Check Out Carol Nguyen’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Nguyen

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a first-gen college graduate who obtained a nursing degree in 2018 to pursue a career in helping others. I’ve always knew that I needed to live a life filled with purpose and to make some kind of difference in somebody’s lives. I worked in the acute care setting after graduation- managing numerous patients with different chronic diseases. While I felt this feeling of fulfillment on many of those days, it was also greatly filled with anxiety, stress, and even bouts of depression.

In the back of my mind, I was always intrigued by the idea of aesthetic medicine. At this time in my career, aesthetic med was not seen as a “sustainable” or “lucrative” field. However, as someone who was always creative and artistic in nature; who loves all things beauty and skincare, I was deeply inspired by the blend of art and science and what the innovative field can do to restore youth and beauty.

Burn-out in the hospital was settling in and I was committed to on making the switch. However, I’ll be dishonest if I said my transition was smooth and linear. I barely received support from friends and family during this time due to their views on the lack of job security there is in medical aesthetics. It was also extremely competitive at the time, and required experience to break into. This lead to many failed interviews from offices that simply didn’t believe in me and what I can bring to the table. With all of these factors, it was easy for me to just accept my fate and continue working in a hospital- where I had a stable job with decent pay, but my physical and mental health was suffering.

After about a year, I was able to break into the field and learn everything from facials, skin treatments to all injectables. Fast forward to now- I have been injecting for 5 years, grown an amazing list of clientele and am truly happy and grateful to be able to do what I love. I continue to live my dream in helping others and making a difference- now just a different way!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not necessarily! As I stated before, this line of work is highly competitive and hard to break into. If you don’t have the experience, offices most likely won’t give you the time of day. And as a new nurse looking to gain experience, how else are you suppose to do that? It’s not easy and I get it!

I still get questions on how I was able to transition into aesthetics, and my answer is always the same. Apply to offices local to your area, even if it’s a small role, starting from the bottom. A lot of medical spas and plastic surgery offices can use the front desk/MA/social media assistance. Come in to get treated as a patient. If you click with the staff, simply ask if they’re hiring! Drop off a resume.. do anything to make a strong impression because you never really know unless you try. Show interest in learning and take introductory classes to boost your resume. Once your foot is in the door, they might just feel you are a good fit.. enough to teach you. Anything and everything is a valuable learning experience.. and that makes you one-step closer to getting into the field.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an aesthetic RN injector based in Newport Beach, CA. I work under a renowned plastic surgeon to help clients navigate through their anti-aging regimen- whether that’s from skin treatments to injectable treatments, in order to help combat aging and feel their absolute best!

I absolutely love ALL treatments on our menu, but I would have to say I specialize in (natural) full-facial rejuvenation with the use of injectables.. and of course, I might sometimes be known for my artistic eye and lip filler art!

I am beyond proud to say that I have the opportunity to serve a wide variety of clients- ranging from different demographics, backgrounds and age groups between 18yo to even 70yos! This gives me the ability to not only artistically enhance a youthful face, but to understand the aging process and work around it- in order to yield the most natural results. I always say… regardless of your age, the desire to feel/look your best will never die, especially for a women and I am always honored to be a part of that journey.

I think what sets myself apart from others is that I am an honest and ethical injector. I don’t up-sell unnecessary treatments that will not age well for the client, and I don’t monetize off of someone’s own insecurities. Instead, I’d say I am realistic in my approach and will make honest recommendations in order to combat the cause of aging– not just mask it with a band-aid for a quick buck.

For example, if someone comes in for a filler treatment and their skin quality is the issue, I have no problem providing education and addressing that first! Because believe it or not.. aesthetics is a journey, not an overnight miracle.

What does success mean to you?
Success to me is not quantitative. It is never defined through the amount of money I make, the amount of clients I have per day.. or the number of IG followers I have or going viral on socials. To me, success is a feeling I get after leaving work each day. If I was able to help someone improve their self confidence in some way shape or form. If I was able to educate my clients on something new that they did not know of. If I was able to execute a challenging filler treatment and exceed their overall expectations. These are the feelings that would make me feel accomplished each and every day, and is my true definition of fulfillment and success. Being able to do what I love AND being loved for what I do is what makes me feel like I’ve made it!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: beautyboss__rn