The Skinny: “Why Do You Work In Plastics?”- My Truth About Working In Aesthetic Medicine

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a girly-girl. “Lipstick Dependent”, as my mom and Aunt Jan like to call it (a trait that I proudly-inherited). I’ve always enjoyed beauty, skin care, and everything in between. My career that started in traditional spa-like esthetics was a natural calling to me. After working in the field for a few years, it became apparent just how much you could do to positively affect the skin as a nurse working in the same industry.

I can remember arriving to nursing school and always feeling like the classroom’s black sheep when our professors would ask us <every time> “What kind of nurse do you want to be?” on each course’s first day. Common answers always included pediatrics, trauma, ER, ICU, etc…. You can imagine the surprise and confusion of my instructors and classmates when my answer was always “Aesthetics” (sealed with a smile). But… “Why do you want to work in plastics?” (cue the judgey eyes). The answer for me is simple, and it is that aesthetics allows me to help others. While it is obvious that aesthetics isn’t exactly saving lives, it is a critical piece that involves improving self-love, self-esteem, and allowing one’s best self to shine through. As a nurse, I can work on deeper layers of the skin and produce clinical results with measurable changes. And when you look good, you feel good.

While plastic surgery is typically viewed as something extremely superficial, and sometimes even scary when overdone, I’d like to put a (polite) reminder out there that it doesn’t have to be. I didn’t go to nursing school so I could over-inject lips and send my patients out to scare the public. Many of our patients suffer skin issues that while may not be life-threatening, are extremely important, and even sometimes devastating to them. Imagine (and maybe you don’t have to because you’ve experienced this yourself), if you had severe acne, burns, or scarring on your face that you had to literally wear on your face for everyone to see all of the time. Some skin issues, like cellulite and hyperpigmentation can be easily concealed-facial issues aren’t always that simple. When plastic surgery, aesthetic enhancement, or a new skin care routine is adapted, you shouldn’t be able to tell. Sure, you can tell that the person looks better, but you can’t quite hit the nail on the head- “What did she do? She looks so… well-rested.”

I love my job, and sincerely appreciate the opportunity to help people every single day. It doesn’t feel like work when I spend my days at the office because I get to share my excitement and education with others. I feel very privileged to be appointed someone’s go-to person that they trust with their insecurities, and self-appointed flaws. Nothing warms my heart more than having someone tell me that they appreciated my information, or how I have been able to positively influence their skin health and self-love. I love watching patient’s skin <and self-esteem> glow! Please know that if you visit me at Hobgood Facial Plastic Surgery your information and treatment plans are always confidential and I am here to help if ever you need. I hope for the chance to meet you soon, and welcome you with open arms!

Be well,

Annie