Today we’d like to introduce you to Angie Wheeler.
Hi Angie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was raised in the mountains of rural Virginia, far from any city. My first airplane ride came at 21 and it was to NYC. My perspective on the world changed in that moment and I knew as much as I loved my family, I couldn’t stay where I was born forever. I graduated from Virginia Tech in 1998 with degrees in Psychology and English and went on to earn a Master’s in Education from a girls’ school in Salem, VA. Deep down, even then, I knew teaching was not my true passion. I loved kids and I had an enthusiasm for making a difference in people’s lives, but I do remember feeling like maybe I was not quite where I was meant to be. I coached many sports, led teacher teams, and taught middle schoolers for years but most days felt like I was simply going through the motions. I had moved to Austin by 2011 and was operating a successful preschool franchise when I first seriously considered changing careers. Was I too old to go back to school and learn a brand new trade? By this time, I knew in my core that my passion was aesthetics. Had I aged out? I knew the aesthetics industry could be a tough market. I was a (tired) middle-aged mother of 3 with wrinkles, sagging skin and Melasma. I wasn’t the girl who grew up taking care of her skin. I was the fair-skinned, freckled-face strawberry-blonde bathing in the east coast sun, rarely wearing sunblock. I wasn’t taught skincare, self-care or even healthcare. I never knew how to make healthy choices with diet or exercise. Until I taught myself. I knew I had some catching up to do, but I also knew I had to do it.
Once in laser school, it was the first time in my life I’d actually been enthusiastic to learn. Like nose-in-the-book, TRULY passionate about learning. It was so exciting, so intriguing. The technology, the science, the options kept me enthusiastic around the clock. I literally gobbled up the additional certifications right away and I went to the top tier of laser licensing within months. Once in the field, it was obvious I had found the passion I’d searched for over 20+ years to find, but being an employee was too restricting for me, especially at my age and life stage. It would take another huge leap of faith to branch out on my own and build my own brand. Many sleepless nights later and waking and planning and making lists and goals and checklists out of pure excitement and TONS of support from a kind community of friends and family, here I am: Face Forward Medical Aesthetics.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I would say my biggest obstacle has been my own mind. I think a lot. I think to the point of thinking about thinking, which sounds funny but has been such a roadblock for me. Finding the courage and confidence to move forward with this journey has been an adventure itself. Letting go of self-doubt, taking a leap of faith, and finding the strength to simply believe in myself has allowed me to overcome the insecurities in my own skin, literally and figuratively. I’m on a skin journey too and I think people can relate to my own struggles.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Face Forward Medical Aesthetics?
I really take pride in customizing individual service options, packages and treatment plans based on client needs. I believe this sets me apart. I feel that the medspa industry can be intimidating and overwhelming, but I strive to help each client feel at ease by starting from ground zero, so to speak. I am focused on results-driven laser skincare in a personable and warm environment. I thoroughly explain each treatment and answer any questions about the advanced technology available. Some of my services include IPL Photofacial, Laser Skin Tightening, NanoFractional Radiofrequency Resurfacing, Laser Acne Therapies, Laser Hair Removal, Collagen Induction Therapy via SkinPen Microneedling, Medical-Grade Chemical Peels, Professional Teeth Whitening, Hydrofacial, and more. Most clients don’t know where to start, so we begin with a free consultation. We lay out their skincare woes and goals, write a treatment plan that is customized to those goals and budget, and go from there.
What matters most to you?
One word: Honesty. That’s all.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.faceforward.info
- Instagram: @faceforward.austin
- Facebook: Face Forward Medical Aesthetics
