nursing license after you leave?
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And I to this day remember the moment because I said, Oh my, I'm I'm still a nurse.
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I'm going into a different profession of nursing.
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It's still nursing.
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But that was kind of, I'm like, does everybody think that?
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Like, is that the con?
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Like, of course, you have to be a nurse to inject medication.
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What are these people thinking?
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And so I use a little bit of that um to motivate me to, you know, leave the hospital, put all my eggs in one basket, drive the company, build the business with my partner, and went back to school for my master's and um decided I felt like I needed to prove it to myself.
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There was definitely a sense of feeling like I needed to prove it to others that like this is an advancement of nursing.
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I left the bedside, left the hospital, but I didn't leave nursing.
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This is just a more advanced way of providing care in a very different setting, but still dealing with, you know, people who are in their most moments of their life, whether, you know, you have a critically ill child going through whatever they're going through and dealing with the families and the children and all of that, you know, it's not the same degree, but it's the same kindness and compassion and understanding and connection that you're you're bringing to the treatment room at Alda Aesthetics with somebody who's very vulnerable.
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And it maybe took so much for them to come in and ask about a brown spot, a mole, or or they don't like this or that.
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And so I'm bringing nursing to the table every single day, but in a very different way.
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But that's a long, it was a wild ride, I will say, to leave the hospital, getting into the uncertainty of a business.
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I had a very good paying job, I had an IRA, I had significant seniority, paid time off, and now I'm gonna build a business from nothing and think that I'm gonna make any money.
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Um, what retirement?
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Um, do I don't have health insurance?
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Thank goodness my husband did at the time.
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But, you know, taking that leap of faith is not easy.
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But I do think that believing in your passion, believing in what you're capable of, having a really good support system, I can't speak to that enough, uh, allowed me to make that transition and feel like not every day is gonna be easy and by no means is it, but you know, that you're gonna, you're gonna find your path and you're gonna be successful.
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I love that.
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And I think every I was gonna say woman, but really every person who has started a business could relate to your story.
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That whole, right?
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Gosh, I I coach a lot of people who will say to me, I just I just need to get the part-time gig so then I can start my business, right?
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So I have that guaranteed income.
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And like you said, it's right, it's not until you cut that safety net and you're all in that you're really all in, right?
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At that point, it's it's do or die, right?
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And that was, you know, as the lead revenue producer for the business, me not being there, how is that helpful?
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You know, it took me a while to realize that there's not going to be any scaling of this business.
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Um, there's not going to be any growth whatsoever to have me, you know, back and forth between the hospital.
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And you can't answer calls.
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I mean, we're going back to the days where we didn't have a receptionist, you know, we we had one team member, uh, but we're doing everything ourselves.
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So how do you do follow-up calls?
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How do you deal with a patient complication or concern?
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And, you know, if I'm not there and I'm not injecting and I'm not providing service, we're we're not gonna be able to afford anything.
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We can't grow.
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So it was it all happened in the timing it needed to happen.
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I had to like see the vision.
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I had to get my feet wet and you know, realize that my time at the hospital had had come to an end.
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And um I'm so proud of it to this day.
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But now, you know, I I still will say I'm a pediatric ICU nurse who now runs an aesthetic medical practice because I can't really seem to let go of it.
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I'm so proud of it and I learned so much, and it truly made me who who I am today.
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But um growing a growing a business from the from the ground up and feeling the pressure of an industry that is also exploding and feeling like you have to keep up, you know, keep up with the Joneses, be the jack of all trades.
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Like that was so overwhelming in the beginning to feel like you needed every device, every retail product, every service offering because you had to keep up with everything happening around you.
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And that evolution of me being able to be there full time and really grow with the business and understand like what's our what's our position?
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What's our brand?
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What do we want to be known for?
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What do we do really, really well?
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Like um, it was necessary to be a hundred percent involved in their day-to-day to see that evolution of where the direction was going to go for the business.
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How did you start to take that pressure off of yourself around needing to be the best at everything that's out there and have all of those devices?
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And um, it actually that you saying that actually reminds me of when you become a first-time mom, and you have every baby device that you've ever seen, and you use two right?
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Like you get all of them and all the extras because you have to take them with you everywhere you go.
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Right?
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Kid can't live without their swing if we're gonna go somewhere else for two hours.
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Totally, totally, and then you realize you're like, I just needed a bottle and a pack of wipes, we were good.
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You know, so you you end up going too far and then having to scale back.
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So, what was it that kind of took took that pressure off of your yeah?
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It's a it's a journey, it's maturity of you as a provider, your business, your um all of those things.
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But I think it's also you come to realize things out of failure, right?
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So we had body contouring for quite some time, uh, very expensive devices for body contouring.
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We were, you know, traveling for training, booking patients for these body contouring that were like six, eight-hour sessions that, you know, were they really happy?
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Really, they probably needed something else.
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It was they felt like it was a quick fix.
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It really wasn't.
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No matter how much education you provided, you know, we weren't meeting expectations of the patient.
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Um, and really honestly, by failing and growing into debt because these devices are astronomically expensive, and then having to redefine what our goals are and our brand.
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I wanted to be known for like the most healthy skin.
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Uh, so we really just rebranded like we're gonna just deal with the face, neck, and chest, no body contouring, you know, patients that are seeking to alter, you know, their weight, their body, anything like that right now.
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I mean, we're talking back in 2012 and 13.
00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:42.079
It this we can't we're spending so much time, energy, and money, and we're not seeing anything on the other side, and the patients are not satisfied.
00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:44.400
So eliminate it, get rid of it.
00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:47.200
And I've carried that with me.
00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:59.599
So that was like my first kind of example of a huge loss, but it better served us to create services that were focused around skin health and bringing in laser.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:06.559
Work so more long-term benefits for patients with their skin health and minimizing risk of cancers.
00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:12.000
And even just this past December, I kind of had another one of those.
00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:14.559
Let's look at these devices.
00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:16.160
Let's look at these services.
00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:19.359
We haven't really done any of these services in quite some time.
00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:19.839
Why?
00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.599
Well, we're not really seeing the outcome.
00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.960
The patients aren't loving it.
00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:25.839
Patients aren't seeing the invest the return on investment.
00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:31.920
Um, well, that device is about$280,000 and we're trying to use it for a hundred dollar upsale.
00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:32.880
What are we doing?
00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:36.720
It's not that profitable and patients don't see the improvement.
00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:37.519
Get rid of them.
00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:56.480
So I did another big overhaul just this past December and got rid of four devices in order to bring on one exceptional device that has profoundly changed my practice and has, you know, just provided the most exceptional outcomes.
00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:58.799
I have the happiest, happiest patients.
00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:06.960
And I don't regret it, but you have to make those hard decisions because from a business perspective, it's a massive loss.
00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:12.319
Um, however, you always have to function with the patient's best interests in mind.
00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:17.839
And if it's not benefiting the patients and they're not getting the outcome, why are you trying to offer it?
00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:23.759
So I think, you know, always having that clarity of what are we trying to do?
00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:28.160
What are we, you know, who are we trying to um service?
00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:29.359
Is it ethical?
00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.319
Is it safe?
00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:35.039
Is it providing outcomes that patients are excited about and want to send their mom and their friends?
00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:37.359
If it's not, get rid of it.
00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.160
Get rid of it.
00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:53.039
So I think the body contouring is where the big first fail, but it truly is, I think, in some of the failures and the losses where you realize you have to reprogram, restrategize, and get a more laser-focused approach.
00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:59.440
Dial in on that and drive it to the finish line, and that's where you're going to be more successful.
00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:02.240
Such wisdom, right?
00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:04.400
Both I think for business and life.
00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:07.200
Big time.
00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:12.000
I can I I could write a whole book on all of the lessons I've learned from failures.
00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:12.880
Right.
00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:14.160
You have to learn from them.
00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:16.000
That's the other most important part.
00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:19.119
You know, if you don't learn from them, then they're they're for nothing.
00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:32.160
But I think all of us, you know, women especially are very retrospective and and learn from, you know, the the wins, the losses, and just strive to do better going forward.
00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:35.680
And that's that's what I that's what I try to do every day.
00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:38.640
Um, learn from the mistakes and do better.
00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:49.440
And and to take those moments to reflect, to actually stop and say, you know, let's stop and look at these machines that were stupid expensive, right?
00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:52.720
And figuring out, are they worth it anymore?
00:24:52.960 --> 00:25:03.279
Because it's it's hard to let go of things when I'm sure there's a sort of emotional connection to those machines as well, because you bought them.
00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:11.200
And even if it was, you know, maybe you bought them when you first started your business, it's that whole holding on to the things that you're really ready to let go.
00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:14.880
It's hard for people to let go of things often.
00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:25.039
It's but I think when you're making those decisions in the best interest of your patients, of your business, um, you can you can make it a little bit easier.
00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:33.359
You know, once once it's very clear that it's in the best interest of the patients, it's an easy decision for for me, for sure.
00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:50.880
Um, but there's lessons along the way, whether it's devices, patient satisfaction, learning how to scale a complicated business in a very competitive, very competitive industry, especially here in Massachusetts.
00:25:51.039 --> 00:26:01.519
Um, always trying to like do something different or better, but like also trying to stay in your lane in terms of like offering what you know you can be successful in.
00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:03.119
It's complicated.
00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:07.519
You know, one of the things you said early on was interesting to me.
00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:09.759
You talked about this as prevention.
00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.359
Absolutely.
00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:24.000
There's that a little bit because I think most people see it as like corrective or you know, fixing something that you don't like and head neck chest, right?
00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:31.839
If you're just looking here up, I think most women are gonna be like, well, if only I could, you know, get rid of the bag here and oh, look at those wrinkles, right?
00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:34.480
We we all do that, or most of us do that.
00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:37.200
So no, you're asked to hear your take on this.
00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:37.440
Yeah.
00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:43.119
I think so many uh men and women don't realize that there's kind of two parts to aesthetics.
00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:48.319
When paying in consult, we usually start by, you know, what are some of your concerns?
00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:51.440
What's the motivation behind you coming in today?
00:26:51.680 --> 00:27:05.200
And then when we're at the point of talking about the available treatment options, I'll say, are, you know, are we trying to work in a corrective phase or are we trying to work in like a maintenance phase?
00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:20.960
Because some people come in and they have a wedding, a shower, they have some monumental event that's driving them in and they really need more corrective work, or maybe they're struggling with acne, rosacea, melasma, and they're just ready to dive in and tell me how I fix this.
00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:24.799
So we're in a corrective action mode versus maintenance.
00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:38.640
And so when we talk about corrective, we're on a path with a timeline of a very specific protocol to get that patient an outcome that they feel um really excited and happy about.
00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:51.680
And other patients, it's just maybe um it's finally me time, it's finally I want to address these things that have been happening, these changes that are happening in my face or my skin that I'm not thrilled with.
00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:58.240
And okay, I say, give me a year and we are going to change the health of your skin.
00:27:58.480 --> 00:28:14.480
And we start with medical-grade skincare products and simply just work on a regimen of consistency in the morning and at night, which is very much customized to the patient and their specific uh skin diseases, skin concerns, and their goals.
00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:35.359
And then we move to some, you know, corrective or even integrative work with lasers, which a lot of people don't realize, like BBL heroic, moxie laser can minimize the risk of skin cancers dramatically if you're continuing to provide that exfoliation and stimulation of collagen and new healthy growth of tissue.
00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:42.480
You're minimizing old dense skin laying on the laying on the surface that is at risk of developing into something we don't want.
00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:49.200
And I have a lot of dermatologists that will, you know, if they don't have devices in their practice, will recommend that they come see us.
00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:54.319
And we work together with many dermatologists to help people with skin concerns.
00:28:54.480 --> 00:29:02.559
So there's, you know, there's ways to improve skin conditions and minimize risk of complex skin diseases.
00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:07.519
And there's also ways to be a little bit proactive and preventative with the aging process.
00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:11.119
We understand facial aging, especially for women.
00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:25.519
The bone structure changes and uh the mandible moves in, the chin recesses, the orbital bone enlarges, the nasal bridge enlarges, changing the way the draping of the tissue is going to fall on the face.
00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:43.119
And so when you understand and know the progression of natural aging, you can be proactive and address some of that volume loss earlier on, maybe in your 30s, late 30s, early 40s, and you're only addressing and giving back what is needed to replace what you've lost.
00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:50.480
The idea of dermal fillers and biostimulators is not to create something that wasn't there to begin with.
00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:54.480
It's just to replace what you've lost and when you start early enough.
00:29:54.720 --> 00:30:04.799
Some people, when there's a significant amount of aging in the skin, in the bone structure, in the fat pads, you know, maybe we're doing a little bit more corrective and then we're transitioning to more of a maintenance.
00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:15.680
But we can address all skin concerns from the outer epidermal layers to the deep fat to uh the deep, you know, bone degradation that's happening.
00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:21.359
And that takes education on understanding the aging process, but we can address all of it.
00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:23.759
And we can also be very minimalistic.
00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:29.359
There has to be nothing invasive with your journey into aesthetics.
00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:35.200
It it can be simple home care regimens that will deliver a beautiful before and after.
00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.319
It just takes time.
00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:39.359
And so, what's the timeline of the patient too?
00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:40.720
Uh, that's very important.
00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:49.519
So we have so many like mothers of the bride and then brides, and so we're all, you know, we're managing all different kinds of treatment plans all the time.
00:30:50.480 --> 00:31:05.039
Well, I think um the one of your posts that I really appreciated the most uh was where you said that um the best in the business, um generalizing, but the best in the business use the word no more than they use the word yes.
00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:06.240
That's very true.
00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:22.640
And uh and I think that's really important because we also, as just human beings, when we see something the way that somebody looks, um, again, going back to you're you almost put yourself into their shoes, but you're not them.
00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:26.720
And what they have doesn't necessarily look good for you.
00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:28.240
It's not best for your skin.
00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:33.519
It's not, and so having somebody who will be honest with you and say, uh-uh, not right.
00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.519
I just really important.
00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:53.279
I just had that experience the other day where a patient came in and new to all the aesthetics, but sat down in the chair and said, I want this medication and I want to spend this amount of money and I want to treat right here, and that's what I want to do, and I'm leaving for Italy tomorrow.
00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:55.359
I was like, hold on.
00:31:56.400 --> 00:32:05.519
Back up, like, you know, we need to do a medical intake, we need to consult, you know, the motivation behind clearly it's you're leaving for Italy.
00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:10.880
Do we understand that wrinkle relaxers take two weeks or longer to look their best?
00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:17.519
And we don't allow patients to dictate care because we are practicing medicine.
00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:26.960
Bring it back to these are medical procedures, prescription medications, you know, provided to you by um an advanced medical provider.
00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:33.279
You don't walk into your primary care and say, I would like uh doxocycline 100 milligrams twice a day for two weeks, please.
00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:41.759
We don't talk, we don't say that, but somehow in aesthetic medicine, patients feel like that is appropriate.
00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:57.920
And it's my job and the job of the of the you know industry to educate patients on the fact that you have to medicalize what we're doing so that patients are not dictating care because it may not be what's best for them.
00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:59.920
It may not be what they need at all.
00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:05.759
And you can't just, you know, check a box and say, sure, we'll do that and check out, and that's$800.
00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:07.759
That's awful.
00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:18.880
So I um it it's not uh holistic, it's not ethical, and it's not uh doing the industry justice for what we're capable of providing patients.
00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:22.960
Such a great conversation, Alyssa.
00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:27.920
I feel like we could talk forever, but our um podcast is not that long.
00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:34.720
Um so yeah, usually at this point we switch over and just ask some quick get to know you questions.
00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:37.119
And Ash, I usually throw that over to you.
00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:38.799
You're ready to jump in?
00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:40.240
Yes, I'm ready.
00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:42.640
This has been a fantastic conversation.
00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:51.920
And based on the things that you've shared, what would you say is your number one recommended treatment for just generalizing?
00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:53.839
Okay, that is easy.
00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:55.680
It always starts with skin health.
00:33:55.839 --> 00:34:05.680
I never want a patient investing in very expensive injectable modalities, laser modalities, until we work on the health of your skin at a cellular level.
00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:19.360
So usually that means four to six weeks of a customized medical-grade skincare regimen, which is going to be a high concentration of active ingredients to literally change your skin health on that cellular level.
00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:26.400
So then your outcomes in your investments, like injectables and lasers and other things, are going to be more profound.
00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:32.800
And it's the least expensive way to begin your kind of journey into aesthetics as well.
00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.400
Well, we like that too.
00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:35.519
Everybody loves deal.
00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:36.159
Yes.
00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:40.960
Um a morning person or a night owl?
00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:42.960
Oh, definitely more morning.
00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:45.360
I'm usually in bed by eight o'clock.
00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:46.960
I am too.
00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:52.079
I love a coffee early in the morning before anybody's asking me to do anything like a 5 a.m.
00:34:52.239 --> 00:34:55.599
coffee when it's still like kind of dark and everybody's still asleep.
00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:56.639
That's my favorite.
00:34:57.599 --> 00:35:00.239
What's your personal guilty pleasure?
00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:04.079
Oh, champagne and wine, probably.
00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:09.599
I love a glass, a cold glass of champagne, probably more than I should.
00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:14.400
Um, that's uh, I mean, anybody that knows me would say exactly the same thing.
00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:21.760
And lastly, we always ask our guests to share a book with our listeners.
00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:29.519
Um, it doesn't have to be, it can be fiction, it can be nonfiction, it's whatever you desire, something you would love to share with others.
00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:36.559
Well, unfortunately, my favorite book is the Cortefano uh anatomy book, so it's not available to everybody.
00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:41.679
Uh, however, if you're in aesthetic medicine and you um know that Dr.
00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:59.039
Cortefano is like the god of anatomy, um, he I've seen him live do cadaver workshops, and he's just the most brilliant man and has provided me with so much education over the last like 14 years.
00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:04.400
And he just came out with his own anatomy book that has a lot of his research.
00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:09.360
Um, he's published uh, I mean, more articles than I could count.
00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:14.800
So it's unfortunately it's a little nerdy because it's all anatomy and related to aesthetics.
00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:20.800
And, you know, I have to say, admittedly, I don't read a lot for pleasure.
00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:26.719
I read a lot for um for work-related, you know, kind of concepts.
00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:34.400
Right now, um, a lot of articles on uh hormone replacement, GLP1 therapy, microdosing.
00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:38.559
That's kind of been my uh my up-to-date uh research.
00:36:41.199 --> 00:36:50.079
Well, Alyssa, this has been a fantastic conversation and um something I I follow uh very closely myself.
00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:56.000
So thank you for all of your wisdom for thank you so much for having me.
00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:58.239
This has been really, really enjoyable.
00:36:58.559 --> 00:36:59.199
Thanks so much.
00:36:59.280 --> 00:37:04.159
And for all of you listening, we hope you get to squiggle into something fantastic this week.
00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:08.960
Is it time for you to add a little squiggle to your career?
00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:13.519
Join us every week to hear from another guest talk about how they embrace the squiggle.
00:37:13.679 --> 00:37:16.400
Subscribe now and find your inspiration.
00:00:04.799 --> 00:00:08.000
Welcome back, everybody, to Embrace the Squiggle.
00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:15.519
Today's guest brings together science, artistry, leadership, and a really interesting perspective on confidence and self-care.
00:00:15.679 --> 00:00:26.640
She's a nurse practitioner and the founder and medical director of an aesthetics practice where the focus isn't just about changing who you are, it's about helping people feel confident in who they already are.
00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:39.679
She's also an educator, training other medical professionals in advanced aesthetic techniques, and a founding member of an organization working to strengthen safety, compliance, collaboration within the aesthetics industry.
00:00:39.920 --> 00:00:44.960
What I really love about her approach is that she sees beauty and wellness as connected.
00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:53.119
Her work goes beyond aesthetics to explore the relationship between our skin and our bodies, our health, and ultimately how we all feel about each other.
00:00:53.920 --> 00:01:03.600
Today we're going to talk about confidence, entrepreneurship, the intersection of science and artistry, and what it really means to take a holistic approach to help people feel their best.
00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:07.359
I think this is going to be a fascinating conversation today.
00:01:07.599 --> 00:01:10.719
Welcome, Alyssa Darcy, to Embrace the Squiggle.
00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:12.400
Thank you so much, ladies.
00:01:12.560 --> 00:01:21.359
I'm really excited to dive into this, and I truly hope that it brings a little bit of a different perspective of what aesthetic medicine is.
00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:31.280
Sometimes there's a bit of a stigma of exactly what we do as nurse practitioners, nurses, um, you know, doctors in the field of aesthetics.
00:01:31.359 --> 00:01:35.040
So I think this is going to be a really enlightening conversation.
00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:36.560
Certainly.
00:01:36.719 --> 00:01:43.120
This is something that to your point, where you've you mentioned there being a bit of a stigma around it.
00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:50.879
I'm really excited to have this conversation because I I personally partake.
00:01:52.400 --> 00:02:04.319
But I am also very uh very into wellness and what's best for our bodies and learning how to really navigate what's best for us and listening to our inside.
00:02:04.480 --> 00:02:06.400
So very excited to talk to you today.
00:02:06.640 --> 00:02:14.879
And it's interesting that you say that, Ashley, because the direction of aesthetics is truly moving more towards wellness.
00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:26.879
So those who are somewhat more naive to the aesthetic industry may think it's just about injectable enhancements, um, you know, a laser, something like that.
00:02:27.039 --> 00:02:42.800
But truly um aesthetic medicine is evolving into uh particularly a woman's health wellness um kind of division where you know you think a lot about your GYN, maybe has 10 minutes of attention to give to you.
00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:44.000
But, you know, guess what?
00:02:44.080 --> 00:02:52.879
Your aesthetic nurse practitioner has 30 minutes or an hour to devote to your wellness needs, your hormone needs, um, things like that.
00:02:53.039 --> 00:03:07.439
So it's the whole aesthetic medical industry is driving down a road of true uh full-body wellness, not just your appearance, which I think is where some of that stigma kind of comes from.
00:03:08.159 --> 00:03:09.439
Yeah, absolutely.
00:03:09.599 --> 00:03:29.120
And I think also just um for me personally, and I know so many folks out there um learning about the various um vitamins and supplements, and now we start to hear about peptides and what does that mean and what journey and path should we be down?
00:03:29.360 --> 00:03:31.919
And not there isn't one size fits all.
00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:43.120
And so, you know, when you're seeing something on Instagram or TikTok and you like the way someone looks or they, you know, they have a glow, they look healthy in the way that they're talking about it.
00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:49.199
You think, oh, I want that, I want to, I want to feel that way, I want to look that way, I want that type of energy back.
00:03:49.520 --> 00:03:56.960
Um, those of us, you know, as we're into the perimetopause, menopause, we're but we're dying for energy.
00:03:57.360 --> 00:03:59.120
That couldn't be more true.
00:03:59.280 --> 00:04:17.279
I think, you know, to your point about TikTok and social media, social media does fortunately and unfortunately steer a lot of those that come in the door with their questions, concerns, or their um assuming of what they think they need.
00:04:17.680 --> 00:04:28.319
Um, and I really think that just boils down to being, you know, so sure that the individual is doing their research on who they're going to see, who are you going to talk to?
00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:29.439
What are their credentials?
00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:30.720
What is their experience?
00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:40.639
Because there's this contemplating, you know, you have a business, you have a medical aesthetics practice, but you're practicing medicine.
00:04:41.040 --> 00:04:46.079
And you can't let the practice of medicine, you know, drive your business, right?
00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:48.639
It it's it can be very complex.
00:04:48.800 --> 00:05:14.639
You have to let your ethical safety responsibility, your consultation, your ability to guide the patient into what is actually most appropriate and most safe for them drive that consult and drive, you know, the patient to feel secure in your care and not just allow the patient who's coming in seeing something fun on TikTok, dictating the care that they think that they're looking for.
00:05:14.959 --> 00:05:27.759
And you really do need to prioritize your research when you're looking for these fun, you know, TikTok incentives and social media guided, um, trendy things.
00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:30.800
You know, peptides are kind of all the rage right now.
00:05:30.959 --> 00:05:41.199
Um, and some of the best advice I can say is like you can't be the person or the med spa or the clinic that is, you know, offering the newest, latest, greatest trend.
00:05:41.360 --> 00:05:47.519
It it you can't possibly safely provide that to your patients and be sustainable.
00:05:47.680 --> 00:06:02.560
So taking your time to do the education, try it out, get certified, um, kind of let other people put it out there and maybe see them thrive or maybe see them fail, and then have that kind of guide you into what you're going to provide for your patients.
00:06:02.959 --> 00:06:17.600
You know, I always say if if the you know latest TikTok trend is now part of the number one service of a practice, I I might question that because you really have to do your due diligence and figure out a, does it represent your brand?
00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:18.399
Is it safe?
00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:19.199
Is it effective?
00:06:19.360 --> 00:06:22.240
Is it something that you believe in, or is it a trend?
00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:27.360
Um, and I think consumers, patients, don't know to their fault.
00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:38.560
And so you need to really provide that that education and and represent yourself as somebody that is ethical on all levels of of aesthetic care because it gets very complicated.
00:06:38.720 --> 00:06:40.079
There's so many things, right?
00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:41.519
Yeah, yeah.
00:06:41.839 --> 00:06:52.319
How do you it what would you recommend to our listeners as maybe a really short checklist of things they should be looking for when they're looking for a you online?
00:06:52.639 --> 00:07:04.560
If they're trying to, um, if they're going for the first time and they're looking for a recommendation, if they're moving out of state and need to find a new person, um, what are what's the checklist that somebody should be looking for?
00:07:04.879 --> 00:07:14.160
Well, I would say that there needs to be some really good oversight in the practice, meaning, are you need to understand and ask the right questions?
00:07:14.240 --> 00:07:15.519
Like, is this a nurse?
00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:16.959
Is this an aesthetician?
00:07:17.120 --> 00:07:18.720
Is this a nurse practitioner?
00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:21.519
Are they functioning within their scope of practice?
00:07:21.759 --> 00:07:23.439
And that varies state to state.
00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:26.720
So you wouldn't really know, but you can ask those questions.
00:07:26.879 --> 00:07:29.439
Um, how many years have you been practicing?
00:07:29.600 --> 00:07:35.279
Um, how many of these particular procedures do you do in a day, in a week, in a year?
00:07:35.439 --> 00:07:37.920
Um, show me some before and afters.
00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:41.279
Do you have good Google reviews, testimonials?
00:07:41.439 --> 00:07:43.199
Um, that's always really important.
00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:48.480
Um, and then I think too, are they, you know, what other credentials do they hold?
00:07:48.639 --> 00:07:56.560
For aesthetic medicine, there's no school you can go to and say, I'm an aesthetic provider.
00:07:56.800 --> 00:08:00.079
You're either a nurse, you're a nurse practitioner, PA, and MD.
00:08:00.480 --> 00:08:06.079
Um, however, there is under the Board of Plastic Surgery certified aesthetic nurse specialist.
00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:08.959
And I can speak to Massachusetts specifically.
00:08:09.040 --> 00:08:15.680
There's only about 18 at most that actually have the credentials of a certified aesthetic nurse specialist.
00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:24.800
This was something I immediately was driven to be sure that I met the criteria to take that exam as soon as I could.
00:08:24.879 --> 00:08:29.680
So you have to be practicing in aesthetic medicine for so many hours, for so many years.
00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:39.759
You have to have letters of recommendation from plastic surgeons, and you have to, you know, take an exam and you have to renew that licensure every couple of years.
00:08:40.000 --> 00:08:42.240
You have to provide continued education.
00:08:42.559 --> 00:08:55.279
And I just think there's nothing more important than being able to say, like, I have done everything that I can do within this, you know, nursing field, uh, this aesthetic field to credential myself.
00:08:55.519 --> 00:09:02.159
When you're in the hospital and you're doing specialties, there's ample certifications, credentials like up the wazoo that you can do.
00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:05.600
But for aesthetic practices, there they're really there's one.
00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:14.320
So a certified aesthetic nurse specialist is something that I pursued back in 2013 as soon as I could, and I continue to carry those credentials.
00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:33.200
And I think that speaks volumes because when you say to a patient, oh, I'm one of 18 certified aesthetic nurse specialists, you know, that it and I'm a trainer for Allergan, I do other things, but it just shows, you know, the dedication to the education of what I'm performing and what I'm providing for patients.
00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:39.039
So, but those are all things that you you need to go in, uh asking the right questions.
00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:46.799
And, you know, you'll I think too, when you make a connection with a provider, you can't underestimate how important that is.
00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:55.360
Um, nurses, especially, we're in a profession of compassion and loyalty and and one of the most trusted professions out there.
00:09:55.519 --> 00:09:59.200
And so you'll find that connection with a nurse or an advanced practice nurse.
00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:08.159
Um, so of course I'm biased to nurses working in aesthetics, but you know, that that compassion and that care and that kindness is something that you'll feel.
00:10:08.240 --> 00:10:18.480
And if it aligns with their credentials and their education and their ability to show their before and afters and and competency, you'll find the right person.
00:10:20.720 --> 00:10:21.919
Such great advice.
00:10:22.159 --> 00:10:24.320
So, Alyssa, how did you get there?
00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:24.799
Right?
00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:28.639
It I I know from your bio that this isn't your first, this isn't your first job.
00:10:28.720 --> 00:10:29.360
This isn't the only thing.
00:10:29.759 --> 00:10:30.559
This is not my first job.
00:10:30.720 --> 00:10:30.799
Right.
00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:32.960
So, how how did you land there?
00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:40.879
So I um I've been, I was a pediatric ICU nurse of 16 years at Boston Children's Hospital.
00:10:41.200 --> 00:10:44.320
And uh I had my family.
00:10:44.639 --> 00:10:47.440
I said to myself, I will never leave here.
00:10:47.600 --> 00:10:51.519
It's a very prestigious uh place to be affiliated with.
00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:58.159
And uh it truly, aside from being a wife and a mom, was my identity, a pediatric ICU nurse.
00:10:58.240 --> 00:10:59.440
Very, very proud of it.
00:10:59.759 --> 00:11:04.559
And once the kids got a little bit older, you know, the grind was was difficult.
00:11:04.879 --> 00:11:18.159
The ability to separate the emotion of, you know, the lot of the tragedies that you're dealing with on a day-to-day and come home and put on the mom hat and the wife hat, it started to burn uh a little bit deeper and was a little bit more challenging.
00:11:18.240 --> 00:11:23.360
And so I was looking for something that I could, you know, so naively like do on the side.
00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:27.279
We're talking, you know, over to 13 years ago now.
00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:35.360
And little did I know that you you could not actually be successful in really much of anything, doing it part-time, right?
00:11:35.600 --> 00:11:42.240
And I took a few courses, and of course, that like ICU precision type A mentality took over.
00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:47.120
I loved every second of it, but I had to know everything like right away.
00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:50.399
I had to get down to like the nitty-gritty, the anatomy.
00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:51.679
I had to understand it.
00:11:51.840 --> 00:11:56.399
That's that ICU mentality of like you need to be perfect before you can perform.
00:11:56.720 --> 00:12:05.759
And that is what drove me to study anatomy, the artistry of facial aging.
00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:12.720
And I found a business partner and we very naively started a business.
00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:31.120
And I think, you know, ignorance is bliss to some degree, because when you go into something a little ignorant into what you're really taking on, um, I say, if I knew now, you know, if I knew then what I know now, like I never would have done it.
00:12:31.360 --> 00:12:33.759
So to some degree, I'm kind of glad, you know.
00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:42.399
I just thought my clinical skills, my ability to relate with patients and provide safe, effective care would be enough.
00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:45.039
Um, but I was so wrong.
00:12:45.279 --> 00:12:52.559
You've got to be able to run numbers and a PL and a balance sheet and manage money and manage employees and HR.
00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:57.679
And oh my goodness, it was tremendously overwhelming, but exciting.
00:12:57.840 --> 00:12:59.279
I had a partner at the time.
00:12:59.519 --> 00:13:10.399
And so I stayed part-time at the hospital for the first two years that I transitioned into building the business and had one of those moments where I just felt like I need to be all in.
00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:16.720
It's not fair to my partner, it's not fair to my employee to keep that security blanket on the side.
00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:19.279
I need to cut the cord and I need to let it go.
00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:29.600
And truly, it was one of the hardest, hardest decisions uh to leave the hospital completely and resign because, like I said, it really was who I identified with.
00:13:29.679 --> 00:13:31.759
I was very, very prideful.
00:13:31.919 --> 00:13:36.000
And it goes a little bit back to that like stigma of aesthetics.
00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:44.080
I can remember a nurse that I had worked with for over 16 years, because I even worked in this same department when I was a student in college.
00:13:44.159 --> 00:13:47.759
So I had a relationship with these nurses for 20 years.
00:13:48.000 --> 00:13:54.399
Um and one of them said, So are you gonna keep up your nursing license after you leave?
00:13:55.120 --> 00:14:00.399
And I to this day remember the moment because I said, Oh my, I'm I'm still a nurse.
00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:03.200
I'm going into a different profession of nursing.
00:14:03.279 --> 00:14:04.399
It's still nursing.
00:14:04.799 --> 00:14:07.759
But that was kind of, I'm like, does everybody think that?
00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:09.120
Like, is that the con?
00:14:09.519 --> 00:14:13.360
Like, of course, you have to be a nurse to inject medication.
00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:15.440
What are these people thinking?
00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:36.879
And so I use a little bit of that um to motivate me to, you know, leave the hospital, put all my eggs in one basket, drive the company, build the business with my partner, and went back to school for my master's and um decided I felt like I needed to prove it to myself.
00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:43.759
There was definitely a sense of feeling like I needed to prove it to others that like this is an advancement of nursing.
00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:47.600
I left the bedside, left the hospital, but I didn't leave nursing.
00:14:47.759 --> 00:15:18.320
This is just a more advanced way of providing care in a very different setting, but still dealing with, you know, people who are in their most moments of their life, whether, you know, you have a critically ill child going through whatever they're going through and dealing with the families and the children and all of that, you know, it's not the same degree, but it's the same kindness and compassion and understanding and connection that you're you're bringing to the treatment room at Alda Aesthetics with somebody who's very vulnerable.
00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:26.000
And it maybe took so much for them to come in and ask about a brown spot, a mole, or or they don't like this or that.
00:15:26.159 --> 00:15:32.080
And so I'm bringing nursing to the table every single day, but in a very different way.
00:15:33.519 --> 00:15:43.279
But that's a long, it was a wild ride, I will say, to leave the hospital, getting into the uncertainty of a business.
00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:58.080
I had a very good paying job, I had an IRA, I had significant seniority, paid time off, and now I'm gonna build a business from nothing and think that I'm gonna make any money.
00:15:58.320 --> 00:16:00.480
Um, what retirement?
00:16:00.720 --> 00:16:02.799
Um, do I don't have health insurance?
00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:05.120
Thank goodness my husband did at the time.
00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:10.799
But, you know, taking that leap of faith is not easy.
00:16:11.360 --> 00:16:33.279
But I do think that believing in your passion, believing in what you're capable of, having a really good support system, I can't speak to that enough, uh, allowed me to make that transition and feel like not every day is gonna be easy and by no means is it, but you know, that you're gonna, you're gonna find your path and you're gonna be successful.
00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:36.320
I love that.
00:16:36.399 --> 00:16:44.399
And I think every I was gonna say woman, but really every person who has started a business could relate to your story.
00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:46.159
That whole, right?
00:16:46.399 --> 00:16:53.279
Gosh, I I coach a lot of people who will say to me, I just I just need to get the part-time gig so then I can start my business, right?
00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:55.360
So I have that guaranteed income.
00:16:55.600 --> 00:17:02.960
And like you said, it's right, it's not until you cut that safety net and you're all in that you're really all in, right?
00:17:03.039 --> 00:17:05.200
At that point, it's it's do or die, right?
00:17:05.680 --> 00:17:12.960
And that was, you know, as the lead revenue producer for the business, me not being there, how is that helpful?
00:17:13.119 --> 00:17:17.920
You know, it took me a while to realize that there's not going to be any scaling of this business.
00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:23.599
Um, there's not going to be any growth whatsoever to have me, you know, back and forth between the hospital.
00:17:23.680 --> 00:17:25.119
And you can't answer calls.
00:17:25.200 --> 00:17:34.240
I mean, we're going back to the days where we didn't have a receptionist, you know, we we had one team member, uh, but we're doing everything ourselves.
00:17:34.319 --> 00:17:35.839
So how do you do follow-up calls?
00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:38.960
How do you deal with a patient complication or concern?
00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:47.839
And, you know, if I'm not there and I'm not injecting and I'm not providing service, we're we're not gonna be able to afford anything.
00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:48.799
We can't grow.
00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:53.440
So it was it all happened in the timing it needed to happen.
00:17:53.599 --> 00:17:55.599
I had to like see the vision.
00:17:55.920 --> 00:18:02.799
I had to get my feet wet and you know, realize that my time at the hospital had had come to an end.
00:18:02.880 --> 00:18:05.759
And um I'm so proud of it to this day.
00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:17.599
But now, you know, I I still will say I'm a pediatric ICU nurse who now runs an aesthetic medical practice because I can't really seem to let go of it.
00:18:17.680 --> 00:18:22.559
I'm so proud of it and I learned so much, and it truly made me who who I am today.
00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:41.519
But um growing a growing a business from the from the ground up and feeling the pressure of an industry that is also exploding and feeling like you have to keep up, you know, keep up with the Joneses, be the jack of all trades.
00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:56.640
Like that was so overwhelming in the beginning to feel like you needed every device, every retail product, every service offering because you had to keep up with everything happening around you.
00:18:56.880 --> 00:19:07.039
And that evolution of me being able to be there full time and really grow with the business and understand like what's our what's our position?
00:19:07.200 --> 00:19:08.000
What's our brand?
00:19:08.160 --> 00:19:09.359
What do we want to be known for?
00:19:09.440 --> 00:19:10.960
What do we do really, really well?
00:19:11.039 --> 00:19:20.640
Like um, it was necessary to be a hundred percent involved in their day-to-day to see that evolution of where the direction was going to go for the business.
00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:35.759
How did you start to take that pressure off of yourself around needing to be the best at everything that's out there and have all of those devices?
00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:48.640
And um, it actually that you saying that actually reminds me of when you become a first-time mom, and you have every baby device that you've ever seen, and you use two right?
00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:52.400
Like you get all of them and all the extras because you have to take them with you everywhere you go.
00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:54.240
Right?
00:19:54.480 --> 00:19:58.079
Kid can't live without their swing if we're gonna go somewhere else for two hours.
00:19:58.400 --> 00:20:04.000
Totally, totally, and then you realize you're like, I just needed a bottle and a pack of wipes, we were good.
00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:08.160
You know, so you you end up going too far and then having to scale back.
00:20:08.240 --> 00:20:11.920
So, what was it that kind of took took that pressure off of your yeah?
00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:19.759
It's a it's a journey, it's maturity of you as a provider, your business, your um all of those things.
00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:25.119
But I think it's also you come to realize things out of failure, right?
00:20:25.359 --> 00:20:33.599
So we had body contouring for quite some time, uh, very expensive devices for body contouring.
00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:43.279
We were, you know, traveling for training, booking patients for these body contouring that were like six, eight-hour sessions that, you know, were they really happy?
00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:45.279
Really, they probably needed something else.
00:20:45.359 --> 00:20:47.440
It was they felt like it was a quick fix.
00:20:47.599 --> 00:20:48.319
It really wasn't.
00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:54.960
No matter how much education you provided, you know, we weren't meeting expectations of the patient.
00:20:55.119 --> 00:21:13.039
Um, and really honestly, by failing and growing into debt because these devices are astronomically expensive, and then having to redefine what our goals are and our brand.
00:21:13.200 --> 00:21:17.119
I wanted to be known for like the most healthy skin.
00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:30.240
Uh, so we really just rebranded like we're gonna just deal with the face, neck, and chest, no body contouring, you know, patients that are seeking to alter, you know, their weight, their body, anything like that right now.
00:21:30.319 --> 00:21:33.039
I mean, we're talking back in 2012 and 13.
00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:42.079
It this we can't we're spending so much time, energy, and money, and we're not seeing anything on the other side, and the patients are not satisfied.
00:21:42.240 --> 00:21:44.400
So eliminate it, get rid of it.
00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:47.200
And I've carried that with me.
00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:59.599
So that was like my first kind of example of a huge loss, but it better served us to create services that were focused around skin health and bringing in laser.
00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:06.559
Work so more long-term benefits for patients with their skin health and minimizing risk of cancers.
00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:12.000
And even just this past December, I kind of had another one of those.
00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:14.559
Let's look at these devices.
00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:16.160
Let's look at these services.
00:22:16.400 --> 00:22:19.359
We haven't really done any of these services in quite some time.
00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:19.839
Why?
00:22:20.000 --> 00:22:21.599
Well, we're not really seeing the outcome.
00:22:21.680 --> 00:22:22.960
The patients aren't loving it.
00:22:23.119 --> 00:22:25.839
Patients aren't seeing the invest the return on investment.
00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:31.920
Um, well, that device is about$280,000 and we're trying to use it for a hundred dollar upsale.
00:22:32.079 --> 00:22:32.880
What are we doing?
00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:36.720
It's not that profitable and patients don't see the improvement.
00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:37.519
Get rid of them.
00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:56.480
So I did another big overhaul just this past December and got rid of four devices in order to bring on one exceptional device that has profoundly changed my practice and has, you know, just provided the most exceptional outcomes.
00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:58.799
I have the happiest, happiest patients.
00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:06.960
And I don't regret it, but you have to make those hard decisions because from a business perspective, it's a massive loss.
00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:12.319
Um, however, you always have to function with the patient's best interests in mind.
00:23:12.400 --> 00:23:17.839
And if it's not benefiting the patients and they're not getting the outcome, why are you trying to offer it?
00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:23.759
So I think, you know, always having that clarity of what are we trying to do?
00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:28.160
What are we, you know, who are we trying to um service?
00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:29.359
Is it ethical?
00:23:29.519 --> 00:23:30.319
Is it safe?
00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:35.039
Is it providing outcomes that patients are excited about and want to send their mom and their friends?
00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:37.359
If it's not, get rid of it.
00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:38.160
Get rid of it.
00:23:38.319 --> 00:23:53.039
So I think the body contouring is where the big first fail, but it truly is, I think, in some of the failures and the losses where you realize you have to reprogram, restrategize, and get a more laser-focused approach.
00:23:53.359 --> 00:23:59.440
Dial in on that and drive it to the finish line, and that's where you're going to be more successful.
00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:02.240
Such wisdom, right?
00:24:02.319 --> 00:24:04.400
Both I think for business and life.
00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:07.200
Big time.
00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:12.000
I can I I could write a whole book on all of the lessons I've learned from failures.
00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:12.880
Right.
00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:14.160
You have to learn from them.
00:24:14.240 --> 00:24:16.000
That's the other most important part.
00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:19.119
You know, if you don't learn from them, then they're they're for nothing.
00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:32.160
But I think all of us, you know, women especially are very retrospective and and learn from, you know, the the wins, the losses, and just strive to do better going forward.
00:24:32.319 --> 00:24:35.680
And that's that's what I that's what I try to do every day.
00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:38.640
Um, learn from the mistakes and do better.
00:24:39.119 --> 00:24:49.440
And and to take those moments to reflect, to actually stop and say, you know, let's stop and look at these machines that were stupid expensive, right?
00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:52.720
And figuring out, are they worth it anymore?
00:24:52.960 --> 00:25:03.279
Because it's it's hard to let go of things when I'm sure there's a sort of emotional connection to those machines as well, because you bought them.
00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:11.200
And even if it was, you know, maybe you bought them when you first started your business, it's that whole holding on to the things that you're really ready to let go.
00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:14.880
It's hard for people to let go of things often.
00:25:15.279 --> 00:25:25.039
It's but I think when you're making those decisions in the best interest of your patients, of your business, um, you can you can make it a little bit easier.
00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:33.359
You know, once once it's very clear that it's in the best interest of the patients, it's an easy decision for for me, for sure.
00:25:33.599 --> 00:25:50.880
Um, but there's lessons along the way, whether it's devices, patient satisfaction, learning how to scale a complicated business in a very competitive, very competitive industry, especially here in Massachusetts.
00:25:51.039 --> 00:26:01.519
Um, always trying to like do something different or better, but like also trying to stay in your lane in terms of like offering what you know you can be successful in.
00:26:01.599 --> 00:26:03.119
It's complicated.
00:26:04.079 --> 00:26:07.519
You know, one of the things you said early on was interesting to me.
00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:09.759
You talked about this as prevention.
00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.359
Absolutely.
00:26:11.440 --> 00:26:24.000
There's that a little bit because I think most people see it as like corrective or you know, fixing something that you don't like and head neck chest, right?
00:26:24.079 --> 00:26:31.839
If you're just looking here up, I think most women are gonna be like, well, if only I could, you know, get rid of the bag here and oh, look at those wrinkles, right?
00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:34.480
We we all do that, or most of us do that.
00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:37.200
So no, you're asked to hear your take on this.
00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:37.440
Yeah.
00:26:37.680 --> 00:26:43.119
I think so many uh men and women don't realize that there's kind of two parts to aesthetics.
00:26:43.200 --> 00:26:48.319
When paying in consult, we usually start by, you know, what are some of your concerns?
00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:51.440
What's the motivation behind you coming in today?
00:26:51.680 --> 00:27:05.200
And then when we're at the point of talking about the available treatment options, I'll say, are, you know, are we trying to work in a corrective phase or are we trying to work in like a maintenance phase?
00:27:05.359 --> 00:27:20.960
Because some people come in and they have a wedding, a shower, they have some monumental event that's driving them in and they really need more corrective work, or maybe they're struggling with acne, rosacea, melasma, and they're just ready to dive in and tell me how I fix this.
00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:24.799
So we're in a corrective action mode versus maintenance.
00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:38.640
And so when we talk about corrective, we're on a path with a timeline of a very specific protocol to get that patient an outcome that they feel um really excited and happy about.
00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:51.680
And other patients, it's just maybe um it's finally me time, it's finally I want to address these things that have been happening, these changes that are happening in my face or my skin that I'm not thrilled with.
00:27:51.839 --> 00:27:58.240
And okay, I say, give me a year and we are going to change the health of your skin.
00:27:58.480 --> 00:28:14.480
And we start with medical-grade skincare products and simply just work on a regimen of consistency in the morning and at night, which is very much customized to the patient and their specific uh skin diseases, skin concerns, and their goals.
00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:35.359
And then we move to some, you know, corrective or even integrative work with lasers, which a lot of people don't realize, like BBL heroic, moxie laser can minimize the risk of skin cancers dramatically if you're continuing to provide that exfoliation and stimulation of collagen and new healthy growth of tissue.
00:28:35.519 --> 00:28:42.480
You're minimizing old dense skin laying on the laying on the surface that is at risk of developing into something we don't want.
00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:49.200
And I have a lot of dermatologists that will, you know, if they don't have devices in their practice, will recommend that they come see us.
00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:54.319
And we work together with many dermatologists to help people with skin concerns.
00:28:54.480 --> 00:29:02.559
So there's, you know, there's ways to improve skin conditions and minimize risk of complex skin diseases.
00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:07.519
And there's also ways to be a little bit proactive and preventative with the aging process.
00:29:07.839 --> 00:29:11.119
We understand facial aging, especially for women.
00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:25.519
The bone structure changes and uh the mandible moves in, the chin recesses, the orbital bone enlarges, the nasal bridge enlarges, changing the way the draping of the tissue is going to fall on the face.
00:29:25.680 --> 00:29:43.119
And so when you understand and know the progression of natural aging, you can be proactive and address some of that volume loss earlier on, maybe in your 30s, late 30s, early 40s, and you're only addressing and giving back what is needed to replace what you've lost.
00:29:43.279 --> 00:29:50.480
The idea of dermal fillers and biostimulators is not to create something that wasn't there to begin with.
00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:54.480
It's just to replace what you've lost and when you start early enough.
00:29:54.720 --> 00:30:04.799
Some people, when there's a significant amount of aging in the skin, in the bone structure, in the fat pads, you know, maybe we're doing a little bit more corrective and then we're transitioning to more of a maintenance.
00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:15.680
But we can address all skin concerns from the outer epidermal layers to the deep fat to uh the deep, you know, bone degradation that's happening.
00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:21.359
And that takes education on understanding the aging process, but we can address all of it.
00:30:21.440 --> 00:30:23.759
And we can also be very minimalistic.
00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:29.359
There has to be nothing invasive with your journey into aesthetics.
00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:35.200
It it can be simple home care regimens that will deliver a beautiful before and after.
00:30:35.279 --> 00:30:36.319
It just takes time.
00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:39.359
And so, what's the timeline of the patient too?
00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:40.720
Uh, that's very important.
00:30:40.880 --> 00:30:49.519
So we have so many like mothers of the bride and then brides, and so we're all, you know, we're managing all different kinds of treatment plans all the time.
00:30:50.480 --> 00:31:05.039
Well, I think um the one of your posts that I really appreciated the most uh was where you said that um the best in the business, um generalizing, but the best in the business use the word no more than they use the word yes.
00:31:05.279 --> 00:31:06.240
That's very true.
00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:22.640
And uh and I think that's really important because we also, as just human beings, when we see something the way that somebody looks, um, again, going back to you're you almost put yourself into their shoes, but you're not them.
00:31:23.200 --> 00:31:26.720
And what they have doesn't necessarily look good for you.
00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:28.240
It's not best for your skin.
00:31:28.400 --> 00:31:33.519
It's not, and so having somebody who will be honest with you and say, uh-uh, not right.
00:31:34.240 --> 00:31:35.519
I just really important.
00:31:36.000 --> 00:31:53.279
I just had that experience the other day where a patient came in and new to all the aesthetics, but sat down in the chair and said, I want this medication and I want to spend this amount of money and I want to treat right here, and that's what I want to do, and I'm leaving for Italy tomorrow.
00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:55.359
I was like, hold on.
00:31:56.400 --> 00:32:05.519
Back up, like, you know, we need to do a medical intake, we need to consult, you know, the motivation behind clearly it's you're leaving for Italy.
00:32:05.599 --> 00:32:10.880
Do we understand that wrinkle relaxers take two weeks or longer to look their best?
00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:17.519
And we don't allow patients to dictate care because we are practicing medicine.
00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:26.960
Bring it back to these are medical procedures, prescription medications, you know, provided to you by um an advanced medical provider.
00:32:27.039 --> 00:32:33.279
You don't walk into your primary care and say, I would like uh doxocycline 100 milligrams twice a day for two weeks, please.
00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:41.759
We don't talk, we don't say that, but somehow in aesthetic medicine, patients feel like that is appropriate.
00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:57.920
And it's my job and the job of the of the you know industry to educate patients on the fact that you have to medicalize what we're doing so that patients are not dictating care because it may not be what's best for them.
00:32:58.079 --> 00:32:59.920
It may not be what they need at all.
00:33:00.079 --> 00:33:05.759
And you can't just, you know, check a box and say, sure, we'll do that and check out, and that's$800.
00:33:06.640 --> 00:33:07.759
That's awful.
00:33:07.920 --> 00:33:18.880
So I um it it's not uh holistic, it's not ethical, and it's not uh doing the industry justice for what we're capable of providing patients.
00:33:21.200 --> 00:33:22.960
Such a great conversation, Alyssa.
00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:27.920
I feel like we could talk forever, but our um podcast is not that long.
00:33:28.240 --> 00:33:34.720
Um so yeah, usually at this point we switch over and just ask some quick get to know you questions.
00:33:34.799 --> 00:33:37.119
And Ash, I usually throw that over to you.
00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:38.799
You're ready to jump in?
00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:40.240
Yes, I'm ready.
00:33:40.480 --> 00:33:42.640
This has been a fantastic conversation.
00:33:42.880 --> 00:33:51.920
And based on the things that you've shared, what would you say is your number one recommended treatment for just generalizing?
00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:53.839
Okay, that is easy.
00:33:53.920 --> 00:33:55.680
It always starts with skin health.
00:33:55.839 --> 00:34:05.680
I never want a patient investing in very expensive injectable modalities, laser modalities, until we work on the health of your skin at a cellular level.
00:34:05.920 --> 00:34:19.360
So usually that means four to six weeks of a customized medical-grade skincare regimen, which is going to be a high concentration of active ingredients to literally change your skin health on that cellular level.
00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:26.400
So then your outcomes in your investments, like injectables and lasers and other things, are going to be more profound.
00:34:27.039 --> 00:34:32.800
And it's the least expensive way to begin your kind of journey into aesthetics as well.
00:34:33.280 --> 00:34:34.400
Well, we like that too.
00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:35.519
Everybody loves deal.
00:34:35.599 --> 00:34:36.159
Yes.
00:34:36.480 --> 00:34:40.960
Um a morning person or a night owl?
00:34:41.199 --> 00:34:42.960
Oh, definitely more morning.
00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:45.360
I'm usually in bed by eight o'clock.
00:34:46.159 --> 00:34:46.960
I am too.
00:34:47.199 --> 00:34:52.079
I love a coffee early in the morning before anybody's asking me to do anything like a 5 a.m.
00:34:52.239 --> 00:34:55.599
coffee when it's still like kind of dark and everybody's still asleep.
00:34:55.679 --> 00:34:56.639
That's my favorite.
00:34:57.599 --> 00:35:00.239
What's your personal guilty pleasure?
00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:04.079
Oh, champagne and wine, probably.
00:35:05.280 --> 00:35:09.599
I love a glass, a cold glass of champagne, probably more than I should.
00:35:09.760 --> 00:35:14.400
Um, that's uh, I mean, anybody that knows me would say exactly the same thing.
00:35:16.159 --> 00:35:21.760
And lastly, we always ask our guests to share a book with our listeners.
00:35:21.920 --> 00:35:29.519
Um, it doesn't have to be, it can be fiction, it can be nonfiction, it's whatever you desire, something you would love to share with others.
00:35:29.840 --> 00:35:36.559
Well, unfortunately, my favorite book is the Cortefano uh anatomy book, so it's not available to everybody.
00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:41.679
Uh, however, if you're in aesthetic medicine and you um know that Dr.
00:35:41.760 --> 00:35:59.039
Cortefano is like the god of anatomy, um, he I've seen him live do cadaver workshops, and he's just the most brilliant man and has provided me with so much education over the last like 14 years.
00:35:59.199 --> 00:36:04.400
And he just came out with his own anatomy book that has a lot of his research.
00:36:04.559 --> 00:36:09.360
Um, he's published uh, I mean, more articles than I could count.
00:36:09.519 --> 00:36:14.800
So it's unfortunately it's a little nerdy because it's all anatomy and related to aesthetics.
00:36:15.119 --> 00:36:20.800
And, you know, I have to say, admittedly, I don't read a lot for pleasure.
00:36:20.960 --> 00:36:26.719
I read a lot for um for work-related, you know, kind of concepts.
00:36:26.960 --> 00:36:34.400
Right now, um, a lot of articles on uh hormone replacement, GLP1 therapy, microdosing.
00:36:34.480 --> 00:36:38.559
That's kind of been my uh my up-to-date uh research.
00:36:41.199 --> 00:36:50.079
Well, Alyssa, this has been a fantastic conversation and um something I I follow uh very closely myself.
00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:56.000
So thank you for all of your wisdom for thank you so much for having me.
00:36:56.159 --> 00:36:58.239
This has been really, really enjoyable.
00:36:58.559 --> 00:36:59.199
Thanks so much.
00:36:59.280 --> 00:37:04.159
And for all of you listening, we hope you get to squiggle into something fantastic this week.
00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:08.960
Is it time for you to add a little squiggle to your career?
00:37:09.119 --> 00:37:13.519
Join us every week to hear from another guest talk about how they embrace the squiggle.
00:37:13.679 --> 00:37:16.400
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