Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Dinh.
Stephanie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Hello, I am an Aesthetic Nurse who is extremely enthusiastic and passionate about natural intentions when it comes to cosmetic treatments. I am an Orange County native who was obsessed with transformations growing up. Watching shows such as The Swan, Extreme Makeover and Dr. 90210 truly influenced my interest in the evolution of cosmetic skin care.
Shortly after graduating high school, in seeking for independence, I made the decision to move to Arizona. During this time in my life, I was an active In-N-Out associate who was just looking to level up and become a burger flipper extraordinaire. As I began to take classes at a community college, I realized perhaps I would like to become apart of the health care community but I just wasn’t sure of my role. What solidified my decision to become a registered nurse was volunteering and working at Meridian Assisted Home Living. It was here that I felt, perhaps nursing will make a greater impact on my life as I was able to work with Dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.
Fast forward a few years later, I graduated from Mesa Boswell Community College with my Associates in Nursing Sciences, and moved back to CA to help care for my family. I worked in Hospice and in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit however, it just did not feel as fulfilling as I hoped. This forced me to evaluate whether or not nursing was still the route for me. After much thought, I decided to briefly walk away from my career in hopes to find my passion. With much criticism from those who cared for me most, I definitely wondered if I was making the right decision.
A facial from a family member reignited my interest in transformation, as that interest was tucked away in my traditional RN program. It lead to the enrollment of my Esthetic’s Program and from there, it just felt… right. In the beauty industry, I am able to create a hybrid of my careers and it kept moving forward which lead me to where I am today.
I am currently an Aesthetic Specialist at DermFX in Orange and I am elated to report that I found my true passion in connecting with my patients via aesthetics.
Has it been a smooth road?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road at all. School was difficult and is still continuing to be difficult for me. I failed one of my nursing school blocks by less than 1%. I wanted to give up because I put all my efforts into studying and still did not pass. What I learned was that I can not keep doing the same thing. I had to change my studying habits and also find alternative ways to be successful.
Prior to working at a medical spa, I was a little lost as I was trying to figure out how to get my foot in the door. I worked at Fantasy Beauty and Nails to help my aunt before landing an internship at Luxor Medical Spa. For a period of about 1 and a half years, I worked five days at my aunt’s shop, 1 day at the medical spa and 1 day at the surgical center. It was hard work but it made me realize being in the treatment room with patients is where I want to be. My biggest advice is to find a mentor, be obsessed with whatever it is you hope to be good at, practice, surround yourself with the people in your industry, invest in your education, be willing to fail and learn from your mistakes.
What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I am a Registered Nurse and a Licensed Esthetician. I specialize in aesthetic medicine. My favorite treatments are fillers for the lips and Sculptra for the face. I’m known for safe, natural injections and comfort care. I treat conservatively and effectively. I am most proud of building a connection with my patients. My aesthetic mottos are “good fillers go undetected” and that “natural does not mean less product, it means using enough product to treat in all the right places to balance and help with symmetry”. What I am most proud of as a provider is that you are not just a number to me and that I value our relationship. What sets me apart from others are several things, I do not try to push something you do not need, I listen to your wants/needs, and I will be very honest with what I can and can not do.
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
You will make mistakes in whatever industry you are in, sometimes you can plan on it and sometimes it’ll take you by surprise. It’s how you react and troubleshoot after that makes all the difference. Having a mentor to help guide you is very helpful. Find a leader that is willing to take you under their wings, help share with you what works and doesn’t work, the connection is so important. Having open discussions about challenges and offering alternative perspectives is a plus. Your mentor is not there to answer all your questions but to help develop your thinking skills as well. What worked well for me is to respect my mentor and ask them if it’s ok for them to help guide me during my journey. I’ve had several mentors throughout the course of my career and I am so grateful for each of them: Chris Vogel, Erin Alonso, Susie Cody, Cathy Gilette, and Shannon Alexander.
Contact Info:
- Address: DermFX in Orange 275 S. Main Street, Orange, CA 92868
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanie_dinh_rn
Image Credit:
Photographs by: Danielle Lam Photography. DermFX.
Styling by: Andrew Phillip Nguyen.
Trang Nguyen @ DiverseHair&Beauty
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