How I got started in Aesthetics
I get messages daily from providers looking to make the switch into aesthetic medicine. They often ask how I did it, what I recommend they should do and where to even begin. The simple answer - there is no “right way” or path to enter this field. It's no secret that it is a hard field to break into and the path isn't always a straight course. I want to share how I got into the field and share my recommendations for anyone trying to get into it as well.
Let’s start off with a little background of my nursing experience, as I think your experience before aesthetic medicine is just as important. I graduated from UTMB (University of Texas Medical Branch) in Galveston, Texas with a Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN). I immediately took a job in the Cardiovascular ICU at the Texas Heart Institute. I recovered patients who went through open heart surgeries, lung/heart/kidney/liver transplants and worked with some of the most brilliant minds in cardiovascular medicine to manage their patients.
This was my first exposure to the power of a mentorship program and the ability to learn really intense, life or death information in a safe and supportive environment. I was part of a 6 month mentorship program with one of the unit's best nurses, Connie. She had such a gift to provide “The Why'' in every situation. She would always say, “If you can't tell me why you are doing something, you shouldn't do it at all.” I have held on to this insight for my whole nursing career and have taken this into aesthetics.
From there I moved to Charleston, South Carolina and worked at MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina) in their ICU’s and Rapid Response Team. This was where I was introduced to protocol writing. I helped write the Rapid Response Teams protocol to help improve the early identification of sepsis. I would sit with panels full of different specialties that all had different perspectives and approaches. It was a wonderful experience to be a part of and I learned so much about the power of evidence -based research and collaboration between providers.
Although I loved Cardiovascular and the Rapid Response Team, I knew it was time for something new when I was accepted to Grad School to become a Nurse Practitioner. I did tons of outreach to a variety of specialties and shadowed them for a few days at a time. I shadowed cardiology, nephrology, functional medicine, dermatology, plastic surgery, etc. If there was a speciality, I shadowed someone in it. This is the part when I fell in love with dermatology and aesthetics.
As soon as I knew what direction I wanted to go, I started reaching out to providers in the dermatology and aesthetics field. This is how I connected with Catie, most of you know her as SavvyDerm. She was amazing! I joined her mentorship program which was 6 months of learning the basics of aesthetics. She taught me about anatomy, drawing up toxins, facial dermatology, and so many other things. I shadowed Catie for around 400 hours where she would question me about treatment plans and implement what I learned over the last 6 months. After training for about 9 months total, Catie assured me it was time to take my next steps. I applied to multiple jobs, highlighting my 9 month dedication to learning the aesthetic field. I eventually landed a job without any hands-on experience. I found that because of my dedication to the foundational knowledge, I was leaps and bounds ahead of many novice providers.
All of that to say, there is no right or wrong way to get into aesthetic medicine. But I do believe in the power of dedication and commitment to learning the field and using the experience you have beforehand to shape your aesthetic practice.
Here are a few tips for those starting out…
Get experience outside of aesthetics.
I learned so much in my time as an ICU nurse that I have taken into my aesthetic practice. This is where you really learn about collaboration, critical thinking, time management, research, and continued education.
Commit to the process of the transition.
There is no quick fix in any aspect of life or career. No weekend course or two day training will provide you with the tools to be successful. The transition takes time and commitment to learning.
Learn “The Why’s” as my first mentor, Connie, would tell me.
Really deep dive into the foundation of aesthetic medicine. It doesn't cost anything to start learning anatomy and the aging process. Understand WHY aesthetic medicine exists and how to use it to obtain your patients goals.
Start to immerse yourself in the field.
Surround yourself with providers in the field and mentors that will help you through the steps! This is where a safe and supportive environment can be the best foundation for practice in a field where a lot can go wrong (blindness, tissue death, etc).
Utilize resources such as Patreon to learn the basics.
For as little as $15/month you will have access to some of the best aesthetic injectors in the US! Some of my favorites are: Injector Bunny (Erika Barry), Sarah Berg, Jubilant Julie (Julie Bass Kaplan), Naturally Rana (Rana Kennelly), and Gillian Murray (GMA Aesthetics).
Join journal memberships and aesthetic memberships.
Some I love: JCAD, JDD, ISPAN, DNA, AMSPA, ASJ, and JCD.
Lastly, be smart with your financial investment for the transition.
Yes, getting into aesthetics requires financial investment. There is no “school” for aesthetic medicine so as providers, we are expected to seek out our own education, which comes with a cost. For example, don't spend $4,000 on a one or two day hands on course when you can't implement the material you have learned. Invest in online resources, memberships, conferences, shadow days, and mentorships with providers in the industry. These will provide you with more information and resources then a weekend course and allow you to network within the aesthetics community.