We were lucky to catch up with Mary Ford Msn, Aprn, Crna recently and have shared our conversation below.

Mary, appreciate you joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

To be successful, I believe it requires a combination of perseverance, passion, and the ability to constantly evolve through education and experience. Success is about understanding that challenges are inevitable but also opportunities for growth. For me, this philosophy was shaped during my transition from anesthesiology to aesthetics.

I had sustained an injury that temporarily paused my career in anesthesiology, and during that time, I found myself exploring injectables. It was a challenging shift, but I embraced it as a new learning experience. I sought out the best training programs and continually worked on expanding my knowledge. One key moment that stands out was when I trained with Dr. Steve Weiner on ultrasound-guided injections. It was a pivotal experience that helped me refine my skills and solidified my confidence in this new field while utilizing skills I had from my anesthesiology practice.

Building Smiley Aesthetics wasn’t easy, but the three of us, my twin sister Carla Pierson – our COO and my best friend and our Chief Legal Officer – Courtney Walker, leaned into our shared passion for health, business, compliance, and education. We started as a mobile service, and with persistence and a solid business plan, we expanded to brick-and-mortar locations.

Success, to me, is not just about building a thriving business but about ensuring the safety, education, and satisfaction of every patient and provider we work with. This approach has allowed us to not only grow but also train hundreds of medical providers across the country, helping them find success in their own careers as well.

In short, success is about seizing opportunities, staying dedicated to education and excellence, never taking shortcuts, and turning obstacles into stepping stones.

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?

My name is Mary Smiley Ford, and I am the founder of Smiley Aesthetics. I’ve been in the medical field for over 13 years, starting as a nurse assistant and eventually becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist (CRNA). After an injury led me to take a break from anesthesiology, I found a passion for medical aesthetics, particularly injectables like Botox and dermal fillers. This new path inspired me to open Smiley Aesthetics, which began as a mobile service in 2022 and has since grown to quite a few brick-and-mortar locations in multiple states. In these years, I have become 1 of just 500 Allergan Medical Institute trainers in the nation, created an accredited training program within Smiley Aesthetics, and trained for other national companies along with speaking on national stages about the practice and business of medical aesthetics.

At Smiley Aesthetics, we provide industry-leading cosmetic treatments, including injectables, microneedling, and wellness services like weight loss injections and B12 shots. Our goal is to help clients enhance their natural beauty while also promoting their overall health and wellness. We’re proud to be a trusted source for both patients and medical professionals, offering not just treatments but also comprehensive training programs for injectors across the country.

What sets us apart is our commitment to safety, education, and personalized care. I’m particularly proud of the hundreds of providers we’ve trained, many of whom have gone on to start their own businesses. I want potential clients and followers to know that Smiley Aesthetics is built on a foundation of trust, expertise, compliance, and a genuine passion for helping people feel confident in their own skin.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

One of the most pivotal moments in my career came when I had to temporarily step away from my work as a CRNA. It was an unexpected and challenging time in my life. I had spent years building my career in anesthesiology, and suddenly, I found myself needing to explore a new path. During this period, I was introduced to the world of medical aesthetics and injectables, something I had never considered before.

What started as a temporary shift turned into a passion. I dove into the training and education side of aesthetics, working with top professionals to refine my skills. It wasn’t easy, but the more I learned, the more I realized that this was something I loved and wanted to pursue long-term.

This pivot wasn’t just about changing careers—it was about adapting, growing, and finding new opportunities in the face of adversity. And more specifically, persevering. That experience ultimately led me to launch Smiley Aesthetics with my twin sister, Carla, which has since grown into a thriving business with multiple locations. It taught me the power of resilience, and I’ve carried that lesson with me throughout my journey.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Building our audience on social media was a key part of Smiley Aesthetics’ growth. When we first launched as a mobile service, we knew we needed to create awareness and build trust with our clients. Social media gave us a platform to do that, especially since aesthetics is such a visual industry. We started by sharing before-and-after photos of treatments, educational content, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into our work. This allowed us to showcase real results and connect with our audience on a more personal level.

One thing that made a big difference was consistency. We posted regularly, engaged with our followers, and responded to questions or comments as quickly as possible. We also partnered with local influencers and encouraged our clients to share their own experiences, which helped spread the word. Over time, this created a community of people who trusted us and were excited about what we offered.

For those just starting to build their social media presence, my advice would be: 1) Be authentic—people want to connect with the real you or your brand. 2) Stay consistent with your posting and engagement. 3) Use social media as a tool to educate and provide value to your audience, not just as a sales platform. And lastly, don’t be afraid to experiment with different types of content to see what resonates best with your followers!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.smileyaesthetics.com
• Instagram: @injectorsmiley / @smileyaesthetics_
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.smiley.31
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/smiley-aesthetics/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SmileyAesthetics
• Other: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SmileyAesthetics