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I’ve been getting laser hair removal done for about five years now. Since my first treatment, the idea of getting my medical laser spa certification has been tumbling around in my brain. This includes treatments ranging from skin tightening, laser hair removal, to CoolSculpting fat reduction. All non-invasive treatments, they’re great ways to keep your skin youthful and healthy.
Who also started their own (may I add, successful) business at a young age? Lorraine of Preventive Esthetics. I sat down with Lorraine and her team about a month ago to ask a few questions about the field. Lorraine was also kind enough to treat me to a complimentary facial and explain the process in detail, which I’ve outlined below:
J: How/when did you know that you wanted to become a medical esthetician?
L: I always knew I wanted to work in an industry that was positive and rewarding. I wanted to put myself in an environment where I was able to develop relationships with clients so I could provide the best possible care for them, a place where people were excited to come in, get treatments, and leave feeling more confident.
J: How did you get started? What specific training do you need?
L: The base line in getting started is you have to have your esthetics license. You achieve your license by attending esthetics school, then passing a practical and written exam through the state. You work your way up from there. I personally got my paramedical certification prior to opening up a medical spa. When it comes to the lasers, each individual machine that we utilize has its own training program in order to treat safely and get optimal results. Every technician at my practice is a licensed professional and certified in every service we offer.
The first step in opening my own business was finding a doctor to work with. Luckily, I found Dr. Barry to become my medical director. We started an LLC together and we’ve been able to work together to grow into the business we are today.
J: What services do you offer?
L: Our most popular treatments are CoolSculpting, laser facials, and cosmetic injectables. CoolSculpting is the only FDA cleared technology that utilized controlled cooling to target and kill fat cells permanently. All of our skin treatments are result oriented treatments that use medical grade procedures to promote collagen production. Our Physician Assistant uses cosmetic injectables to treat patients.
J: What advice would you have for women looking to start their own business?
L: I would say make sure that it’s something that your’e passionate about and that you enjoy doing everyday. It’s a lot of hard work and dedication in the beginning, but if you get through it, the reward is worth the risk!
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THE FACIAL
I’ve never had a facial before, so I consider myself lucky to have gotten my first in the capable hands of Preventive Esthetics.
Step 1: Dermaplane. This is my favorite part. Using a special razor, your esthetician will remove your top layer of dead skin cells (and any peach fuzz) to prepare your skin for the deep cleaning/rejuvenation to come. The razor does not remove the hair follicle, however – so unlike if you were to shave your face, your hair will not grow back darker and thicker.
Step 2: Cleanse & peel. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous when Lorraine told me this part feels a little tingly. After enduring laser hair treatments on my face for many years (absolutely excruciating pain, I’d say 10x worse than any tattoo), I didn’t know what to expect. Have no fear – it just feels like a deep clean. Which is essentially all this step is, working to uncover a new lawyer of skin with gentle exfoliation and resurfacing.
Step 3: Extract & hydrate. Out comes the suction tool. This phase removes any remaining debris from pores while nourishing the skin with intense moisturizers.
Step 4: Fuse & protect. This step saturates the skin’s surface with antioxidants and peptides to “maximize your glow.” At least that’s what the brochure says. Lorraine explained this to me as adding antioxidants to protect against free radicals, that are everywhere in the air, just waiting to break down our skin. These free radicals break down our cells, so this step stops this before it happens.
Step 5: Light therapy finale. Essentially, I laid with a light mask over my fresh face for about ten minutes. To complete the treatment, the blue light aids in pre-acne prevention, and red light in collagen production. While more than one session is recommended for optimum results, the results from my one treatment alone were enough to make my jaw drop!
The time is now for taking care of your skin. The world we live in stresses curing illnesses rather than preventing them, and the health of our skin, the largest organ of the human body, is no different.
To book an appointment with Lorraine based on your skin care needs, email preventiveesthetics@gmail.com or call (315) 628-7341.