Welcome to "Where Are They Now?", a series that follows the journey of individuals who have attended one of our courses and how they have applied the skills and knowledge gained with us in their professional and personal lives. We believe that learning is a lifelong journey, and we take pride in knowing that our program has had a positive impact on the lives of our attendees.
Mindy Choi
Introducing Mindy Choi the newest addition to our "Where Are They Now?" series brings us great excitement. Mindi took part in a Combined Full Day Hands-On Training Course with Rana in November 2020.
What were you doing before you got into aesthetics?
I was working as a cardiac nurse on a medsurg unit at a busy university hospital in the chicagoland area.
What inspired you to pursue a career in aesthetics?
I was looking for something that would fulfill my passion and interests in both health & beauty. I used to do freelance makeup and in doing so I would always love the feeling it gave me. I had the opportunity to unleash my creativity and help others feel more beautiful in their skin. That was such an amazing and powerful feeling for me but I did that on the side and never fully pursued being a makeup artist because I didn’t want to “waste” my nursing skills. I never even knew as a nurse I could get into this field or that aesthetic medicine even existed because in mind all I’d ever known is plastic surgery, never the non-surgical realm. So I talked to the only friend I knew who was an aesthetic nurse and she gave me some tips on how to become one. After taking the first step and getting more information I was hooked. I wanted to learn everything I possibly could know about aesthetics.
Why did you choose The Confidence Lab's training program?
I had attended a different training course that didn’t involve as much guidance as I had hoped for, so when this one was highly recommended from another friend I decided I’d give it shot. This entire training course was exactly what I needed. It was the hands on learning in an intimate safe atmosphere for me. What I heavily appreciated was completing the online portion prior to the all day hands-on clinical portion. The online portion was in depth and set the foundation for exactly what to expect during the hands-on training. It also gave me the confidence I needed and the ability to inject with that confidence during the hand-on session. The energy, the empowerment, and the sense of community I gained with the confidence lab is forever invaluable.
What is your favorite aspect of working in the field of aesthetics?
My favorite aspect is the gratification you will have from treating your patients and the work life balance. In aesthetic medicine it is forever evolving and you’ll never get bored of it. You will gain new lifelong connections. Nothing will ever feel too basic or routine. You will always be hungry for more and constantly questioning yourself. I am a student by heart always hungry for learning. Whether it’s learning about my patient, about new products, about new technology and devices, or learning new techniques to improve safety for my patient. This year I became a new mother and find that in the world of aesthetics you can create a schedule that works well for you and your lifestyle while still maintaining what you love to do. It is just endless possibilities and truly rewarding to work in Aesthetics.
What are you doing now?
I actually moved away from Chicago and live in the Denver area working as an aesthetic provider at Aère Aesthetics for @thebeautypaI love it because I can credit Rana for being one of the big reasons why I continued my journey in aesthetics. When I was back at home in Chicago I was finding it difficult to find work in aesthetics due to no injecting experience. Rana would refer me places she knew were hiring but at the time I decided to move to Colorado. The stars aligned somehow placing me in the right place at the right time fast forwarding now to working for an amazing mentor and leading aesthetic provider/educator, Neekan Rivera (Owner and founder of Aère Aesthetics)
What advice would you give to those considering a career in this field?
Find your niche - figure out what it is that you really want to focus on getting good at? If it’s everything you can get too overwhelmed. Is it botox? Is it lip filler? Do you want to specialize in undereyes? Will you become the go-to skin specialist for patients with hyperpigmentation?
Find yourself a mentor if you can.
Remember the only thing that is stopping you is you.