Meet Bridget Winterhalter of Doctor A Spa

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bridget Winterhalter.

Bridget, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
If you asked me ten years ago where I would be starting my career, I highly, highly doubt I would have said, Los Angeles. I am an East Coast girl at heart. I was born and raised in a suburb of Philadelphia, PA, went to college in Washington, DC, and attended graduate school in New Haven, CT. I think I’m a little bit more sarcastic than the average Angeleno, roll my eyes when people say “it’s cold,” and love a good, rainy day. I always knew I would most likely be in medicine in some sort of capacity. I dabbled in the idea of medical school, but after learning more about the role of physician assistants, I realized it was a better fit for me. For those who don’t know, a physician assistant is a medical professional who diagnoses illnesses, manages treatment plans, and prescribes medications, all under the supervision of a physician. After college, I was accepted into Yale University’s dual degree Physician Assistant and Public Health program. Let’s just say, I became a professional student. After all this time on the East Coast, I never considered a move to the West Coast. So, what led me to LA, you may be wondering? A boy, and in particular, one dying to get out of the cold and back to sunshine.

After 20 years of school, I figured there was no better time to make a cross country move and get my first big girl job. I arrived sight unseen to my apartment, in a city I had only visited twice. I was terrified. It was a really big deal for me. The job search took a little longer than I wanted but thankfully found a doctor willing to train a new graduate. Dr. Aronowitz is a plastic surgeon in Los Angeles, with 30+ years of experience, former chief of plastic surgery at Cedars Sinai, and current medical director of Tower Wound Care. He took me in and trained me. I work very closely with Dr. Aronowitz, assisting in surgery, seeing patients with him, and rounding at Cedars Sinai. His love is obviously surgery, so when I showed interest in injectables, we found a good fit for me at his medical spa, Doctor A Spa. I’ve now worked here for almost two years and have loved finding a little niche for myself.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I always tell people- you only need one yes. I learned this the hard way when I applied to 7 PA schools and received rejection after rejection. I thought to myself, “I really need to start thinking of a plan B because I’m not getting in anywhere.” After 6 rejections, I was finally accepted into the last school – Yale. I was obviously shocked and for half a second thought it may be a mistake! Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason for the way things happen!

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Doctor A Spa – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
Doctor A Spa is a medical spa with two locations – one in Los Angeles and a second in Encino. My main role in the practice is to provide non-surgical cosmetic treatments. I do botox, fillers, IPL, Fraxel, micro needling, and Coolsculpting. Let’s be real, there are a TON of treatments out there in today’s world and one million lotions and potions advertising “the fountain of youth.” It’s CRAZY! Sometimes I’m even looking at products and get confused. What I pride myself on is honesty. I don’t like to sell a product or treatment, just to make a sale. It leaves the patient unhappy and discouraged. Aging is inevitable, but you can still do it with grace (and not look like a crazy, frozen person). I meet a lot of patients that are nervous about getting Botox or fillers, and that is totally okay! Majority of the time, my patients have wanted to try a treatment, but don’t know where to go, what it actually entails, or what the recovery time would be. I really love helping people decide what is best for them! During a consultation, we discuss goals, set expectations, and create a plan. I often start by asking “What feature on your face do you like? What feature on your face bothers you?” and we go from there. What sets Doctor A Spa apart from other medical spas or injectable practices in the area is that we will not overdo you. I practice on the more conservative side. My main goal is to not change your appearance but to enhance your already beautiful features.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Not being from Los Angeles and not having a huge social circle on the West Coast, it can be hard to build a clientele and a following! You really have to get yourself out there and introduce yourself to strangers. My goal for the future is to continue to expand my knowledge of injectables and skin care while continuing to build a clientele. It can be hard to find a trustworthy medical provider, one that isn’t going to upcharge you or make you come back for unnecessary appointments. I want to be the go-to person, whom my patient’s trust with their face and skincare needs. (And, I mean, I would love a Doctor A Spa on the East Coast someday. I think my friends and family from home would love that!)

Pricing:

• Botox $14/unit
• Fillers $500-$700
• Microneedling $400-$600
• IPL $150-$300
• Fraxel $250-$500

Contact Info:

• Address: 8635 W 3rd Street Suite 1090W Los Angeles, CA
• Website: https://www.doctoraspa.com/
• Phone: 310-659-0705
• Email: [email protected]

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.