Something all health professionals have in common is a love of caring, and that was the starting point in the professional journey of Dr. Douglas Cristiano. He chose nursing because he saw himself above all as someone capable of providing care and helping others. After his training and first experiences, however, he decided to look for even more and, besides finding satisfaction in his craft, to find even more recognition in nursing.
He says the possibility of becoming an aesthetics specialist began to shine toward the end of his undergraduate studies. The idea kept growing and became more and more tangible as he realized how much the field offers in return, both financially and in professional prominence.
His first professional experience was working in ambulance care. On that occasion, he says he learned a lot, developing techniques and skills fundamental to building the professional he is today. He developed a real passion for working in ambulances, but did not find the same fulfillment working inside the hospital.
Although he also gained a great deal of relevant experience while working in the hospital setting, for him it was also a quite draining period. As he puts it:
“It requires a lot of care so it doesn't affect your life outside of there. You have to be very good at separating things. It was something I really liked, but I wouldn't want to go back to working in the hospital, because my experience wasn't as good as it was in the ambulance.”
Real recognition in nursing
Working today in his own clinic, located in Sorocaba (SP), Dr. Douglas Cristiano has found his place. With a patient list that only keeps growing, and a flexibility of schedule he wouldn't trade to go back to clinical and hospital care.
“I found myself in the aesthetics field. I can help enhance people's beauty, set my own schedule, and earn a much higher income. I no longer have to be stuck in 12-hour shifts.”
This schedule flexibility has also made more room for the aesthetic nurse to pursue his passion for education. Since he has always learned easily and has patience for teaching, he devotes part of his time to mentoring nursing students at a university in his city.
As for demand for procedures, he works mainly with injectables aimed at hair treatments and localized fat, both of which are in high demand and deliver excellent results.
Hair treatments are very much in vogue. Highly sought after by men, and with the rise in hair concerns after Covid-19, the combination of medications and injectables has revolutionized many people's self-esteem.
Another considerable interest for him is applications for localized fat. He mentions that diet combined with physical activity doesn't always deliver the desired results, so combining injectables brings transformative results. He says he developed a no-incision lipo protocol that uses injectables and devices.
The power of nursing applied to aesthetics
When he began the postgraduate program, he recalls one of his biggest fears: making mistakes, performing procedures and ending up causing a complication. But all his experience built as a nurse, together with the specialization's content and the faculty's support, gave him the confidence he needed to practice and to mature into the aesthetic nursing specialist he is today.
Health professionals in different fields bring essential fundamentals to aesthetic practice. Drawing above all on the perspective of his own training, Dr. Douglas sees in nurses components that, when applied to this specialty, can be a real standout, thanks to the experience nurses develop in the routine of closeness with patients, their knowledge of biosafety, their experience with syringes and needles, among other skills.
“I think nurses have an edge when working in aesthetics, because nurses have that perspective of what can and can't be done, questions of risk, of infection. Nurses are able to have a more critical, more careful eye.”
And he says that, throughout the program, he made the most of every opportunity to improve, despite any fear or insecurity that may have crossed his studies:
“My experience with the postgraduate program, when I started, was something fantastic that I think surpassed everything. It went beyond the expectations I had, my fears, my insecurities.”
He adds:
“You end up gaining more knowledge when you get into aesthetics. You go deeper, but you don't lose that eye for the patient who needs care right then.”
To become even more confident in his aesthetic work, he stresses that he didn't stop studying with the postgraduate program, but pursues complementary courses according to the needs that arise. All of this training base builds a confident professional capable of overcoming barriers.
What nurses who want to start a business in aesthetics need to keep in mind
According to Dr. Douglas's experience, starting a business in aesthetics presents several challenges. Besides performing procedures and building good relationships with patients, it is essential for the professional to master office management, digital marketing tools, and bureaucratic matters.
The pursuit of constant growth, through courses and mentorships, is essential to overcome these difficulties and stand out in the market. Staying current on the latest technologies and trends in the field is another crucial point for business success. In a competitive market, specializing in a particular procedure can be a significant differentiator.
“I don't see people as competitors; each one has their own strengths, their own way of doing the procedure and dealing with patients, so it's something the market has room for many professionals, but each one will stand out in their own way.”
Laís Bianquini
NEPUGA content team — Núcleo de Especializações Ana Carolina Puga.
