Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelli Nwuli, NP.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Kelli. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Prior to working as an Aesthetic Nurse Injector, I worked in the Shock Trauma ICU at Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center. A big switch, for sure! Memorial Hermann was my first job out of nursing school after graduating from the University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing in 2011, and I loved every minute of it. After six years in trauma, I knew I was ready to advance my career by returning to the University of Texas at Houston, where I graduated Magna Cum Laude with my Family Nurse Practitioner degree in 2017. While I was pursuing my master’s degree, I worked part-time at the Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery (ACPS) in the PACU (post-anesthesia care unit), recovering patients after plastic surgery. And after graduation, switched roles to an Aesthetic Nurse Injector in the Spa and Rejuvenation Center.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Getting into Aesthetics was no easy task on its own. Around the same time that I was applying for my master’s program, I was actively seeking a part-time job in Dermatology and Aesthetics. Its an incredibly competitive field to work in as an NP, and I wanted to set myself apart as much as I could. So I dressed to impress one weekday in 2014, with printed copies of my resume and a headshot, and went around to every Derm and Aesthetic practice in Houston (seriously, everyone), introducing myself to anyone that would listen and leaving my resume. This effort didn’t bear fruit until almost a year later (talk about patience!), when ACPS finally called in need of an RN.
During the next year and a half that I was in school and working at ACPS, I treated every day like an interview. There was no guarantee that they would hire me as an Aesthetic NP once I graduated, and I knew that I would have to work hard and prove myself as a valuable, reliable, and intelligent employee. The most common question I get from other providers looking to break into the aesthetic field is “How did you do it?” And my answer is always the same: you have to get creative, create relationships, work hard, and be patient. When I finally signed my contract with ACPS as an Aesthetic Nurse Injector in December of 2017, the last three years of effort finally came to a satisfactory close, and I began my dream career!
Please tell us about Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery, Spa and Rejuvenation Center.
My day to day is so varied, and I absolutely love it that way! For example, in a typical day I might have a few botox patients, do some lip and jawline fillers, see a few patients for follow up, and perform a microneedling treatment. I see 100% aesthetic patients, five days a week at the ACPS Galleria/River Oaks office. Below is the full list of treatments I perform:
Wrinkle reducers (Botox & Dysport)
Microtox
Dermal filler (Juvederm, Restylane, etc.)
Microneedling
Microinfusion
Collagen stimulation (Sculptra) for body and face
Nonsurgical butt lifts (using Sculptra Aesthetic)
Nonsurgical fat reduction (Kybella) for body and face
Skincare consultations and treatment planning
Acne treatments
Laser resurfacing (Halo, microlaser peel, Contour TRL)
Hair restoration (for men and women)
Skintightening (InMode Accutite, FaceTite, BodyTite)
As a client, it’s important to choose a provider that specializes in aesthetic treatments. Just as you would want an OBGYN to deliver your baby or a Cardiovascular surgeon to perform your heart surgery, you want a trained Aesthetic provider to do your aesthetic procedures. There is no “degree” in Aesthetics, so provider training is going to vary greatly. Continuing education is incredibly important to me, as it means that I am utilizing the most effective and safest treatment techniques for my patients. In the past two years alone, I have attended over 25 training courses all over the country, from LA to New York.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success means never settling. It means that as you reach those goals and milestones that you’ve set, you are constantly making new ones and moving the bar even higher. Success means never getting complacent. One of the reasons I love aesthetics so much is because for every client I see, we are going to create a completely unique treatment plan that different than the patient I saw before. There is no “one size fits all” to aesthetics. Getting to know my patients and understand their aesthetic goals, and then creating a custom treatment plan – thats where the magic happens. The biggest compliment to me as an aesthetic provider is a referral. When my clients are happy and referring others, thats when I know I’m doing something right. I love seeing my clients increase in confidence as we move closer and closer to their aesthetic goals. Maybe that means softening years of acne scarring, maybe that means getting them a little closer to that picture of themselves five years ago; either way, its so rewarding knowing that I can help my patients feel more confident in their own skin.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2233 Yale St, Houston Texas 77008
- Website: https://
sabrinamercer.com/ - Phone: 281-256-1003
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Al Torres Photography (Headshot), Dr Henry Mentz team (lip injections)
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