We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tenley Fabian a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tenley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

In the medspa industry, the emergence of new trends is a common occurrence, often leading many medical spas to quickly embrace these trends without sufficient consideration for their long-term viability. However, Starr MedSpa’s approach stands apart from this common practice. We prioritize a thorough and meticulous evaluation process before integrating any new trends into our service offerings.

At Starr MedSpa, we refrain from hastily adopting prominent trends and instead dedicate substantial time and effort to conducting our own research for each potential procedure. Our commitment is grounded in one fundamental principle: if we cannot confidently ensure the consistent delivery of desired results with a particular procedure, it does not find its place within our repertoire of services.

As an example, I can refer to the case of a recently introduced, purportedly long-lasting neurotoxin that garnered substantial attention within the industry earlier this year.

At Starr MedSpa, we made a strategic decision not to immediately incorporate this neurotoxin into our product offerings. Instead, we opted for a cautious approach, monitoring the product’s reception and performance in the market after the initial doses were administered. Our rationale behind this approach was to assess whether the product lived up to its early hype and whether it aligned with the specific needs and preferences of our clientele.

In the end, our careful evaluation revealed that it did not attain the level of popularity we initially anticipated. Moreover, upon a thorough analysis, we determined that, for our particular clientele, introducing this neurotoxin would likely have posed more challenges than benefits. This decision aligns with our unwavering commitment to ensuring the well-being and satisfaction of our clients while maintaining a high standard of safety and effectiveness in the treatments we offer.

Tenley, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My journey into the field of aesthetic medicine has been deeply rooted in a lifelong exposure to the industry. My father, a plastic surgeon, owned and operated his own practice, providing me a unique upbringing immersed in the world of aesthetic medicine. This early exposure fueled my passion for the field and inspired my own aspirations in the realm of healthcare.

To pursue my calling, I received a formal education in nursing, completing nursing school and gaining valuable experience working in a hospital setting. While the hospital environment offered invaluable learning experiences, I found myself consistently drawn back to the world of aesthetics.

My career as an aesthetic nurse injector began to take shape in the vibrant landscape of medical spas in California. However, it wasn’t long before I recognized a recurring issue within the industry. Many of these establishments were eager to promote procedures without the ability to guarantee the desired outcomes.

Driven by a desire to create a space where individuals could address their aesthetic concerns without the pressure of being upsold, I made a pivotal decision. I resolved to establish my own practice, founded on the principles of patient safety, satisfaction, and guaranteed results.

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

Expensive skincare isn’t always better skincare! It is a big myth within the aesthetic industry that to have nice skin, you need to spend hundreds of dollars on these “medical grade” skincare brands and products. In reality, that can be too much for your skin! As I got further into my career, I realized that doing more regular procedures in office, coupled with basic and gentle at-home skincare, is really what allows most skin types to thrive. When opening my own business, I decided to create my own skincare line that is entirely plant-based and gentle, with an affordable price point to help combat this myth!

We’d love to hear your thoughts about selling platforms like Amazon/Etsy vs selling on your own site.

We like to sell our products exclusively on our Shopify in terms of online sales. I find that shopify makes it really easy to keep track of everything all in one place. I chose not to use platforms like Amazon, etc, so that it’s clear if our products are ever sold on another site, it is not coming directly from us. We also allow our patients to buy our products in office, or over the phone with our office staff.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.starrmedspa.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starrmedspa/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StarrMedSpa/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/starr-medspa-westlake-village