We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kari Irvine. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kari below.
Hi Kari, thanks for joining us today. What’s the best advice you ever gave to a client? How did they benefit / what was the result? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)
I had a 23-year-old young woman come to see me for acne. She had started breaking out at just 10 years of age, and had struggled ever since. Not only did she have severe, inflamed active acne, but she had a great deal of scarring from the years of infections her skin had endured. She was at her wit’s end. She had tried a host of antibiotics that made her sick, topical medications that made her skin extremely sensitive and dry, and even six months of Accutane, which is a very strong drug that can cause serious side effects. She estimated that she had been to 7-8 different dermatologists in her quest to clear her skin. She had never seen an acne specialist, so she decided to try one last time.
I told her that my approach to treating acne is very coach-like. I see my acne clients every two weeks, talk to them on the phone and via text, and check in with them often. We discussed the fact that sometimes acne is a condition that never completely goes away, and that loving yourself in spite of not having what society deems as perfect skin is incredibly important. I was able to explain to her that acne is an inherited condition of the pores, and between the right products, some lifestyle changes, a couple of supplements, and the willingness to be consistent and patient, she was acne free in five months. Once her acne was under control, we were able to do some micro-needling and laser treatments to take care of her scarring. At her last appointment with me when she saw her before photo compared with her final after photo, she broke down in happy tears. It was one of the best feelings I’ve experienced in my career, and I was so incredibly honored to have been a part of her journey.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a medical aesthetician with over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry. I decided to become a skincare therapist (a.k.a. aesthetician), after working in dermatology for several years. Many people wonder what the difference is between an aesthetician and a medical aesthetician, and basically the difference lies in the fact that medical aestheticians are trained in advanced skincare techniques such as micro-needling, lasers, chemical peels, etc. We take a more clinical approach to treating specific skin conditions, such as aging, acne, texture, rosacea and other issues. While you can go to a day spa and get a wonderful, relaxing facial that will absolutely have benefits for your skin and provide you with excellent selfcare, I like to combine a spa experience with medical-grade treatments. It doesn’t have to be one or the other!
My areas of expertise include Morpheus8, which is a fractional radiofrequency micro-needling device that provides truly incredible results for people who need help with fine lines/wrinkles, laxity (loose skin), jawline drooping, and texture issues. I also perform IPL (intense pulsed light) for those with sun damage, small facial vessels, rosacea, acne, and melasma. I love using HydraFacial for deep cleansing and infusing the skin with specific serums and ingredients. I usually recommend that my clients have one or two strong chemical peels every year. I also take great pleasure in helping people with acne. I believe very strongly that what clients do at home is 80% of their skin health, and so recommending custom medical-grade skincare is a huge part of what I do.
It is most important to me that I am honest and realistic with my clients about what results they can achieve. I will never tell you that something I can do will give you the results of a facelift or other surgical procedure, because that simply isn’t true. However, between lasers, micro-needling, consistent facial treatments, and the miracle of injectables, you can achieve your goals without surgery if you start early and MOST IMPORTANTLY, always use sunblock.
Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?
People want to be heard. It is truly that simple. I do an extensive consultation with every single one of my clients, and the goal is to learn as much as I can about their lifestyle, their goals, their expectations, their budgetary concerns, and what they need from me. I believe that listening is the most important characteristic an aesthetician can possess. While I take great joy in giving people beautiful, healthy, younger-looking skin, it is just as important that my treatment room be a refuge where they can get away from the stress of the world, turn their phone off, and relax, I want to be someone they look forward to seeing and spending time with, where they know they can talk about whatever they wish, take a nap, or simply enjoy silence–which is such a rare commodity these days.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
Education is a huge part of what I do. I don’t just want to tell my clients what they should have done and what products they should purchase, I want to tell them WHY. I extend that education to my social media, and I believe it has been invaluable in growing my client base.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/knoxvilleskincare