Meet Sari Hoban of Westside Aesthetics in Brentwood

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sari Hoban.

Sari, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Ever since I was a little kid, I always took the road less traveled. If there was an easy way out of a situation, I never took it. I believed in hard work and going above and beyond in every scenario. Imagine parents begging their 8-year-old child to stop doing homework and go to sleep…that child was me. I have always and will always be extremely motivated. I can’t explain it, but there is just an internal fire and drive in me that will not turn off.

Nearly ten years ago, I decided to change careers from being a licensed stockbroker to a board-certified physician assistant. I have now built a cosmetic practice of loyal patients who seek me out for my natural and conservative approach to aesthetic medicine.

Born and raised in Southern California, I followed in my father’s footsteps and worked in the financial industry after majoring in Business at the University of Southern California. I worked at a prestigious financial services firm on Ocean Avenue, passed the Series 7 and 63 licensing exams and became a licensed stockbroker. I did very well for myself by the age of 24. But each day when I arrived to my pristine ocean view office, I tried to ignore the feeling gnawing at me that something in my life was missing.

A few years into my financial services career, one of my siblings was diagnosed with a debilitating autoimmune disease. The lack of satisfaction with my work coupled with my sibling’s devastating medical diagnosis catapulted my life in a completely different direction. I wanted more fulfillment and I decided that a career in medicine was the way I was going to get it.

I dove headfirst and began learning as much as possible about what I would need to do to change my career.

I was accepted into USC’s post-baccalaureate program. I studied all of my prerequisites around the clock, learning everything from biochemistry to human anatomy while volunteering at Cedars Sinai and working as a medical assistant at a private practice in Brentwood. I essentially consolidated someone’s entire adolescence and teenage years of figuring out what they wanted to do, shadowing and gaining experience in the medical field into a two-year crash course into all things medicine.

At the time, and even more so now, the acceptance rates to medical programs was staggeringly low and extremely competitive. However, I wagered it all and won. I was accepted to a number of prestigious programs and ultimately decided to attend Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. At the time I applied, out of roughly 10,000 applicants, Cornell accepted 33 students to my class. It was this competitive for a reason. They had to screen out those who could not handle the workload. I would soon learn why.

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?
Completing my medical training was hands-down the most difficult thing I have done up to this point in my life.

I was fortunate to study at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. My Master’s program was an accelerated 26 months. Imagine learning the entire human body from head to toe, including every normal healthy function of each organ and system, followed by every possible disease of each organ and system and how to diagnose and treat every possible disease.

I spent the first year of the program in a classroom from 8 AM to 5 PM every day and from 6 PM to 2 AM in the library. I would walk home on a cold snowy night in New York City at three in the morning only to wake up again at six or seven in the morning and do it all over again the next day. Friends and family across the country would say to me “Wow your training is going by so quickly” and I would think just the opposite… each day felt like a month.

The second portion of the program shifted from the classroom to the hospitals, and rather than learning about examples in a textbook, I was interacting with real patients. I woke up each day, even if only on a few hours of sleep, invigorated about all that I got to learn, see and do. Each day was a brand new experience. Whether it was delivering a newborn, or operating on a kidney transplant, or sewing up facial lacerations in the Emergency Department, my brain was stimulated and adrenaline pumped through my body. I finally began to feel what I had been longing for in my financial career. Human connection. Making a difference. True fulfillment in my work.

Reflecting back now, I can clearly see that the most challenging times define your character the most. I am a better, kinder, and more empathetic human being because of my rigorous medical training. Throughout my journey into medicine, I had to make countless decisions to put others’ lives and well-being above my own. I missed numerous family holidays and events to give my patients a shot at being able to have their own life experiences. While my training was the hardest thing I have ever done, it also helped reinforce the most valuable life lessons: selflessness, empathy, kindness and patience.

My very supportive family and husband helped me pursue these dreams. I truly would not have been able to change careers without their support.

We’d love to hear more about your practice.
As a board-certified physician assistant, I have worked in a variety of fields including oncology (bone marrow transplant), plastic and reconstructive surgery and non-surgical cosmetic medicine.

I have found my specialty and passion in cosmetic medicine. I treat everything from reversing signs of aging to preventing wrinkles, to correcting natural facial asymmetries or botched surgical work. My expertise is in facial rejuvenation using the most up-to-date injectables (fillers and wrinkle relaxers) and laser devices. I have built a loyal patient base who seek me out for my conservative approach and my ability to provide very natural looking results. I ensure that every person who comes into my office leaves feeling like a more refreshed and confident version of themselves.

In a field of medicine, where patients can be significantly overdone, I take a unique approach of “less is more.” I like to enhance the features that someone naturally has and not completely change the way someone looks. In fact, when I start the consultation, I ask each patient to first tell me what they love about themselves and their appearance. I strive to give tired moms their confidence back or someone severely disfigured with acne scarring the chance to feel beautiful again. If I can make someone feel on the outside, how they truly feel on the inside- then I have given them a gift.

I practice at Westside Aesthetics located in Brentwood. I love that the office environment is professional yet relaxed, and all my patients who come know that.

On a day to day basis, I see patients ranging from a 20-something wanting to prevent wrinkles with Botox to a 45-year-old sun worshipper hoping to get rid of years of sun damage, to a hard working professional who feels tired and wants me to help disguise her under eye bags. 

I stand apart by being as honest and communicative as they come. I treat each patient like they are my sister or my mom, and I’m extremely candid about what I can and cannot achieve non-surgically. Having worked in plastic and reconstructive surgery, I can speak firsthand about this. I was trained by the leading plastic surgeons at Cornell and Cedars Sinai and worked side-by-side with the Chief of Plastic Surgery at Cedars Sinai after completing my degree.

I am most proud of my ethical and moral compass. I will absolutely never recommend anything to a patient unless I think it is what is best for them. I will constantly tell patients they do not need certain treatments, and I think that truly sets me apart. I bring a unique skill set to my work having been trained in all areas of medicine and specifically spending part of my career in plastic and reconstructive surgery.

I am constantly reminded about how rewarding this career path is. Patients are continually telling me the impact I have made on their lives. It is amazing how a listening, compassionate ear, and a short office visit with a nonsurgical procedure can make someone feel beautiful again. Although my career trajectory was not a linear one, I am fulfilled each day in what I do.

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I strive to continue growing my practice of helping people feel good about themselves. I am so grateful for all of my loyal patients and their referrals to their friends and family.

I hope to continue giving back in my own way. Each month on my page @goseesari I offer free treatments in the form of giveaways because I realize these treatments can be expensive, and it feels really good to give.

Contact Info:

• Address: 11645 Wilshire Blvd Ste 800 Los Angeles CA 90025
• Website: www.goseesari.com
• Phone: (310)443-5273
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: @goseesari
• Other: Www.westsideaesthetics.com

Suggest a story: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.