Full Transcript for The Squiggly Business Journey Behind Aesthetic Med Spas with Alyssa D’Arcy

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 Subscribe now and find your inspiration.