Today, we’d like to introduce you to Emma Sorenson.
Emma, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was kind of entrepreneurial from a young age. I sold all kinds of goods to the kids and neighbors on my block – bracelets, snow cones, necklaces. I had a wagon I would pull around, and I’m pretty sure, in retrospect, some of the neighbors hustled inside because they could see and hear me making my way down the sidewalk. I’ve also always been drawn to what my mother coined “lotions and potions.” I became a Mary Kay lady in high school because I was excited to share skin care with my peers. Although I imagined my friends flocking to my skincare parties to discuss all the wonders of my products, not many were as intrigued and committed to their skin health at 17 and 18 years old as I was.
After graduating from Arcadia University in 2010 with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and a Master of Public Health, I started practicing in the emergency department. I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands and doing what some might consider tedious work. I enjoyed repairing complex lacerations, especially to the face and head. In the emergency department, where everything is meant to move quickly, my colleagues often playfully harassed me for taking up so much time to repair these lacerations. Still, I wanted the best aesthetic outcome for my patient with hopefully the least amount of scarring! After some time in the emergency department, I moved into inpatient medicine and, ultimately, inpatient cardiology, where I still work part-time.
After years of being away from the procedural aspect of medicine, I realized I needed that to be a part of my career to truly enjoy practicing medicine. That’s when I decided to combine my love of caring for the skin with my love of medicine and caring for the patient. Aesthetics offers that perfect balance.
We all face challenges, but would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think any entrepreneurial endeavor could ever be described as smooth. It requires a very intentional choice to move on from multiple minor setbacks and stay focused on the goals you have set for yourself. I enjoy problem-solving, so I see struggles as opportunities to create something better or improve a process.
By nature, I’m an optimist. I also try to be a realist when looking at numbers, data, and clinical studies because, after all, practicing good medicine means you are doing evidence-based work and understanding your business financials, and forecasting is data-driven. But I try to let my optimism prevail. Otherwise, what’s the point in taking the risk of starting something new?
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Grace Aesthetics and Wellness MedSpa?
Grace Aesthetics and Wellness was formed to truly honor patient’s unique beauty by providing services that enable each patient to feel confident as they go about their day. We are a women owned business and all providers in the clinic are also women. I feel so fortunate to work with Dr. Jessica Hobbs, our medical director, Rebecca Pollino, another Physician Assistant aesthetic provider, and Jamie Webster, our medical assistant and support staff.
These women are compassionate, talented, thoughtful providers. They are also people you can relate to and feel comfortable being around. At Grace, we pride ourselves in creating a welcoming environment because expressing your insecurities about how you look or feel can be intimidating. Putting yourself in that vulnerable position is tough, so we do all we can to ensure patients feel comfortable and confident with our recommendations.
We do classic aesthetic treatments like neurotoxin treatments for relaxing wrinkles and facial fillers to restore volume and enhance lips, but we also have a strong focus on skin health. Every patient we see has a comprehensive consultation where we ensure they are on a good regimen of skin care at home, utilizing ingredients that target their specific skin needs to help achieve their skin goals.
We offer bridal packages to help brides optimize their skin health before their wedding day. We also enjoy hosting spa parties for groups of friends or bridal parties, where guests can socialize while getting pampered. Skin care is a major focus of our practice. We like to educate our patient’s about the importance of a good skin care regimen at home as well as the importance of utilizing sunscreen on a daily basis. We offer HydroGlow facials as well as facials that utilize microinfusion of ingredients into the skin.
We encourage most of our patients to consider undergoing microneedling as a basic skin rejuvenation procedure that promotes collagen and elastin production which ultimately improves the skin’s texture and integrity. It’s also great for improving dark and light skin spots. I love this treatment because you get results rather quickly while having lasting results that last months to years beyond the initial treatment.
Chemical peels are utilized in the medspa to help with a wide range of skin concerns, including acne, dark spots, rosacea, fine lines, and wrinkles. We love to combine peels with neurotoxin treatments to give the skin a great glow and radiance. We also like to use chemical peels in combination with microneedling to target dark spots on the skin and significantly improve the appearance of scars.
Microneedling is an amazing treatment for acne scars, traumatic scars as well as surgical scars. I derive a lot of satisfaction from helping patients with their scars, as it is often both a physical and mental process of healing for them. Scars are a reminder of not only trauma but also survival, so the process of addressing scars with our patients is an important part of their journey.
Lastly, we offer medical weight loss utilizing injectable medications. These medications are changing the health landscape for the better, and we want to ensure our patients have lasting success in weight loss. Our programs were created with the focus of not only helping you lose weight but also ensuring this is done safely with close monitoring of your body’s response to the medications. We see patients in the office as well as virtually while they are under our care.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
I strive to live my life both at home and at work, embodying the essence of grace. I try to give the people in my life grace and the people I encounter going about my day. I frequently try to give myself grace too, and although I am inclined to pursue perfection, I have learned to accept that “almost perfect” is a much better goal.
Success isn’t just about your businesses revenue or what other people perceive as great, it’s about treating people well and ensuring that the people you love are cared for, thriving and finding success in their endeavors.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.gracemedspas.com
- Instagram: @graceyourface.medspa
- Facebook: Grace Aesthetics and Wellness
