In this inspiring interview with Aesthetic Insider™, Amy Lynn, RN, CANS, shares her journey in medical aesthetics, provides a glimpse into her exciting life as an aesthetic medical educator and trainer, and offers suggestions to others who are on their way to developing their own beauty brand. Since the opening of Glo Derma, a cosmetic medical spa in Yardley, PA seven years ago, Amy has grown her practice to include aesthetic services including injectable fillers, biostimulation, regenerative medicine and other non-invasive treatments to a growing and diverse patient base. Recognized for her skills, entrepreneurship and innovation globally, Amy has become a national trainer for leading medical aesthetic industry companies, and in more recent years opened Glo Academy, a prestigious state-of-the-art educational training facility located at her premises. A working and busy single mom of five beautiful children, Amy draws her creativeness and strength from their joy and their dedicated interactions as a family.
What prompted you to begin a career in medical aesthetics?
I grew up in Yardley, PA – a suburb of Philadelphia and worked for over 11 years as an inner-city ER/Trauma nurse. I vaguely knew about medical aesthetics at that time, and it wasn’t until I decided to have Botox® myself that I realized the power of change during an extremely vulnerable time in my personal life. Back then, my marriage was falling apart, I had financial issues, was raising five children that were all under the age of eight, and trying to hold it all together while working on the weekends in the ER. I remember that year for Christmas we literally had no money to get gifts for the kids. I decided at the last minute to sell my engagement ring and splurge what cash I had on a trampoline. Looking out that Christmas Day and seeing the kids jumping up and down on the trampoline having the time of their lives, all I could see were ten beautiful blue eyes smiling up at me and, I thought, life is great and we are going to be OK. Shortly thereafter, I decided to do something for myself and having a Botox® treatment was my gift to myself. That treatment boosted my confidence and piqued my interest and curiosity into what I needed to do in order to become qualified as an aesthetic injector so I could deliver this type of positive experience to others. At a time when I was feeling defeated, something as simple as getting Botox pulled me into what I consider my “why.” Within a matter of weeks, I took my first course, teamed up with a Physician who ran a wellness center and began my journey as an aesthetic provider. With my motivation and mindset staying consistent with creating a positive patient experience that runs far deeper than on the surface, building trust, patient safety and committing 100 percent to continued education, that is what led me to today. Exactly two years to the day that I took my first course, I opened Glo Derma and never looked back.
Did you develop a business plan?
I definitely crunched some numbers and did a little research but would say my plan was motivated from a gut feeling and the intuitive knowledge I felt knowing that I had found my passion and the realization that I was still helping people but in a different capacity. I was able to see how I could provide a safe place where people could come to look and feel their ultimate best without judgment in a way that cultivated confidence in them also. I felt that I had the ability to really heal people in a different way, therefore I planned my business on intuition rather than total strategy and it has paid off for me. It has taken a lot of dedication, grit, focus, and many sacrifices in order to make it all flow- but it is worth it if you love what you do and feel that you are making a positive impact on others.
Can you explain how you operate from a state of passion?
In the early days I was working in aesthetics in the concierge capacity while learning more about injection techniques, anatomy and safety. We did not have as many credible resources as we do today. This developed my passion for quality education. I was really driven by passion and felt that I was being authentic to my true self with the way I practiced which made me more optimistic and ultimately fearless. I chose to see the good during the hard times which really helped me continue to build a fearless mentality. Fast forward nine years since I took that first course, that innate feeling is still a fire within me that just keeps that passion burning and it just feels right.
What advice would you offer to others developing their practice or beauty brand in medical aesthetics?
Keep caring: As medical providers, we are natural caretakers and want to care for others, including our friends, family and our patients. I didn’t think I was developing a practice or a beauty brand, however, both have occurred and Glo Derma and Glo Academy are on their way to being an important beauty brand in aesthetics. Both of these have been built on how much I care about their impact on patients which ultimately impacts on everything else in my life.
Develop a community: I’m really big about building a community. I love organizing and bringing people together for a greater cause. This has been important to my success and has allowed me to bring my voice to a larger audience locally, nationally and throughout the medical aesthetic industry internationally. I enjoy teaching at seminars, conferences, training courses and other educational opportunities. Coming from not having a dedicated mentor in the beginning of my aesthetic career, I am very passionate about mentorship and building a community with other like-minded providers aligned with the same purpose.
Listen: I talk a lot about listening to your inner voice, going with your gut feeling, etc., but we must also listen to others so we know how to address needs in the practice of both patients and staff. This is very important when you are building any relationship personally and professionally so I try to be truly present with every encounter I have with another person.
Empower yourself in your finances: I learned this the hard way. Don’t hand off the finances to another person unless you know you can have complete trust in them – and even then stay on it. In the earlier days I wasn’t always on the pulse financially but as business owners we need to make sure we are up to date with what is going on all the time. Build a solid team and foundation, and stay engaged with what is happening within your business.
Don’t overthink: I have found that over-thinking can lead to self-doubt and a lot of waiting for the right position, or the right opportunity, when in reality you really have nothing to lose. So rather than overthinking, I encourage meditation, self love, methods to eliminate distractions and the development of a fearless mentality. If I had thought about things too much, I may not have followed my heart. If you wait for the “right time” for anything in life, I believe most will miss an opportunity, and build a future based on a scarcity mindset rather than one of abundance.
Be authentic: In my area and industry there are a lot of aesthetic providers – nurses and doctors – providing similar services, but I have found that by developing a brand based on what I find to be authentic to me has helped me create something that is unique and Glo Derma has grown tremendously because of that. Never forget why you got started, stay humble, continue your education and give back to others.
Find a mentor: I’m really passionate about education, and mentorship. So, my biggest advice is to find a good mentor, someone who is going to help cultivate you, and help connect you with people who can be pivotal to your career and future success.
What’s next for Amy Lynn, RN?
At the moment I am loving working with my patients at Glo Derma and developing innovative learning opportunities at Glo Academy. I am especially loving the frequent travel as an educator and trainer all over the world. My mind is always working and I continue to be curious about the many new developments and research in medical aesthetics, so I expect to continue to expand my horizons while delivering a positive and inspiring presence for others.
This is a synopsis of Amy’s conversation with Aesthetic Insider™. To listen to the audio podcast CLICK HERE. For more information on Amy Lynn, RN, visit www.gloderma.com.