Women in Business Spotlight: The Skin Center
BY LAURA HARPER/WWR Staff Writer
For many women, looking great is a crucial step towards feeling great and having the confidence to take on the world and achieve their goals. One such business that makes it their mission to help women look and feel their best is Pittsburgh’s leading medical spa, The Skin Center.
Founded over 40 years ago, The Skin Center offers a wide selection of aesthetic treatments such as Botox, filler, body sculpting, lasers, and more. Despite having over 40,000 competitors nationwide, they were named one of the Top 10 Botox Providers in the country and currently have six state-of-the-art medical spas across the Pittsburgh region. However, board-certified Aesthetic Clinician Debbie Thompson says the company has continued to stay true to their roots regardless of their impressive success.
“We have maintained our strong family-oriented company culture for our employees and patients," Thompson said. "I think it's a great formula for continued growth and success.”
Thompson is an experienced Registered Nurse who was connected with The Skin Center through a family friend. After interviewing with the company, she fell in love with aesthetics.
“There’s a natural drive to want to fight the signs of age, both for myself and my patients, while living my best life,” Thompson said.
Thompson typically starts her day by reviewing patient records to prepare herself for their arrival. They could be coming in for a range of services, such as initial consults, treatments, or continued patient engagement for evaluation and collaboration on reaching their skincare goals. Ultimately, she says this hard work pays off when she sees her patients’ smiles after handing them a mirror.
“People are living longer and working and staying active longer, and they want to invest in looking great, which in many cases enables them to show off their inner beauty with more confidence,” Thompson said. “To me, it all adds up to a more satisfying quality of life.”
In 2021, the beauty industry surpassed $500 billion globally. However, with the world being powered by social media and photo filters, some patients may come in with unrealistic expectations based on what they are exposed to online.
“People think that they can have perfectly smooth skin with no wrinkles or lines, so sometimes I have to walk back expectations so people understand the continuum between injections and full cosmetic surgery outcomes,” Thompson said.
For women who may be interested in making a career in the beauty industry, Thompson suggests getting work experiences elsewhere before coming to aesthetics, since doing so will build vital skills such as learning how to listen well. She says this will allow aspiring aesthetic clinicians to give the kind of advice that leads longstanding relationships and trust.
“I think I’m known for being an enthusiastic and positive person,” Thompson said. “I’m happy to be at The Skin Center making a personal contribution to a more beautiful, happier world!”
For more information on The Skin Center, you can check out their website here or follow them on social media through Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram. The Skin Center will also be presenting the Beauty Bar at the 2022 Women Who Rock Benefit Concert at Stage AE in Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 15. You can purchase your tickets here.