Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Christine Poharatnyj. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Christine, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

For over a decade, I worked in surgical and critical care settings as a Registered Nurse and then a Nurse Practitioner. It was intense, high-pressure, full of giant responsibilities, and I loved it. I loved the necessary precision, knowing that every small detail made a difference. But after years in that environment, I started to feel something I did not expect. I felt creatively restless.

Medicine is structured and protocol-driven (for good reasons). I realized I was craving something that would let me lean more into my natural creativity while still honoring my medical background. Basically, I wanted to use my clinical brain, but also my artistic eye.

At first, I pushed that feeling away. Walking away from working in a sought-after position felt almost irresponsible. Afterall, I had worked so hard to get there, and I was finally where I once dreamed of being. I kept asking myself, “Isn’t this enough? Why would I leave something so stable and respected?” That question followed me around until I finally got the courage to answer it.

As I explored medical aesthetics more seriously, I began noticing something missing. The industry felt fast, transactional, and volume-driven, with appointments stacked and trends moving quickly. Women entered their appointments unsure of what they actually needed and left without fully understanding what had been done.

I kept thinking, women (and men) deserve more than that. They deserve to understand what is happening to their faces, and why. They deserve space to ask questions without feeling rushed or embarrassed. At the end of the day, the field of aesthetics is still medicine. We are injecting faces, resurfacing skin, and guiding treatment plans that directly impact someone’s confidence. That is a responsibility I don’t think should be taken lightly.

The more I learned, the clearer it became. Aesthetics could be done differently. It could be relationship-based. Education-focused. Ethical. A space where someone could sit down, ask questions, change their mind, and not feel pressured. That was the part that excited me most. Not just the artistry. The integrity. To begin a practice I would actually want to be a patient in.

I knew it was a worthwhile endeavor because I could see the gap. There were other talented injectors. But there was room for someone willing to slow it down. Someone who would say, “Let’s wait,” or “You don’t need that yet,” even if it meant making less profit at the end of the day. I believed women were craving that kind of experience. I believed they wanted to feel safe, informed, and empowered, not just sold to.

Starting my own practice was uncomfortable. I am a perfectionist. I like control. Building something from scratch meant risk. It meant stepping away from a clearly defined path. But I kept coming back to the same thought. If I were sitting in the chair, what kind of provider would I want? That answer built Golden Aesthetics: a boutique medical aesthetics practice in East Aurora, New York, where clinical integrity matters just as much as results, where appointments are conversations. Where long-term relationships matter more than daily volume. It was not a dramatic leap. It was a steady decision to build the kind of space I believed should exist. And I was willing to bet on that.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a background in surgery and critical care. That foundation influences everything I do as the owner of Golden Aesthetics.

In high-acuity medicine, you learn quickly that confidence without competence is dangerous. You deeply respect medicine and anatomy. You understand that small decisions matter. When I transitioned into aesthetics, I did not leave that mindset behind.

Golden Aesthetics is an empowerment-based, ethical medical aesthetics boutique practice in East Aurora. I offer neurotoxins, dermal fillers, biostimulatory treatments such as Sculptra and Hyperdilute Radiesse, microneedling, regenerative PRF EZ gel, and medical-grade skincare.

I utilize ultrasound in my practice for filler treatments when needed. That is not common in many aesthetic clinics, but for me, it is non-negotiable. Ultrasound allows me to see beneath the surface and assess anatomy in real time. When you are injecting faces, guesswork is not acceptable. My extensive background in hospital-based procedures makes that instinct second-nature.

We carry Skinbetter Science because the entire line is clinically tested and backed by data. I am only comfortable recommending products that are evidence-based and that I would personally use.

The clinical standards matter deeply to me. But what matters just as much is how someone feels during and after the appointment.

In my early twenties, I had an aesthetic treatment that left me feeling small and rushed. The treatment was not personalized. There was no education and no real conversation. I walked out feeling embarrassed for not asking more questions. That experience shaped me more than I realized at the time.

I never want someone to sit in my chair and feel unsure or pressured. Empowerment to me means understanding what is happening to your face, why it is happening, and what your options truly are. It means having enough information to say yes confidently, or to say not right now.

If someone comes in for Botox and decides they want filler the same day, I will slow it down. I will tell them to think about it. If they are still interested, we can move forward. I do not intentionally upsell. I do not stack treatments for the sake of revenue. This is still medicine. That matters.

About 80 percent of my patients are repeat clients. That is something I am deeply proud of. It tells me they trust me and that they feel safe returning and evolving gradually rather than chasing trends. Over time, those appointments turn into real relationships. I know about their businesses, weddings, pregnancies, heartbreaks, and career changes. I genuinely care about what is happening in their lives, not just what is happening with their skin. Many of the women I treat are building businesses, raising families, navigating career shifts, or stepping into new seasons of life. If a medical aesthetics treatment can help them feel more aligned and confident while they do that, that is meaningful work to me.

Recently, I expanded the space and brought on a nurse injector, Angela Delecki, RN, whom I have known for years and worked alongside in critical care. I do not trust easily, especially with my patients. Bringing her in required me to grow. But I knew the standard would stay high.

What I want people to know is simple: You will never be sold to here. You will be educated, you will be heard, and sometimes, I will recommend less than what you came in asking for. That is intentional.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

Honestly, I think it comes down to consistency and restraint. I am not the loudest in the room. I am not chasing every trend. I focus on subtle, natural results and long-term planning. Social media has helped reduce the stigma around medical aesthetics, which I think is a good thing. Women talk openly about Botox and filler now. But sometimes I worry it has also made it feel overly casual and has led to a lot of misinformation. At the end of the day, this is still a medical specialty. Safety and informed decision-making should never feel secondary to what is trending.

From the beginning, I was clear about how I wanted to practice: realistic expectation, conservative dosing, education before injection, and listening more than talking. What surprised me was how strongly people responded to that.

Growth came quickly, but I believe it came because patients felt safe. They felt informed and involved in the decision.

I take my time in consults. I explain what a treatment can do and what it cannot do. I follow up, I check in, and I say no when something does not feel appropriate. Sometimes that means turning down additional treatment in the moment. I am okay with that. When someone feels cared for, they tell their friends. When someone feels pressured, they tell their friends that too.

Reputation is rarely built in big, flashy moments. It is built in small decisions that align with your values. The extra five minutes explaining why. The pause before adding more. The honesty about limitations. Over time, that consistency becomes your reputation. And I think people can feel the difference.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to unlearn the idea that I had to hold everything tightly for it to succeed.

I am naturally driven. My family and educators were all incredibly supportive and always told me I could accomplish anything. Somewhere along the way, that turned into internal pressure. Raise the bar. Move the goal post. Do more.

When Golden began growing due to client demand, I struggled with expansion. I questioned whether I even wanted it. I wanted to be able to accommodate everyone who wanted to come in, but did I really want more responsibility? More moving parts? I had already built something successful that served my community. Maybe that was enough.

At the same time, I felt a quiet pull to keep going. Recently bringing on my first team member, Angela Delecki, RN, as a nurse injector was a turning point. We have known each other for years. I stood at her wedding. We worked together in high-stakes hospital settings, and I trust her deeply.

Even so, letting someone into something you built from scratch is vulnerable. I realized that protecting my business did not mean controlling every piece of it. Sometimes it means trusting the right people and allowing it to grow beyond just you.

That shift was uncomfortable. I am still hands-on and care deeply about every detail. But I am learning that leadership is not about doing everything yourself. It is about building something sustainable. I am still evolving in that role. And I am okay with that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.goldenaesthetics716.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__goldenaesthetics

Image Credits

All photos by Morgan Catherine Photo & Film