If you’re a long time client of Clinic 805, then you are probably familiar with Nurse Shelley and her fantastic shoe collection! Having worked with Dr. Smith for 7.5 years, she has long been a pillar of our medical aesthetics program, and has been instrumental in keeping our staff and clinic at the forefront of the industry. We managed to sneak a few minutes from her hectic schedule to grill her about her career, her hobbies and her treatment philosophies. Read on to get to know Nurse Shelley!
Where Are You From Originally and What Brought You to Victoria?
I was born here in Victoria but grew up in the small town of Princeton in the Okanagan. After high school, I moved to Victoria to attend UVic, where I got my degree in Psychology before moving back to the Okanagan to finish nursing school at Okanagan College. I made one more move out west to Victoria to pursue my nursing career and I’ve been here ever since!
How Did You End Up In Medical Aesthetics?
I first became an RN in 1991 and began working in a small hospital for a year. When I moved back to Victoria I became a nurse coordinator at a birth control clinic for 6 years. After I had my 2 sons, I went back to work in the hospital. I ended up working a night shift rotation on a neurology unit with Pam Wilson (a Clinic 805 PAR RN) who encouraged me to apply for a position with Dr. Mark Lupin, a cosmetic dermatologist. I went on to work for Dr. Mark Lupin who educated me about skin health Botox, fillers, and laser therapy. I took some time off to be with my young sons and then applied for a position with Dr. Harlow Hollis who owned a busy plastic surgeon’s practice. In 2014, Pam Wilson again suggested that I apply at Clinic 805. I was so lucky to get an opportunity to work with Dr. Smith at Clinic 805 as the medical aesthetics lead. I’ve been able to spend my career working with and learning from some truly incredible specialists.
When it Comes to Treatments Such as Injectables, Lasers, Skincare, What is Your Philosophy?
I always want to start with an excellent consultation with the patient, to really listen and understand who they are as a person, what their occupation is, what their hobbies are, and what their goals and expectations are. My role is to provide patients with as much education as possible in order to come up with a treatment plan that’s going to work with their lifestyle and meet their needs.
What is Your Favourite Treatment to Perform?
I enjoy all the treatments that we offer for different reasons! Botox helps to relax muscles and also improve emotional expression. For example, when I treat the frown lines, it can also help to open up the eyes and make them appear brighter and less tired. I love using injectables to provide support to the face that can help to make someone look less tired and more refreshed overall. I love doing IPL on patients to help with discolouration on their skin; by eliminating unwanted sun damage and hyperpigmentation, we’re helping the skin look more healthy and rejuvenated. Finally, I love advising patients on medical grade skincare routines and sunscreen so they can actively work on their skin health condition at home.
What Makes Someone a Good Candidate for Medical Aesthetic Treatments?
It’s great when a patient has realistic expectations about treatment outcomes and is willing to learn about each of the treatments we offer. Sometimes, patients will try to dictate the treatments they think they “should” have. Especially with the rise of social media, we often get patients coming in with preconceived notions of the treatments they want (ie. “my friend had 20 units so I want 20 units”) but they may not understand that the exact same treatment often will not look the same from person to person: we all have the same anatomy but individuals are unique in the way we use it! The best candidates come to Clinic 805 because they feel this is a place they can get good information, and they trust our expertise and our role as educators.
What’s The Most Important Lesson You’ve Learned in Your Career?
That this industry is constantly evolving and changing and I have to work with those changes! It’s my job to continually ensure that I’m seeking out further education, and it is critical that I work for a medical director who understands the importance of continuing education. I’m very lucky that Dr. Smith believes in and supports our ongoing learning! I also need to keep up with, and understand the current trends in the medical aesthetics field so that when a patient asks me about a particular treatment, I have a working knowledge of it.
What’s a Trend in Beauty You Love, and One You Wish Would Go Away?
I love that the focus has shifted to preventative treatments that keep the skin in good health, while still allowing for natural aging. My biggest pet peeve is overdone filler, especially in the lips and cheeks. It can be challenging in my job when I’m trying to educate patients on how we can use filler strategically to provide more volume to an area of concern, but they are nervous about looking over-filled and unnatural. Many people are used to seeing completely frozen and puffed up faces on social media and they don’t realize that a much more moderate approach is possible!
What is One Thing You Wish People Knew About The Medical Aesthetics Industry?
One major misconception I hear a lot is the assumption that any kind of injectable, laser, or skincare treatments will look unnatural. I’m dedicated to ensuring that my patients end up with a healthy, vibrant appearance that enhances their beauty but maintains their natural features. A light touch, and a conservative approach means that we can start with less and add to a patient’s treatment plan, to gradually achieve their goals. Most of my patients want to look refreshed and natural, but still value emotional expression and a few fine lines. It is much easier to add more than it is to take away!
Where Can We Find You When You’re Not at Clinic 805?
I’m often spending time out with my two adult sons Payton and Jaxson or hiking around the southern parts of Vancouver Island. I love to ski in the winter, garden in the summer, cook and hang out with my Boston Terrier, Doug!
If You Could Hop on a Plane Right Now, Where Would You Go?
I’d love to go back to Europe, particularly Greece and Italy.
If you’re interested in booking a consultation with Nurse Shelley, get in touch with us today.
