The Monday after Thanksgiving will mark five years of treating patients at Relevé Medical Aesthetics in Amherst, NH. That day, I was in a room I rented by the day from an esthetician in Amherst. I was so nervous I had a belly ache, and my own face was still bruised and puffy from treatments I’d received the week before during my training in aesthetic medicine. It felt fast, but there was no other way to do it. Get the training (mine was thankfully very thorough), and get treating patients.
Embracing the cringe factor
I had begun marketing my business two months before on Instagram and Facebook, hoping to have patients booked in for my first week back from training. And boy, did that feel raw. Vulnerable. Cringey. It still does a little, but I’ve found my voice, and my patients say they feel better connected to me because I let them get to know me online.
Learning to embrace the cringe factor has been a good lesson for me. It’s forced me to show up for myself and my patients, despite what other people might think of me. I like living more boldly like that, even if I still have to work through discomfort at times.
The gift of morning commutes
In 2021, my daughters were on their way out of preschool and into full-day elementary school. We had always had a nanny, since my husband and I both worked very early hours at the hospital, but I realized that if I continued in the hospital, I’d only ever see my girls for a few hours in the evenings. One of the biggest gifts Relevé has given me is the ability to be present for my daughters whenever they need me. I’ve been blessed to drive them to school every morning. And the knowledge that this right was hard-won (I had to start a business to make it happen) helped me relish every morning. On the drive, we talk about what we're grateful for, who we are, and why we’re here. I hope those many short drives have set my girls up for weathering life’s storms, and I’m so grateful to have had them.
My biggest fears, unrealized
My biggest fear starting Relevé was that I would be profiting off of other people’s insecurities. But I’d heard a story from someone who is now a longtime mentor of mine, about an elderly woman who wanted filler treatment so she wouldn’t look so grumpy, and people would be more inclined to talk to her on the bus. That story made me realize that it’s not about “vanity” or even insecurity, it’s about looking on the outside more like how you feel on the inside. I vowed never to do anything that I didn’t genuinely believe was best for the patient. I’m glad to say I never have. Sometimes I’ve had to say no, and that’s tough in its own right, but I’ve never betrayed my own integrity.
This month I’ve been thinking a lot about the patients who have helped me build this dream life, patients who have been with me from the very beginning. I’m happy to report that 70% of the patients I saw in my first two months as an aesthetic clinician are still with me this year! That’s humbling. If they’d asked me then why they should choose me, I’d have said:
“I’ve got great training, I’m committed to helping you feel better without looking different, and I’ll always tell you the truth.”
Funny enough, those three things haven’t changed. I just have five more years of experience and annual training to back those promises up.
What’s next for Relevé in Amherst?
In year six, I want to keep connecting with women and helping them shine. Sometimes that means a little strategically placed Botox, sometimes it’s a laser treatment to improve skin health, and sometimes it’s referring them to another provider, like hormone health or functional medicine. Next year, my goal is to stay in my lane, and keep helping women in our community.
About Relevé Medical Aesthetics
Where is Relevé located? Relevé is a boutique medical aesthetics practice in Amherst, NH, serving patients across southern New Hampshire.
Who is the provider? Jen O’Brien, CRNA, is the owner and provider. She has been treating patients since November 2021 and specializes in natural-looking results.
What services does Relevé offer? Botulinum toxins (such as Botox), dermal fillers, laser treatments, chemical peels, microneedling, weight loss assistance, and PRP treatments.
Do you offer consultations? Yes, consultations are free. Book online here.
On November 23, 2021, I got a quick selfie as I started my first day practicing aesthetic medicine.
