Today we’d like to introduce you to Bri Collins.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Bri. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
It all started with a part time job at a medical spa in Houston. I was working full time as a nurse in the ICU of Tomball Regional Medical Center. A friend I went to nursing school with recommended I apply at this medical spa who was hiring nurses to perform aesthetic procedures. This was a far cry from what I was currently doing in the ICU so I jumped at the opportunity. It was there I learned all about cosmetic injections, lasers and skincare. A new love had been born.
I grew with this medspa company and was offered a management position. I worked both the ICU and the medspa for several years. Eventually I felt a little burned out. This business can be mentally exhausting and draining. I didn’t even realize until I left the medspa that I had developed such a clientele base. Once I was no longer at the medspa patients kept reaching out to me wanting me to inject them. I was getting calls, text, and social media messages weekly from patients “looking” for me and asking me where I went and how they can still treat with me. Well, you can’t buy Botox at your local Target so I was constantly turning patients down and telling them that I was no longer in the business.
It wasn’t until this that I realized I must be ok at, or even good at this injecting stuff and reevaluated my decision to get out of aesthetics. I thought “everyone wants me to treat them?” how can I make this work and not have to go back to work for the medical spa. That feeling was the catalyst that prompted me to develop my business plan.
I had recently met an up and coming plastic surgeon who had just opened his own private practice in River Oaks – the heart of Houston. He and I sat down and agreed to a partnership where I could run my own business out of his office. I helped him grow his practice and he gave me a space and the tools I needed to continue seeing the patients who were constantly reaching out to me. RejuvifacebyBri had a home.
Over the next 5 years I saw thousands of patients and built my name in the industry. I developed relationships and friendships with so many in aesthetics. In February 2017, I became a recognized trainer for Galderma via their GAIN (Galderma Aesthetic Injector Network) program. I was able to fly to Dallas, TX and meet with some of the most amazing aesthetic injectors in the world. Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Doctors all meeting and discussing advanced treatments, techniques, outcomes, and how to better the aesthetics industry. I remember thinking during that weekend in Dallas that “this is where I belong”. This is what I was meant to do.
Rewind to December of 2012. My friend Jentry Kelley had posted about needing a model for her “cute in carpool” makeup tutorial video she was shooting for her YouTube channel. She wanted an actual mom for her video. I remember messaging her and sort of jokingly saying “hunnay, I will be yo modul.” I am a mom, of course! She said “perfect, meet me at Cameo at 7pm. don’t wear any makeup” We made the video, we had dinner, and we discussed business. This is actually how I met the plastic surgeon mentioned above. Over the next 5 years Jentry and I worked extremely close together meeting, treating, and becoming friends with many of the same clientele. I would do their injections and she would touch up their makeup. We always joke about being the same person, but I could never apply eyeliner or mascara, and well, if you know Jentry then you know you definitely don’t want her coming at you with a needle. We always said that one day we would have a place together. It was always mentioned jokingly, no real substance, just a wish or a dream.
In May 2017, Jentry and I returned from a girl’s trip in Mexico. Things that happen and are discussed in Mexico stay in Mexico. Ha! 😉 Jentry had found a building! Not just any building, this building came with a BILLBOARD! She said “we are doing this!” I won’t lie, I was scared to death. I even almost backed out a couple of times. I had a son starting college that August! I needed stability. I needed money! How was I supposed to branch off, rebrand, and start something over at this time in my life? Would people be ok with this? Would they understand? What would my patients think? What would my current business partner think? There were some tensions going on in my office at the time that didn’t seem to be going away and getting worse day by day. It was time to make a move! After some MAJOR soul searching and business researching, crunching numbers and praying…. The process of rebranding my business and going out on my own began!
In October 2017, I opened BCRN Aesthetics, formally RejuvifacebyBri, at 1907 Southwest Freeway. In a partnership with my best friend, Jentry Kelley. She had designed two rooms in her new storefront specifically for my business. I hired a new plastic surgeon to be my medical director, I hired a nurse practitioner to help me in clinic, and I hired an esthetician to work alongside us. We opened with a bang and in November of 2017 closed out as the best month of my career.
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 wish I could say it was smooth sailing and all sunshine and rainbows, but I’m sure any business owner will tell you that is just not the case. There were so many obstacles to overcome before I was even allowed to open. Waiting on the building to close, waiting on the reconstruction of the building, then Hurricane Harvey hit Houston at the end of August. We are so fortunate that our building did not flood, but it halted all reconstruction for a solid 2-3 weeks. Meeting with my medical director to ensure that everything I was doing was in accordance with the laws of Texas and the RN’s scope of practice. Attorney meetings, CPA meetings, vendor meetings….. All of these things are costing me money and time. I’m pretty sure I didn’t sleep for a month and was living off pre workout and coffee.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the BCRN Aesthetics story. Tell us more about the business.
BCRN Aesthetics stands for Bri Collins, RN Aesthetics. I specialize in injections for the face. Botox, Dysport, and Dermal Fillers. I am known for my conservative approach to enhancing facial features without giving the patient an unnatural result. I am a self-proclaimed “conservative” injector. I don’t like the overdone look. If you can look at someone and immediately tell they have Botox and Fillers, they are overdone, in my opinion.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I don’t believe in luck! I believe in blessings and I believe in karma. I remember when I was younger I used to think the world was conspiring to make my life hard. I was a single mom, with two kids, living in the grossest apartment, trying to put myself through nursing school. I remember telling myself, no one is going to do this for you. If you want to succeed you better get out there and work for it. At the time I didn’t even know really what I was working for, I just knew I wanted more than what I had at the time. It was that mentality that got me to where I am today. At this age and stage in my life I realize now that it was those hard times that formed me into the independent strong woman I am today.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1907 Southwest Freeway
Houston, TX 77098 - Website: BCRNaesthetics.com
- Phone: 713=806=4742
- Email: bcrnaesthetics@gmail.com
- Instagram: bricollinsrn
- Facebook: bcrnaesthetics
- Twitter: BriCollinsRN
Image Credit:
Headshot of Bri Collins, RN by Bryan Anderson Photography
All before and after photos by Bri Collins, RN
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