Caring for people has always been part of Dr. Amanda Fontoura’s essence. A nurse in Curitiba, she chose the profession precisely for the chance to be close to patients, follow their stories and provide care in a human, present way.
For years, that calling was lived out in Primary Health Care. Working at a Basic Health Unit for six years, between the municipalities of Pinhais and Curitiba, she built a career marked by daily contact with difficult realities, physical suffering and the emotional strain of patients.
But over time, she began to realize there was another way to care for people. One equally human, but connected to self-esteem, well-being and happiness.
That is how Aesthetic Nursing came into her life for good.
When Interest in Aesthetics Becomes Purpose
Dr. Amanda’s first contact with Aesthetics was as a patient. After becoming a mother and approaching 30, she began undergoing aesthetic procedures to preserve features that boosted her self-esteem.
“I felt like my face was melting a little.”
During those appointments, contact with professionals in the field sparked something new. Conversations with biomedical professionals and, above all, with a fellow nurse who graduated from Nepuga led her to see Aesthetics beyond the procedures.
She came to admire the emotional impact that work had on patients.
“I saw that I really liked what she did.”
Little by little, the interest turned into professional identification.
The Difference Between Relieving Pain and Creating Happiness
Comparing the reality of public health with the aesthetics field, Dr. Amanda noticed a profound difference in how patients come to the professional.
In Primary Care, contact usually happens during difficult times: illness, pain, exhaustion and emotional suffering are part of the routine.
“The environment is sadder, because people are suffering.”
In Aesthetics, the logic changes completely.
Even when there is some dissatisfaction or aesthetic complaint, the patient seeks care to feel better about themselves, regain self-esteem and strengthen self-confidence.
“I want to care for people who end up happy, not just pain-free.”
That sentence sums up exactly what motivated her transition to Aesthetic Nursing.
More than changing fields, Dr. Amanda also wanted to transform the care experience she offers people.
Hands-On Experience Strengthening Professional Confidence
Even with extensive clinical experience as a nurse, entering Aesthetics brought new learning and technical challenges.
Throughout the postgraduate program, she realized that some of her Primary Care knowledge helped a great deal, especially in practices related to physical examination and injectables.
“Physical exams and injections are things we do quite often.”
That familiarity made part of the adaptation smoother. But at the same time, she acknowledges that other procedures require skills completely different from what she was used to in hospital and outpatient routines.
Exchanging experiences with colleagues from other fields ended up being an important differentiator in this process.
The Value of Multidisciplinary Learning
For Dr. Amanda, one of the richest aspects of the specialization is precisely contact with professionals from different backgrounds.
Each student arrives with specific skills and different experiences. While some master facial or cosmetic procedures better, she finds that her experience with injectables gives her greater confidence in certain practices.
“I’m more precise with injectables.”
At the same time, she is constantly learning from colleagues who find it easier to work in areas that are not yet part of her daily routine.
“This exchange is really enriching.”
This interaction strengthens not only technical learning but also the sense of a professional network among the doctors entering a rapidly growing market.
Facial and Body Harmonization and the Fascination with Transformation
Among the procedures that most sparked the doctor’s interest, fillers and botulinum toxin hold a special place.
She believes these treatments have a very significant impact on patients’ self-esteem, especially because they help restore facial volume, soften lines and enhance individual features.
“Toxin is almost bread and butter.”
Besides facial harmonization, the body side also caught her attention during the theory classes. Although she understands that body results depend heavily on the patient’s active participation, she finds the area extremely interesting.
Combining biostimulators, botulinum toxin and fillers also stands out as one of the topics that spark the most curiosity and enthusiasm for her professional future.
A Transition Built with Planning and Security
Despite her growing passion for Aesthetics, Dr. Amanda is handling this career change with strategy and responsibility.
Her plan is to initially keep her position with the city government (Prefeitura) while gradually setting up aesthetic appointments in rooms rented by the period.
The idea is to build a solid base of patients before moving fully into the new field.
“When I can support myself with this, I plan to switch for good.”
This outlook shows important professional maturity for anyone who wants to build a sustainable career in Aesthetic Nursing.
There is no impulse or romanticizing. There is planning.
Aesthetics as a Path to Professional Independence
Beyond clinical practice, Dr. Amanda also already sees future possibilities in teaching Aesthetics.
Since she already teaches at the undergraduate level, she believes she would also like to teach procedures, offer courses and share knowledge with other professionals in the field.
“I really like teaching.”
This desire further reinforces her professional profile: someone driven by care, by the exchange of knowledge and by a genuine wish to help people grow.
Not Being Afraid to Change Is Also Part of Growth
Looking back on her own journey, Dr. Amanda believes the best advice for other professionals is not to let fear paralyze important changes.
She acknowledges that making room for a new career can be scary, especially when there is already a stable, established position in the current profession.
“Changing is pretty scary.”
But she also understands that Nursing offers multiple paths and that Aesthetics is one of those fields able to combine professional independence, quality of life and a positive impact on people’s lives.
Today, more than caring for pain, Dr. Amanda has found purpose in helping patients feel happier with themselves.
And perhaps it is exactly this shift in perspective that is transforming not only her career, but also her own way of seeing care.
Laís Bianquini
NEPUGA content team — Núcleo de Especializações Ana Carolina Puga.
